Cincinnati Basketball: Time for Wes Miller to Tinker With the Starting Five
As Cincinnati gears up for the gauntlet that is Big 12 play, Wes Miller finds himself at a critical crossroads. The Bearcats have shown flashes of potential, but slow starts and inconsistent offense have been recurring issues. If there’s a time to shake up the lineup, it’s now-before the calendar flips to conference play against a tough Houston squad on January 3.
Is It Time for Jizzle James to Reclaim His Starting Spot?
One of the clearest signals from the Bearcats’ recent loss to Clemson was the shift in the rotation-Kerr Kriisa didn’t see the floor for the final 23 minutes. That’s not a subtle adjustment; that’s a coaching decision that speaks volumes. Kriisa has struggled to find his rhythm offensively, and Miller no longer seems tied to keeping him in the starting five.
The natural move? Slide Jizzle James back into the starting lineup.
James brings a more aggressive scoring mentality and has shown the ability to push the tempo and put pressure on opposing defenses. His presence on the floor injects energy-something Cincinnati has needed early in games.
Sincere Harris Making a Case for More Minutes
Another name to watch is Sincere Harris. If the Bearcats opt to go with a three-guard lineup, Harris could join James and Day Day Thomas in a starting backcourt. That trio, paired with Baba Miller and Moustapha Thiam in the frontcourt, may represent Cincinnati’s most balanced and effective five right now.
Shon Abaev, like Kriisa, has struggled to contribute consistently on the offensive end. And in a stretch where every possession counts, Miller can’t afford to wait for players to shoot their way out of slumps. Harris, meanwhile, brings defensive intensity and athleticism-two traits that align with the direction Miller appears to be leaning.
Tyler McKinley’s Status: Trending Up?
Freshman forward Tyler McKinley was dressed but didn’t see the floor against Clemson, still working through a bone bruise in his knee. While the injury isn’t expected to be long-term, it’s something the staff is clearly monitoring closely.
The good news? Cincinnati has a 16-day gap between games-plenty of time for McKinley to rehab and potentially return to action.
Even when he’s not stuffing the stat sheet, McKinley makes winning plays. He rebounds, deflects passes, dives for loose balls-those gritty, unglamorous things that often swing close games. And in a conference as physical as the Big 12, having a guy like McKinley in the rotation could be a quiet difference-maker.
Lipscomb Brings a Balanced Attack
Before Cincinnati turns its full attention to Houston, there’s business to handle against a Lipscomb team that’s playing some of its best basketball in years. The Bisons have climbed from No. 207 to No. 137 in KenPom, and they’ve done it with a balanced offensive attack and a dangerous perimeter game.
Grant Asman is the focal point. The forward leads Lipscomb in both points and rebounds, and he’s shooting a scorching 42.6% from deep. That kind of inside-out threat can stretch a defense thin, especially if Cincinnati’s rotations aren’t crisp.
Guards Mateo Esmeraldo and Ross Candelino are both averaging 11 points per game, giving Lipscomb multiple scoring options. And with 40.4% of their points coming from beyond the arc-at a respectable 34.8% clip-they’re a team that can catch fire quickly if left unchecked.
The Bottom Line
Wes Miller has a chance to reset his rotation and set the tone for the rest of the season. With Big 12 play looming and the margin for error shrinking, the time to experiment is now-not when the Bearcats are already deep in the conference grind.
Whether it’s James stepping back into a starting role, Harris getting more run, or McKinley returning to shore up the frontcourt, Cincinnati has the pieces. Now it’s about putting them in the right places.