First Round Preview – Atlanta Region
No. 4 Cincinnati versus No. 13 East Tennessee State
Despite their second round failures, the Bearcats have never been truly upset during the first round under head coach Bob Huggins. The Buccaneers are the perfect team to buck that trend. Leading East Tennessee State is the inside-out due of guard Tim Smith and forward Zakee Wadood. The two finished one-two in voting for Southern Conference Player of the Year, with Wadood taking the honors. However, they are equally dangerous. Wadood averaged 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, while Smith average 17.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Smith, who at 5-foot-9 is always at a height disadvantage, makes up for it with his blinding speed. Following the lead of its point guard, the Buccaneers like to get up and down. On defense they pressure the ball as well as anyone in the nation, as they led all Division I teams in steals. Four of its five starters average double figures, while James Anthony rounds out the lineup with a 9.8 points per game average.
The Bearcats invited a distraction into the team with the re-instatement of Robert Whaley Tuesday. The 6-foot-10 junior left the team after its Feb. 21 against Louisville and the team responded by winning six of its last seven games. With the addition of Whaley, Cincinnati will have a size advantage inside, as most of ETSU’s lineup is no taller than 6-foot-5. The Bearcats are riding the hot shooting of Tony Bobbitt into the tournament. The senior was the MVP of the C-USA tourney, averaging 12.7 points and shooting 53 percent from beyond the three-point line during three games. Where UC will have its greatest height advantage is in the backcourt, as 6-foot-7 James White and 6-foot-8 Armein Kirkland have split point guard duties down the stretch. Huggins is not afraid to use these two on the blocks, as Kirkland won his team’s quarterfinal game against Louisville after posting up the smaller Taquan Dean. If Bobbitt hits his shots and Cincinnati’s taller guards can control the tempo, they should win. If the Buccaneers are able to run and force turnovers, this could be an upset special.
