Texas Tech Coming To Town Gives Bearcats A Chance For First Quad 1 Win

Nick Niehaus and Eric Lilly bring you the midweek show.

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After starting 0-4 in Big 12 play, our Cincinnati Bearcats have bounced back with two straight wins. While victories over Colorado and Arizona State were much-needed, the real test comes Tuesday night when we host Texas Tech.

These past two games have shown flashes of what this team can be. Against Arizona State, we built a 16-point lead and held on for a 7-point win. It wasn't always pretty, but we're seeing improvement in key areas.

C.J. Fredrick's return from injury provided a spark off the bench. Though his stat line was modest (6 points in 16 minutes), his presence opened things up offensively. When he's on the floor, defenses have to account for his shooting ability.

We're still struggling from three-point range as a team (22% vs ASU), but our transition offense looked much improved. We outscored the Sun Devils 25-2 in fast break points, a huge factor in the win.

Defensively, we remain elite - currently ranked 7th nationally by KenPom. If we can continue to create turnovers and get out in transition, it takes pressure off our half-court offense.

Now comes our biggest test yet - a home date with Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are 13-4 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 play. They're coming off an impressive win over Arizona and sit 12th in KenPom's rankings.

Tech is a balanced team, ranking 10th offensively and 35th defensively. They're led by J.T. Topping, who's nearly averaging a double-double (16 points, 9 rebounds). Their roster is filled with transfers from mid-major programs who have gelled quickly.

This game feels like a potential turning point for our season. A win would be our first signature victory and silence some of the doubters. A loss would undo much of the goodwill from the past two games.

We have some advantages to exploit. Texas Tech is undersized compared to us, so dominating the glass will be crucial. They're also on short rest after playing Saturday, while we've had an extra day to prepare.

Ultimately, this is a chance to prove we belong among the Big 12's best. We're overdue for a statement win at home. If we can play with the same energy and execution we've shown the past two games, we have a real shot at the upset.

The Bearcats need to play desperate, win 50/50 balls, and take advantage of our size edge inside. Do that, and we might just send a message to the rest of the conference on Tuesday night.