Bearcats vs. Cougars

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Bearcats Preview


For the last time this season, the Cincinnati Bearcats will take the floor at Fifth Third Arena, as they tangle with the Houston Cougars in an American Athletic Conference test. This will be an emotional one to be sure, as it will be the last home game for seniors Troy Caupain and Kevin Johnson, as well as walk on Zack Tobler.

Get To Know The Opponent
The Cougars will enter Thursday?s contest against the Bearcats with a 20-8 record and a a hold on third place hold in the AAC. The last time the Cougars and ?Cats linked up, the result was a nine-point UC win at Hofheinz Pavilion. The big names to watch this time around are similar to last, with Rob Gray Jr. and Damyean Dotson leading the charge for the Cougars. Gray dropped 21 points the last time he played UC and averages 20.3 per game this season. His small stature will fool you because he is a threat to score from anywhere on the court. Dotson stands opposite Gray at the guard position and averages 18 points per game. His 6'5" frame allows him to cause a lot of mismatches and gets him a lot of looks close to the hoop. If Gray and Dotson are given any breathing room, then it will be a long night for the Bearcats.

An Ugly Loss
UC is coming off of an ugly loss at the hands of the UCF Knights, which dropped itthree spots in the AP poll. UC shot an inexcusable 29.6 percent from the field and had a very hard time getting the ball to the middle with 7'6" Tacko Fall standing in their way. On top of all this, Tre Scott missed an open alley oop from Troy Caupain which would have sent the game to overtime. The UCF game was definitely a learning experience and hopefully, the Bearcats come to their last game at Fifth Third against Houston with a bit of pent up anger.

Home Sweet Home
Luckily, the Bearcats absolutely kill it at Fifth Third Arena and have a 25-game win streak at home to show for it. The home crowd this season has done its job, and the Bearcats feed off that energy very well. If UC fans will travel to watch this team in March to make some noise, then the Bearcats have a real chance to make a deep run in March Madness.

As for Thursday, its likely that there will be extra feeling coming from the chants, cheers and jeers, as Caupain, Johnson and Tolber say goodbye.

Expect a big crowd on against Houston, and a win. The Cougars have had real issues this year getting help from anybody not named Dotson or Gray. With UC's home defense playing like it is, the Cougars' twoman show will not be enough to knock off the Bearcats. Expect UC to really look hot to start the game and make a statement in its last home game this season.

 

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The Cougars (20-8) play at No. 18 Cincinnati on Thursday ? a win would provide a much-needed RPI booster for NCAA Tournament consideration - and come home for Sunday?s regular-season finale against East Carolina. An already emotional senior day will be capped off by ceremonies to commemorate the final game in Hofheinz Pavilion.
?We?re still in the fight,? Sampson said, preferring to wait to give a season evaluation.
During their time on campus, UH?s senior class will have ushered in a new era with the opening of the $25 million Guy V. Lewis Development Center in January 2016. The Cougars have also posted back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2007-08 and 2008-09.


With a minimum three games remaining, Sampson offered his thoughts on each of his seniors:

Damyean Dotson: The 6-5 guard found a landing spot back home in Houston after two years as a starter at Oregon. It was a second chance for Dotson, who was dismissed for an alleged sexual assault that never resulted in any charges.
?I don?t think I?ve ever done as much background checks and research on a person, not a player, as I did on Damyean Dotson,? Sampson said.
Dotson has been a model teammate and unanimous pick for team captain. Sampson calls him one of the two hardest workers on the team and ?one of the best leaders I?ve ever coached.?
Dotson is having a breakout season, ranking fourth in scoring in the American Athletic Conference. He has exploded in the past month with nine games with at least 20 points.
?He hasn?t had a good year, he?s had an outstanding year,? Sampson said. ?His book will not be finished when he leaves here. He?s going to have an outstanding professional career.?

Danrad ?Chicken? Knowles: A fifth-year senior and the last holdover from the pre-Sampson era, Knowles has often been asked to play different roles out of necessity. He?s always accepted the challenge with an infectious smile, even when taking elbows to the face while banging bodies inside with opponents 50 pounds heavier.
?Somebody in the University of Houston athletic department should hire Chicken as an ambassador,? Sampson said. ?I used to think he would be a good (mascot) Shasta, but I?m not sure we can get one of those Shasta suits big enough.?
Along the way, Sampson has pushed Knowles. He has challenged him. His legacy will be ?he helped us establish character.?
?He?s one of those kids that comes along every so often that everybody loves,? Sampson added.
Kyle Meyer: Sampson likes to take frequent, playful jabs at his players. His description of the 6-10 center: ?annoying.?
?Kyle is an anticipator,? Sampson said. ?He likes to anticipate what I?m going to say. Let?s say he has done that 100 times over the last two years. Well Kyle is 0-for-100. He?s yet to be right.?
Meyer, who posted his best game as a Cougar with nine points and 11 rebounds against UConn last week, has been a nurturing influence on the younger players since arriving from Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Fla.
?There?s good teammates, there?s great teammates and there?s phenomenal teammates,? Sampson said. ?Kyle Meyer is a phenomenal teammate.?



Bertrand Nkali: After not playing until he was 16, the Cameroon native played two seasons in junior college before joining the Cougars after a late recruiting visit in April 2014. The 6-8 center has come off the bench to provide a physical shot-blocking presence. He?s also been hampered by injuries (he redshirt the 2014-15 season), including a few mysterious ailments.

?(Around conditioning time) he gets these mysterious foot injuries,? Sampson said. ?We actually have a boot that we named the ?Bert Boot.? If it?s a testing day there?s something usually going to be wrong with his Achilles or bottom of his foot, something that?s not exactly detectable.?

While Nkali has been a contributor to several big wins, the accomplishment Sampson is most proud: he?s already earned his bachelor?s degree in heath with a minor in sociology and is doing post-grad work in technology.
Xavier Dupree: At the start of the season, Sampson said he approached the 6-9 reserve forward about possibly redshirting.

?He came back and said I think I?d rather play,? Sampson said. ?He?s a great teammate and a great kid.?
Dupree has made one start in his two seasons.

What Sampson will remember most about Dupree is his ability to control his emotions.
?He has no highs and no lows,? Sampson said. ?He keeps things even keel.?