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What to know as Cincinnati Bearcats host Virginia Tech Hokies in NIT opener

Scott Springer
Cincinnati Enquirer
  • Here's a look at the University of Cincinnati men's basketball NIT game with Virginia Tech. The Bearcats and Hokies play Wednesday at 9 p.m. at Fifth Third Arena.

Though they had to wait for all of the NCAA Selection Sunday shows to end to discover their fate, the University of Cincinnati men's basketball team shall ride again.

The Bearcats are a No. 4 seed hosting Virginia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference at 9 p.m. Wednesday night. Tickets at reasonable prices went on sale Monday morning.

"You get to keep playing basketball in March," UC coach Wes Miller said. "There's something to being in a program that doesn't have spring break. We don't want to be a spring break program. We've got to get back to where Cincinnati basketball doesn't even think about spring break."

More:Cincinnati Bearcats will face Virginia Tech Hokies in NIT first round on Wednesday

It's UC's 45th postseason appearance and their first in the NIT since 2010. The Bearcats and Hokies were conference mates in the old Metro and last played during the first two seasons of the Bob Huggins era. UC last defeated Virginia Tech Jan. 19, 1991, at home 77-61. That UC team also made an NIT appearance then followed up in 1991-92 with an NCAA Final Four date.

"They weren't even frickin' born," Miller said of his players. "There's so many examples of this event and this tournament helping a program grow and move forward. You've still got a chance to win a championship and that's pretty neat. You've got a chance to do something up in the rafters."

Recent NIT champions were Memphis in 2021 (with Landers Nolley II as MVP) and Xavier last season. Miller hopes UC fans appear in Fifth Third Arena Wednesday night with the same hopes.

"We need 'em!" Miller said. "Don't think that we wouldn't rather be playing in the NCAA tournament. But, we are still playing and we need the support and we need Fifth Third to rock like it has all year."

Cincinnati Bearcats guard Landers Nolley II (2) dunks during UC's game vs. USF Feb. 11 at Fifth Third Arena. Nolley started his college career at Virginia Tech before transferring to Memphis then here.

As for local ties, former UC Athletic Director Whit Babcock holds the same job at Virginia Tech and UC's Landers Nolley II spent his first two seasons with the Hokies. As a redshirt freshman, he was their leading scorer at 15.5 points per game.

Virginia Tech coach Mike Young used to be at Wofford in the Southern Conference where he held a 10-8 advantage over UC coach Wes Miller when he was at UNC-Greensboro.

"He's a great coach," Miller said. "You'll see as you watch their team play. They run some of the best stuff in college basketball. There's very few teams in college basketball that play the way they play and have the shooting across the board that they have."

UC vs. Temple preview

Tip: 9 p.m., Wednesday, March 15, Fifth Third Arena (12,012)

TV/Radio: ESPN2/1530 WCKY

Series info: Virginia Tech leads 18-12

Virginia Tech Hokies scouting report

Virginia Tech 19-14 (8-12 ACC)

Coach: Mike Young (73-50, fourth season)

Offense: 74.2 ppg

Defense: 69.8 ppg

Projected lineup

(Position, Height, Stats)

Justyn Mutts (F, 6'7", 13.2 ppg)

Grant Basile (F, 6'9", 16.4 ppg)

Sean Pedulla (G, 6' 1", 15.2 ppg)

Hunter Cattoor (G. 6'3", 10.2 ppg)

M.J. Collins (G, 6'4", 4.2 ppg)

Cincinnati Bearcats scouting report

Cincinnati (21-12, 11-7 AAC)

Coach: Wes Miller (39-27, second season)

Offense: 77.2 ppg

Defense: 69.2 ppg

Projected lineup

(Position, Height, Stats)

Landers Nolley II, (G/F, 6'7", 16.6 ppg)

David DeJulius (G, 6', 14.5 ppg)

Viktor Lakhin (F, 6'11", 11.6 ppg)

Mika Adams-Woods (G, 6'3", 9.3 ppg)

Ody Oguama (F, 6'9", 5.2 ppg)

Players to watch

Virginia Tech Hokies forward Grant Basile (21) shoots the ball against Florida State Seminoles guard Darin Green Jr. (22) and guard Matthew Cleveland (35) at Cassell Coliseum.March 4.

Grant Basile

Virginia Tech's Basile is a grad student transfer from Wright State where he was a two-time second-team Horizon League player. Basile had a high of 33 points at Notre Dame Feb. 11 and a high of 10 rebounds at Syracuse Jan. 11.

David DeJulius scored 30 points on Senior Day March 5, but had off days shooting in the AAC tournament against Temple and Houston.

David DeJulius

Coach Wes Miller has often said the Bearcats go as David DeJulius goes. After a career-high 30 points on Senior Day March 5, DeJulius struggled with 2-of-10 shooting against Temple in the AAC tournament, but the Bearcats didn't need him in a 30-point win. The following day he was 1-of-10 against Houston in the semifinal where the entire team struggled.

Keys to the game

A healthy, effective Viktor Lakhin could propel UC in the NIT.

The return of blockin' Lakhin

A day after tying an AAC tournament record with seven blocks, UC's redshirt sophomore Viktor Lakhin was held to 3 points on four shots with 1 block versus Houston's bigs. Like UC, Virginia Tech struggles when big man, Basile, is in foul trouble. The one who can stay effective in the game the longest could advance his team. UC fell woefully short in points in the paint, 38-12 against top-seed Houston.

Bring it off the bench

Dan Skillings Jr. had a career-high 20 versus Temple last Friday and displays moves that pro scouts have noticed. Jeremiah Davenport was just 2-of-10 shooting in two days in Fort Worth. One or both of them need to click for the Bearcats to survive and advance. Should UC win they would face Hofstra Saturday or Sunday. Hofstra defeated No. 1 seed Rutgers 86-84 in overtime Tuesday. Beyond Wednesday, Fifth Third Arena is unavailable due to pre-scheduled floor replacement.

Ratings

NCAA NET: Cincinnati is No. 70, Virginia Tech No. 76

KenPom.com: Cincinnati is No. 54, Virginia Tech No. 81