Dec. 31, 2011

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Cincinnati Game Notes

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The University of Cincinnati begins BIG EAST Conference play Sunday at No. 22 Pittsburgh. The contest starts at 7 p.m. ET and will be televised by FOX Sports Ohio.

The Bearcats (10-3, 0-0 BIG EAST) have won their last five games, including a thrilling 56-55 comeback win over Oklahoma on Thursday at US Bank Arena in downtown Cincinnati. Cashmere Wright’s layup at 8.8 seconds helped UC rally from a 12-point deficit with 6:31 left.

Pitt (11-3, 0-1 BIG EAST) lost for the second game in a row Wednesday at Notre Dame, dropping a 72-59 decision.

The Panthers won last year’s meeting with UC 71-59 in Pittsburgh.

GAME AT A GLANCE
Series Info: 16th meeting; Pittsburgh leads 8-7 overall; Pitt leads 5-2 in Pittsburgh; UC leads 5-2 in Cincinnati; Pitt leads 1-0 at neutral sites. STREAK - Pitt has won the last five games.
Last Meeting: Pitt won 71-59 at Peterson Events Center on Feb. 5, 2011.
Coaches: Mick Cronin is in his sixth season at Cincinnati (97-80); ninth season overall (166-104). Cronin is 1-7 vs. Pitt. Jamie Dixon is in his ninth season at Pitt (227-63); ninth season overall (227-63).
Rankings: Pitt is ranked No. 22 in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll for Dec. 26. UC is not ranked.
Radio: 550 WKRC-AM; Tom Gelehrter provides play-by-play alongside color analyst Chuck Machock.
Mel Check serves as engineer.
TV: BEN/FSO; Rob King provides play-by-play alongside color analyst Brooke Weisbrod. John Wilson serves as producer. Scott Bartlett is directing. (The UC-Pitt game will be televised on the main FSOhio cable channel in the Cincinnati area as well as on FSCincinnati on Direct TV, Dish Network and AT&T. For viewers outside the Cincinnati area, the game will be on the alternate channel. (For other viewing areas visit: www.foxsportsohio.com/pages/channelfinder).
UC Twitter Page: @GoBEARCATS

STREAKS, STORYLINES AND SIDEBARS
-UC begins its seventh season of play in the BIG EAST Conference Sunday at Pittsburgh. The Bearcats  posted a school record 11 BIG EAST wins last season en route to tying West Virginia for sixth place in the league standings at 11-7.
-UC is 4-2 in BIG EAST openers, having won its last two.
-The Bearcats won their last four BIG EAST road games to conclude last season’s slate. 
-Cincinnati is looking for its first win at Pitt since a 78-75 overtime victory on Jan. 10, 1979. UC is 0-3 at Pitt since joining the BIG EAST.
-The Bearcats are averaging 12.4 three-pointers over their last five games compared to 5.4 during their first eight games of the season.
-Sean Kilpatrick leads UC in scoring since the switch to a four-guard attack, averaging 17.2 points with 18 three-pointers and 15 steals in the last five games. He has scored in double figures in 11 consecutive games.
-Cashmere Wright has handed out 31 assists with only five turnovers (6.2-to-1 assists-to-turnover ratio) during the last five games.