Cincinnati Returns Home with Defense Clicking, Eyes Fourth Win Over Alabama State
CINCINNATI - Cincinnati men’s basketball is back at Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday night, hosting Alabama State in a 7 p.m. tip that will stream on ESPN+ and air on 700 WLW and the TuneIn app. While the matchup may not jump off the page nationally, it’s another key opportunity for a Bearcats squad that’s quietly building something serious on both ends of the floor.
This season marks a milestone for the program - 125 years of Bearcats basketball. That’s a legacy that includes 44 All-Americans, 41 conference titles, six Final Four appearances, and back-to-back national championships. Cincinnati’s place in college basketball history is secure, but this team is focused on writing its own chapter.
And so far, they’re doing it with defense.
Cincinnati comes into the matchup ranked 11th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom. That’s not just a stat - it’s a reflection of a group that’s making life miserable for opposing offenses. They’re limiting teams to just 67.0 points per game, and they’re doing it with a mix of rim protection, ball pressure, and rebounding grit.
Let’s break it down.
The Bearcats are fifth in the country in opponent offensive rebound percentage, allowing just 23.5% of second-chance opportunities. They’re also fifth nationally in non-steal turnover percentage - meaning they’re forcing mistakes without gambling - and rank 13th in block percentage at 16.2%. Those numbers add up to a defense that’s both disciplined and disruptive.
And when they have the ball, Cincinnati is keeping the tempo up. The Bearcats average just 15.2 seconds per offensive possession - 22nd-fastest in the nation - while forcing opponents to grind it out at the other end, where they average 17.4 seconds per trip, ranking 218th in pace. That’s a sign of a team dictating the terms of play on both ends.
In Big 12 play, Cincinnati is near the top in several key categories: second in blocks per game (5.3), third in opponent field goal percentage (39.6%), third in opponent three-point shooting (28.9%), and third in turnovers forced per game (15.9). They’re also fifth in the league in made threes per game (9.2), showing a growing ability to stretch the floor.
What makes this all the more impressive is how new this group is. The Bearcats returned just one starter and two letterwinners from last season, bringing back only 13.3% of their scoring, 7.6% of their rebounding, and 17.5% of their assists. That’s a major roster overhaul, yet the team has already found a defensive identity and is starting to click offensively.
A big part of that early success? Senior forward Baba Miller.
Despite missing two games (NJIT and Eastern Michigan) due to injury, Miller has been a force. He’s tied for 10th nationally - and leads the Big 12 - with five double-doubles.
He’s also first in the conference and fourth nationally in defensive rebounds per game (8.25), and ranks eighth in the country with 10.6 total rebounds per contest. His defensive rebounding percentage of 30.9% is third-best in the nation.
Simply put, Miller is controlling the glass and anchoring the defense.
Wednesday’s game marks the fourth all-time meeting between Cincinnati and Alabama State, with the Bearcats holding a 3-0 edge. Their last meeting came just over a year ago, when No.
16 Cincinnati used stingy defense and paint dominance to cruise to a 77-59 win at home. In that game, the Bearcats held Alabama State to 30% shooting from the field and just 23% from deep, while owning the paint 40-18 and pulling down 52 rebounds to the Hornets’ 35.
They also racked up 19 second-chance points - a testament to the kind of hustle that’s becoming a trademark of this year’s squad.
Sophomore guard Jizzle James had a strong showing in that game, putting up 13 points, eight boards, five assists, and two steals - the kind of all-around performance that’s becoming more common from him. Senior Simas Lukošius added 16 points, including four threes, showing his value as a perimeter threat.
Alabama State, led by fourth-year head coach Tony Madlock, comes in at 3-7 and looking to snap a four-game skid. They’re coming off an 85-77 loss at Missouri, where they showed offensive firepower but struggled to get stops. Senior guard Asjon Anderson leads the Hornets with 18.4 points per game, while fellow senior Micah Simpson adds 16.2 per night and is shooting a solid 39.1% from beyond the arc.
For Cincinnati, this game is about more than just protecting home court. It’s another chance to build chemistry, reinforce their defensive identity, and keep growing into a team that could make noise in the Big 12. With Miller patrolling the paint, James emerging in the backcourt, and a defense that’s already among the nation’s best, the Bearcats are starting to look like a problem - and they’re just getting started.