The Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team exploded out of the gates with a 31-point demolition of Western Carolina—and this episode breaks down exactly why Wes Miller's squad could be dancing in March. Host Jeff Carr welcomes Russ Heltman to dissect the Bearcats' electrifying season opener, where freshman sensation Shon Abaev posted 18 points in the highest-scoring debut by a Cincinnati freshman since Sean Kilpatrick in 2010. Abaev's versatility—dunks, threes, and step-back jumpers—signals the arrival of a go-to scorer this program has desperately lacked throughout the entire decade.Transfer Baba Miller matched Abaev's 18-point output on a scorching 7-of-9 shooting, showcasing the "dunks and threes" shot diet that has Cincinnati currently ranked 7th nationally in offensive pace. Heltman describes Miller as "a leveled-up version of Dylan Mitchell" with superior ball-handling and the green light to attack in half-court situations. The Bearcats attempted 59 field goals with 28 three-point attempts and 30 free throws—a dramatic departure from the methodical, late-shot-clock offense that plagued previous seasons.The depth discussion reveals a 9-11 player rotation featuring impact contributors like Sincere "Buck" Harris, who delivered 6 points, 6 free throw attempts, and multiple steals in just 9 minutes before suffering a wrist injury (X-rays negative). Heltman projects Harris as "arguably the best on-ball defender in the entire Big 12 at the guard position," comparing his reckless abandon to beloved Cincinnati guards Gary Clark and Troy Coupain. Tyler McKinley and Jordi Rodriguez provide quality depth that allows sustained fast-pace play—a luxury this program hasn't enjoyed in years.Can the Bearcats overcome rebounding concerns (out-rebounded 14-7 on the offensive glass) and turnover issues (15 total) to reach the NCAA Tournament? Heltman boldly projects Cincinnati at 20-11 overall with a 9-9 Big 12 record, sneaking into the tournament as a 10-11 seed. The key factor—having a star who can create offense in half-court situations when plays break down, something this program has lacked throughout the Big 12 era. With Abaev and Miller leading a fast-paced attack and Harris providing defensive intensity off the bench, the Bearcats possess the weapons to avoid the typical January/February losing streak that has derailed previous seasons. Don't miss this comprehensive breakdown of Cincinnati's most promising basketball roster in years—complete with insider analysis, statistical deep dives, and tournament projections that will have Bearcats fans buzzing about March Madness! Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOBearcats?sid=YouTube Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege 0:00 Intro0:25 Welcome to Locked On Bearcats1:39 First impressions of Bearcats basketball season3:18 Fast-paced offense and running the floor5:12 Shon Abaev's impressive debut performance9:22 Baba Miller's offensive versatility and potential11:43 Rebounding concerns and areas for improvement14:04 Deep roster and eighth man rotation17:01 Sincere "Buck" Harris's intensity and impact20:39 Cleaning up turnovers against Georgia State22:53 NCAA Tournament predictions and expectations26:28 Avoiding mid-season losing streaks in conference28:11 Injury concerns and season outlook Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! DoorDashWith DoorDash Streaks, you save every Saturday you order — stack it up all season and you could save up to $250. 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