The Cincinnati Bearcats visit the Utah Utes at the Jon M. Huntsman Center for a Big 12 clash on Tuesday night. Both teams are struggling in conference play, with Cincinnati sitting at 2-6 and Utah at 3-5. The Bearcats (12-7 overall) are coming off their worst performance of the season, while the Utes (11-8 overall) have dropped their last two games.
Both teams face similar offensive issues, ranking near the bottom of the conference in scoring and shooting efficiency. Cincinnati and Utah will each look to snap their losing streaks and improve their standing in the Big 12 with a win in this matchup.
Cincinnati Preview – Can the Bearcats Find Their Shot?
Cincinnati enters this game on a two-game losing streak, including an 80-52 blowout loss to BYU in their last outing. The Bearcats struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 17.9% (5-for-28) from three-point range. Overall, Cincinnati ranks last in the Big 12 in three-point shooting, making only 25% of their attempts in conference play.
Simas Lukosius has been a key contributor for the Bearcats, averaging 12.3 points per game. However, his scoring has dropped to 8.8 points per game in conference play, despite hitting double figures in his last four outings. Cincinnati will need more consistency from their supporting cast, as they average just 60 points per game in Big 12 play, the lowest in the league.
Defensively, Cincinnati has been solid, allowing opponents to shoot just 40.1% from the field. However, their inability to score consistently has put pressure on their defense. To win on the road, the Bearcats will need to improve their perimeter shooting and limit turnovers.
Utah Preview – Utes Look to Break Out of Slump
The Utes have also lost two straight, with their most recent defeat coming in a 76-61 game against Baylor. Like Cincinnati, Utah struggled from three-point range, hitting just 5 of 23 attempts (21.7%) and making only one three-pointer in the second half. Utah ranks 14th in the Big 12 in scoring at 63.3 points per game in conference play.
Gabe Madsen leads the Utes in scoring, averaging 14.8 points per game, but he has struggled significantly in conference play. Madsen is shooting just 25.3% from the field and 18.8% from three-point range in Big 12 games. Utah head coach Craig Smith has acknowledged that Madsen is in an unfamiliar slump, which has impacted the team’s offensive flow.
Utah’s defense has been a bright spot, as they rank 40th nationally in opponent field goal percentage (40.1%). The Utes will need to lean on their defensive intensity and home-court advantage, where they are 10-3 this season, to secure a much-needed win.
Betting Prediction
The Utes are slight favorites at -1.5, with the total set at 138.5 points. Both teams have struggled offensively in Big 12 play, which makes the under a compelling option. Utah’s strong home record and defensive consistency give them the edge in this matchup, especially against a Cincinnati team that has struggled to score on the road.
Expect a low-scoring game where Utah’s defense and slight home-court advantage help them pull out a close win. The Bearcats’ shooting woes and lack of offensive depth are likely to be their undoing.
Pick: Utah -1.5 and Under 138.5
