Baba Miller’s Dominant Week Earns Him Big 12 Starting Five Honors - And Puts the Nation on Notice
CINCINNATI - Baba Miller is doing more than just filling up the stat sheet - he’s making history while he’s at it. The Cincinnati senior forward has been named to the Big 12’s Starting Five for the second time this season, and after what he just did against Lipscomb, it’s easy to see why.
In Monday’s 89-62 win, Miller delivered one of the most complete performances college basketball has seen in decades: 11 points, 21 rebounds, and seven assists. That’s not just rare - it’s historic.
Since the 1996-97 season, only 16 players across the entire country have posted a 10-20-7 game like that. And among players from power conference programs?
He’s just the third to do it.
Let’s break that down. Twenty-one rebounds is no small feat, especially in today’s game where possessions are faster, and big men often find themselves stretched out to the perimeter.
Miller pulled down a career-high 15 defensive boards and six on the offensive glass, showing off both his motor and his positioning. It was the first 20-rebound performance in the Big 12 this season, and the most by a Bearcat since Tre Scott’s 21-rebound effort back in a double-overtime thriller against UCF in 2020.
That 21-rebound mark also ties Miller with Scott for the second-most boards by a Cincinnati player in the modern stat-keeping era. Only Kenyon Martin - yes, that Kenyon Martin - has grabbed more, with 23 against DePaul in 1998. Any time your name is in the same sentence as Kenyon Martin when it comes to Bearcats history, you’re doing something right.
But Miller wasn’t just crashing the glass. He also handed out a season-high seven assists, showcasing his ability to create for others out of the post and in transition.
That kind of court vision from a forward adds a whole new layer to Cincinnati’s offense. And with that performance, he notched his seventh double-double of the season - and the 13th of his career.
Through 11 games this year, Miller is averaging 13.6 points and 11.5 rebounds. He’s doing it efficiently and consistently, anchoring the Bearcats on both ends of the floor.
He leads the Big 12 in rebounding and ranks fourth nationally. His 8.82 defensive rebounds per game?
That’s first in the entire country. He’s also second on the team in blocks (18), third in assists (29), and third in steals (12).
In short, he’s everywhere.
Miller is tied for the Big 12 lead and sits 10th nationally with seven double-doubles - a stat that speaks to his consistency as much as his ceiling. And with Cincinnati navigating its first season in the Big 12, having a steady, high-impact presence like Miller has been crucial.
The Mallorca native is doing more than just putting up numbers - he’s setting the tone for a Cincinnati squad that’s looking to make noise in a loaded conference. And if he keeps playing like this, the awards won’t stop at weekly honors.