If you watched any of UC’s game against Tulane yesterday, you may have wondered what that noise was inside the fieldhouse in New Orleans. Well, it was the sound of the UC students chanting Down the Drive incessantly and losing their minds over the stellar performance by the Bearcats. The Rally Cats represented on Bourbon Street.
While Larry Davis and UC may have allowed Tulane to be their Valentine by escaping Clifton with a W, yesterday was a different story, altogether. The Cats led this game from the tip, holding Tulane to just 16 points in the 1st half. The Cats led by as many as 23 points, and Tulane never led…or competed. UC is now 20-9 overall, and 11-5 in the AAC.
Kevin Johnson started 3-3 from 3 in the 1st half, and led the team for the game with 15 points. Ellis had a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards. Shaq Thomas also scored 11 points – now 3 straight games in double-figures.
UC shot the ball 47.2% for the game (50% in 2nd half) and took 7 more shots in the game. The Bearcats also made a 3-point-shot unlike round 1 at Fifth Third Arena. In fact, UC went 7-15 from 3 for 46.7%. The Bearcats out-rebounded Tulane 40-26. The Cats also took advantage of points in the paint 34-18.
The Cats held Tulane to 34.8% shooting and 47 points total, dominating on D in the Big Easy. If you had any questions whether UC was a tournament team, they answered all of them by performing comfortably and confidently, exacting revenge with precision against poor Tulane.
Next up, UC faces AAC leader Tulsa on the road for the first and only matchup on Wednesday, March 4th at 9 pm ET on CBS Sports Network. They then host Memphis at home to close out the regular season. While these are not necessarily must win games, the Cats must play very well in these games as they are currently teeter-tottering as a bubble team right now. Most analysts have them in, but you never know what the elitist establishment might be cooking.
By Andy Smith