Who wins the position battles?
Point guard: Justin Jenifer vs. Quentin Goodin
It seems that Cincinnati has settled on their primary point guard for now in junior Jenifer, who came off the bench in the first few games. Known more as distributor, Jenifer?s scoring output has more than tripled from a year ago, now averaging 8.3 ppg. Not only is he a good passer, but he rarely turns the ball over, with his 7.7 turnover percentage ranking in the top 10 of AAC players so far.
Quentin Goodin of Xavier isn?t much of a scorer himself but is a great passer in his own right. He?s played roughly the same minutes from a year ago but averages almost three more assists a night to 6.1 apg, one of the best in the Big East. He currently has a 3/1 turnover ratio, which more than makes up for his 6.6 ppg.
Goodwin is a unique guard, who while shots a fantastic 92% from the three throw line, has yet to make a three-point shot (0-6) this season. That can have an effect on spacing for the offense later down the road, but, for now, his elite passing makes him a big net positive for the team.
As far as who has the edge, these two are very similar players in terms that they?re both pass-first point guards. The one advantage that Goodin has in this scenario is that he?s Xavier?s full-time point guard, different from the split duties that Jenifer currently is going with.
Edge: Goodin
Shooting guard: Jarron Cumberland vs. J.P. Macura
After coming off the bench all of last season, sophomore guard Jarron Cumberland is now a full-time starter, averaging over double-figures in scoring. In terms of offense, the guard?s inconsistencies have shown early on. He?s shot better from distance, but the overall field goal numbers have dipped. After getting to double-digits in points the first four games, he?s scored 14 points total the past three games.
His defense, however, has been anything but inconsistent. His defensive rating is 82.0 ? good for third of all AAC players. Even in games where he doesn?t score, his opponent won?t either.
That?ll be put to the test against J.P. Macura, a senior guard who has just as many enemies as he does friends in the basketball world. He?s second on the team in scoring with 14.6 ppg and shoots an absurd 60% from the field. A lot of his offense comes from driving into the paint and forcing fouls. His big game came against Wisconsin, where he scored 20 points and got into it with the Badger fan base.
This will be a battle of strengths, as Macura is currently in the top five of many offensive metric categories of Big East players. Both guys like to be irritants, and considering the nature of this rivalry, expect these two to really go at it, both on the court and by the mouths. I personally favor defense over offense, but this is as even as it gets.
Edge: Cumberland
Small forward: Jacob Evans vs. Trevon Bluiett
If you thought the battle with the shooting guards will be fun, this is the match-up of arguably the top players from both teams. Jacob Evans of Cincinnati does everything well, including leading the team in assists (4.3 apg) and is second in scoring (11.7 mpg). He?s done this in only 25 mpg, with a combination of blowouts and precautions with his hip being the reasons.
Where Evans shines the most is on defense, where he?s second in the AAC, in defensive rating at 79.4. He can guard the 2, 3 and 4 spots on the court and has the athleticism and toughness to take just about anybody down.
Trevor Bluiett has the athleticism and toughness to score on just about everyone, with the Musketeers elite eight run proof of it. He played the undersized forward and became a matchup nightmare towards the end of the season. He?s improved from last season?s numbers, from scoring 18.5-19.7 ppg and all the other offensive categories.
Bluiett has scored at least 20 points in each of his first five games and figures to be in the top five of Big East scorers for the duration of this season. In terms of his battle with Evans, it?ll be interesting to see if coach Chris Mack puts him at the four spot again. But assuming it?s these two, Evans defense gives him an advantage against most players. However, Bluiett isn?t just a normal player ? he?s an All-American caliber athlete.
Edge: Bluiett
Power forward: Gary Clark vs. Kaiser Gates
Kaiser Gates has become a legitimate weapon for Xavier, having doubled his offensive production from a year ago. He currently averages 11.3 ppg and 4.6 rpg, with three made deep shots a game. He?s the modern-day stretch forward, with 90% of his offense coming beyond the perimeter line.
There are two unique facts about Gates, including being the best when it comes to turnover percentages for players in the Big East. It makes sense since he operates away from the paint. On the opposite end, he?s fourth in the league in fouls committed, keeping him off the floor at times. Xavier has backup options, but Gates has become too good a player to not be playing.
That?ll be an issue going up against Gary Clark, who?s been one of the most underrated players in all of college basketball in terms of sheer importance. One of the more incredible stats not known to many people is that Clark has had the highest plus/minus box score ALL FOUR YEARS of the AAC. Basically, it means that when he?s on the court, the Bearcats do very well.
That?s because both his player efficiency rating (38.7) and defensive rating (71.3) are both the best so far in the AAC. He?s the lead scorer and rebounder for his team with 13.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg, along with shooting 88% from the line.
Even if Gates could stay on the court, this is an easy one. Clark won?t make many highlights or fill up the box score, but he?s the definition of a winning player. The stats prove it.
Edge: Clark
Center: Kyle Washington vs. Tyrique Jones
Another player who has improved from a year ago, Tyrique Jones has become the focal the paint for the Musketeers. He averages just under double-figures in scoring at 9.6 ppg and is the lead rebounder at 6.9 rpg. His production has basically doubled and plays good defense in the middle of the paint. In his second game of the season, he scored a career-high 19 points against Rider. If that can become more of the norm and Jones can be more of a factor on offense that balance will make Xavier even more potent.
His counterpart is senior forward Kyle Washington, a transfer from NC State with a reputation for playing well on offense, yet being defensively challenged. In his first season with Cincinnati, that played out, causing his minutes to be limited.
This season has been more of the same, with him scoring 10.4 ppg in around 20 mpg. The issue of consistency has continued to plague him with performances all over the place. He?s had highs of a 16 point and 11 rebound game to a good Wyoming team. Then days later, he only had six points and two rebounds to a below average Richmond program.
If Washington can play to his talent level, then Cincinnati is a Final Four team. If not, he becomes a liability on the court, having already been coming off the bench for two games this season. Jones is less talented but more consistent as a player.
Edge: Jones
Reserves:
Cincinnati?s Cane Broome, Tre Scott, Nysier Brooks, Trevor Moore and Keith Williams vs. Xavier?s Sean O?Mara, Naji Marshall, Kerem Kanter, Paul Scruggs and Elias Harden
What makes both benches for these teams so productive is the starting experience they have. Multiple players have spent a good amount of time starting and are now finding ways to make an impact off the bench.
On the Bearcats? bench lies a former Player of the Year in Sacred Heart transfer Cane Broome. He started three of the first four games at the point guard position, but Mick Cronin felt his scoring abilities would be best served coming off the bench. Trevor Moore is another guy who can shoot it, currently going for 44% deep so far. Other guys like Tre Scott and Nysier Brooks, who already has two starts, continue the great defense Cincinnati plays.
Xavier has experience on the frontcourt, with Green Bay grad transfer Karem Kanter averaging 6.0 ppg in 12 mpg and is more than capable of starting when needed. Senior big man Sean O?Mara is sort of a sixth starter for Xavier, always providing good minutes whenever he takes the court.
But it?s been freshman Naji Marshall who?s been the surprise so far, averaging 8.0 ppg as a quality reserve. If he didn?t play the same position as Bluiett, we?d see a lot more off him.
Both of these benches have a lot to offer and picking between them is a difficult choice. However, there?s more experience and defense along Cincinnati?s side, and no one from either side can light it up like Broome when he?s on.
Edge: Cincinnati
