2011 NCAA Tournament: Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Missouri Tigers Preview

With the full field of the 2011 NCAA tournament about to get underway, it’s time to dissect the individual matchups in the second round. One of the closest on paper, if not in seeding, pits No. 6 seed Cincinnati against No. 11 seed Missouri.

As two middling teams from two tough conferences set to square off, what will determine the winner?

First and foremost, this game will be all about tempo. If the Bearcats can slow the pace and limit Missouri’s transition offense, they’ll win handily.

On the other hand, if the Tigers’ pressure speeds Cincinnati up and forces them into bad offensive possessions and turnovers, they’ll come out on top.

Both teams have some muscle inside, so the half-court game is likely to be decided by execution from the jump shooters. Cincinnati has had its issues this season with finding a go-to scorer (second leading scorer Dion Dixon has been held without a point on two occasions), so they’ll have to hope someone gets hot.

For Missouri, Marcus Denmon is a reliable leader on offense, but they’ll have to make sure their youngsters (notably guards Phil Pressey and Michael Dixon) don’t let nerves get the better of them on the big stage.

Perhaps the biggest factor, though, is the game’s location. With a neutral crowd in Washington, D.C., the Tigers (who have struggled away from home all year) may not be able to build the momentum they’ll need to implement their pressure.

Look for the Bearcats to survive one or two big runs and come away victorious.