The RoundHouse | 2/18/2018 11:59:00 AM

By Paul Suellentrop
  
No. 19 Wichita State at No. 5 Cincinnati
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Records: Wichita State 20-5, 10-3 American; Cincinnati 23-3, 12-1
Listen: KEYN 103.7 FM/goshockers.com
Watch: ESPN
 
Wichita State last played a top-five team this late in the season in 1983 when it lost at No. 4 Memphis, a non-conference opponent, on Feb. 7. It played No. 2 Indiana State on Feb. 25, 1979, its most recent top-five conference game in February.
 
The Shockers can make the American race a race and re-launch their candidacy for a geographically protected NCAA seed on Sunday. A road win should push them back toward a top-four seed.
 
While it's important, the nice thing about the American is that I don't consider it make-or-break for those elite goals. The Shockers get Cincinnati at home and then, perhaps, could play Houston and/or Cincinnati again in the American tournament. Temple, by that time, may join that group as a powerful victory. There could be more opportunities to enhance an NCAA resume, but none as helpful as a win at the RPI's No. 8 team.
 
The Bearcats are an elite defensive unit, a product of coach Mick Cronin's enthusiasm for that part of the game, his team's athletic ability, desire and depth. Cincinnati ranks No. 2 nationally, according to kenpom.com, by holding opponents to .850 points per possession (the national average is 1.055).
 
The Bearcats block shots on 16.1 percent of attempts, No. 6 nationally. Those deterrents around the rim hold opponents to 40.2 percent shooting on two-point shots, No. 2 nationally, according to kenpom.com. There are few easy three-pointers – opponents make 30.3 percent.
 
Cincinnati, while playing aggressive defense, isn't foul-prone. American opponents attempted 20 or more free throws three times in 13 games. It has out-scored American opponents 200-129 from the line.
 
Depth helps in all those areas. The Bearcats can bring in big men such as sophomore Trevon Scott and maintain strong defense. Nine Bearcats plays between 10 and 33 minutes.
 
The final piece of Cincinnati's defense is forcing turnovers. Its guards will try to bully Shocker guards out of their path and disrupt the timing of the offense. Opponents end possessions with a turnover 23 percent of the, 11^th nationally according to kenpom.com.
 
Bearcats forward Gary Clark averages 12.8 points, 8.7 rebounds. 2 assists. 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks. He leads Pomeroy's all-conference ranking, followed by teammate Jacob Evans. Evans averages a team-leading 13.6 points.
Clark is the team's motor, leader, driver, whatever term fits. He can make threes (40.5 percent) and defend all over the court.
 
After Thursday's win over Temple, Shocker coach Gregg Marshall talked about Shaq Morris and Darral Willis carrying the Shockers. Even in the American, the Shockers enjoy a physical and experience edge most games with those two and Rauno Nurger. Cincinnati can match the Shockers.
 
Morris is playing the best basketball of his Shocker career and averaged 14.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in 13 American games. He's scored 19 or more points in four of the past six games. The Bearcats are an NCAA Tournament quality opponent and Morris' track record in games against top big men in those situations is solid.
 
Last season, he scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 28 minutes against Kentucky and NBA Draft pick Bam Adebayo. As a sophomore, he scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds in 25 minutes in a loss to Miami. He recorded seven points, seven rebounds and two blocks against Arizona in 17 minutes.
 
The Shockers are one of the nation's best offensive teams and a good defensive team. While they're capable of winning defensive struggle, it is not their best path. Morris and Willis scoring and drawing fouls is critical to Wichita State's offensive efficiency.
 
As Marshall detailed after Thursday's game, the Shocker identity is titled more toward scoring than in most seasons. With Fred VanVleet, Ron Baker and Tekele Cotton, Marshall rolled out three elite college defenders – mentally as much or more than physically. Add in Evan Wessel's smarts, toughness and persistence and those teams were built to make scoring difficult. This season's team isn't built the same way. Its scoring abilities, however, are enough to compensate.
 
"This particular team is what it is," Marshall said after the 93-86 win over Temple. "They can score. Unfortunately, with some of the skill players you don't get the same toughness and defense as from a Tekele Cotton, who was a tremendous defender but also had a hard time scoring."

The Bearcats, winners of 39 consecutive home games (the nation's longest streak), are coming off a 67-62 loss at Houston on Thursday. The Cougars out-rebounded the Bearcats by nine (the fourth time this season for that to happen) and made 7 of 17 threes. Houston's 11 offensive rebounds led to 17 second-chance points. The Cougars snapped Cincinnati's 16-game win streak. 

Xavier, which routed the Bearcats 89-76, beat them by 17 on the boards and scored 19 second-chance points on 13 rebounds. The Musketeeters, playing at home, enjoyed a 15-point edge at the foul line.

Those are difficult to duplicate, but those stats provide a path the Shockers need to follow. 

Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.