Ohio State vs. Cincinnati: Why Bearcats Will Pull off Upset over Old Rival

The Ohio State Buckeyes may be favored to win by eight points over No. 6 Cincinnati in Vegas…so jump on the Bearcat bandwagon now.

The  ‘Cats match up well against their cross-state rivals, and here are five reasons Cincinnati advances to the Elite Eight in Boston while the Buckeyes get bounced as a higher seed in the Sweet 16 for the second straight year.

1. Cincinnati’s Defense

Not counting a double-OT affair, the Bearcats have allowed under 70 points in 10 straight games. The four-guard attack is incredibly active in the passing lane, led by point guard Cashmere Wright, whom averages 2.1 steals per game.

With a bruiser in Yancy Gates down low who isn’t afraid to throw his 6’9’’, 260-pound body around on the floor, this entire team dives for every loose ball. If there was a stat to measure the amount of 50-50 balls a team gets, the Bearcats would be at the top of the leaderboard. Coupled with their intense physicality, nobody is pushing around Cincinnati.

2. Bearcats are Red Hot

At 11-3 in their last 14, the Bearcats are clearly playing their best basketball lately. Of those 11 wins, four have come against teams given a No. 4 seed or higher in the tournament.

The crosstown shootout brawl was an awful event, but it has rejuvenated the team to play some of the most inspiring basketball in the nation. Few teams are as hot as Cincinnati at the moment.

3. History

Thursday’s game marks the 50th anniversary of when Cincinnati beat Ohio State for the second straight year in the national title game.

Since then, they have played a grand total of once (2006), and that was in the Wooden Tradition tournament by chance. The Ohio State athletic department has ignored Mick Cronin’s attempts to try and get a regular series against the two, and it’s a slight to the Bearcats.

This is certainly going to give Cincinnati extra motivation to prove their worth in the Buckeye State.

4. Yancy Gates Can Limit Jared Sullinger

Few players have the strength and quickness to keep up with the sophomore Sullinger, but Gates does. He was pushing around Florida State’s physical front line like they were a junior college, and you can bet the fiery personality is out for blood against the one post player in the state that gets more credit.

The senior is playing in the tournament for the last time and the desperation is going to show on every play. Combined with the urge to keep raising his NBA stock and you have a man on a mission.

Sully better bring his hard hat in the paint.

5. Incredible Pressure on Ohio State

Baring a shocking change-of-heart, the Buckeyes are going to lose Sullinger to the NBA after the season, thus ending their window for a title until they land another outstanding big man. They’ll be losing senior William Buford as well.

If the game begins to slip away in the second half this team could be in store for a meltdown, like so many other groups that know this is the end of the line.

Cincinnati is playing with house money, already exceeding expectations. If Ohio State loses in the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year, a once promising season will ultimately be deemed a massive disappointment.

That’s a ton of pressure for a bunch of 18- to 22-year-olds.

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