November 20, 2025 • 20 mins
Tony and Austin talk with Keegan Nickoson from BearcatJournal.com about UC football and hoops on ESPN 1530!
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is Tony Pike Cincy three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati,
sponsored in hard by Penn Station East Coast Subs. Hand
prep it hot grilled subs, fresh cut fries and lemonade.
It's all about good taste. Penn Station East Coast Subs
orderum line Today. This is ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
All right, welcome back our number three. We thank our
friends at Penn Station. We thank you for sticking with us,
listening along on ESPN fifteen thirty or via the iHeartRadio app.
Let's keep it going on a Thursday afternoon and our
number three. We kick things off now and through the
college basketball season with our guy covering the Bearcats for
Bearcat Journal dot Com. Kegan Nickoson is with us right now. Hi, Kegan,
(00:53):
how are you?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
I could not be better.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
It's Thursday at two, so it's my favorite minutes of
the week.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Thank you, Kegan. We appreciate that. I can tell your
excitement to join us today. Does that match, in your opinion,
the excitement from Wes Miller about playing tomorrow night at
Heritage Bank Arena.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
It matches my excitement for me getting a crown on my.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Teeth like in a month maybe, or getting like a
root canal, because that's what the Arcy cola is going
to do to my life. But I don't know.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
This whole situation is weird. I don't know the exact
ins and outs of how scheduling these things works or
why they couldn't do a home and home. I'm sure
as every negative thing about College of Athletics, it came
down the money, just like the Arrowhead.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Game to start the football season. So yeah, I don't
think he loves it.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
I don't think Pat Kelsey loves it, and I know
the fans definitely don't love it seeing the amount of
tickets that are still available for this game.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
All right, so let's take away the arena, which I
know makes a difference with depth, perception and things like that.
Let's take away the arena. Let's take away the crowd
this game itself. Is there a path that you see
can keep this close and put pressure on to maybe
upset Louisville late in the game, And if so, what
is that path?
Speaker 4 (02:17):
I think the path is using your size. I think
that they're more talented at the center and the four
with Baba Miller and your staffa cham than Louisville is
at those positions.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
But I just think that.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Their guards are way too good for you see to
deal with them. And you see has two good defensive
guards in Dayde Thomas and Sincere Harrits, who are both
they might have to play like thirty minutes. It's louis
built in order to come out with a win somehow.
But you know, Isaac McNeely, Ryan Conwell, Michael Brown and
(02:53):
then that kennisaf State kid, they're all really, really, really good.
And I think Brown is averaging nineteen point eight and
Ryan Conwell is averaging nineteen point three through four games
this year.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Both had really good games against Kentucky.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
So I think the past is there as in it
can happen. Cincinnati's a talented team with experienced players, but
I would be really really surprised if they were able to.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Pull out a win. I think Louisville, as I said
last week, is a national.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Championship contender, and they've shown it through four games so far,
and especially against Kentucky.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
If the Bearcats can rely on something I know a
lot of people look into Ken Palm, you see as
rated very highly as it comes to team defense in
Ken Pom what makes them so talented or such a
tough matchup on the defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
I think it starts with since Your Harrison and Daya
Thomas taking away opposing team's best scorer. They did it
against Dayton with Javon Bennett kind of struggled in the
first two games. Jelanie Hamilton scored a lot for Georgia State,
and then the other leading scorer I think was at
Cole Stansbury.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
For whoever they played first.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
It's hip in my head right now, but I think
he went for twenty plus as well, so they kind
of got that together since then. But then you look
at the size and Nustafa Cham He supplies a lot
down low and he's starting to get his blocks going,
which is one of his best features of his entire game,
which he didn't really contribute much through the first two
or three games. So I think it starts to Sincere
(04:33):
Harris taking away a leading scorer, and if he could
do that against MIKEL.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Brown or Ryan Combo, whoever he's.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Going to be on, I think that would just contribute
a lot to the game and kind of putting Louisville
off of their game plan maybe or catching them off
guard and then that's when you can attack. So I
think with those two with Dana Thomas and since your
hair it's big, with the Dustafa Cham's length, it's big,
but then also.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Got the glue.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Guys like Tyler McKinley have played a really really good
role and especially rebounding and turning over.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Possessions for Uce.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
So yeah, I mean, Wes Miller loves defense and he's
always going to pride himself on defense, and I am
kind of surprised that he's been able to consistently have
that top fifteen, top ten defense and it looks like
he's got another one this year. I have.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Offensively, I know it's a little bit different style and
a pace in which they play that could be conducive
to turning the ball over a little bit more than
what is comfortable. They cut down on the turnovers against
Mount Saint Mary's and by the way, you watch Dayton
go on the road and beat Marquette last night, that's
a good sign. Mount Saint mary on the Road took
Maryland overtime. But the way they play and their style offensively,
(05:45):
is that just going to lead to this team turning
the ball over a little bit more than maybe you're
comfortable with.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Probably, I would say they'll probably be in the outside
top one hundred of offenses in terms of turning the
ball over when you look at those numbers about the
entirety of the season. But I think where the game
is decided and where you really.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Have to pay attention is those last eight minutes.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
How is the opposition handling the offensive and defensive sides
of the.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Ball and are they wearing down?
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Are they committing fouls? They are they committing turnovers? Are
they getting beat on the boards because they're just half
a second too slow because of UC's pace and how
much they've been able to wear them down.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
I think that's the important thing.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
You saw that against Mount Saint Mary's, you saw it
against Dayton, and how YUC is just kind of able
to take over the game and run run away with it.
So yeah, I think you're going to turn the ball
over and it's going to be frustrating. But I think
Cincinnati fans are pretty familiar with frustrating stuff with the
basketball team over the past few years, especially the free
(06:50):
throw numbers. But as long as they're winning and as
long as they're making a push a kidding in the tournament.
If you turn the ball over a few times, I
don't think fans will be that upset. String together some
key wins in the non conference, and as long as
the turnovers aren't horrible.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
And costing you games, I think they'll be okay with
the pace.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Let's switch gears to Saturday, big noon kickoff comes to
town BYU comes to town. This game a little less
big game feel because UC did not get it done
against Arizona and it was a lot of the same.
Just this team offensively has not had answers, it seems
to man demand has not had many answers to pressure.
We saw that against Nebraska, saw it against Utah, saw
(07:32):
it again last week against Arizona. How concerning is that
for you going forward, that these three toughest opponents have
caused this offense to sputter at times?
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Yeah, it's very concerning, especially since YU is going to
come in and probably play a lot of man as well,
not as much as Utah for Arizona did, but they
have the horses on defense to give U see a
lot of trouble. I think another big concerning thing is
they had thirteen days after the Utah game to try
to figure out a plan, and they all knew that.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
You know, teams are going to see what Utah.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Did and see that as the blueprint, and then they're
going to bring pressure and play tight man, and they're
going to see if they can beat us. And they did,
and there wasn't really any response. If you look at
that offense what they have done without those two big
plays by Toylie Walker, I think it was a forty
and fifty yard rush to kind of set up some scores.
(08:31):
So this offense cannot thrive on boom or bus running
plays and that's what it's been. And I think you
have to get back to your identity up front and
just run for six and seven yards of play if
you can, and then hit those play action shots. But
right now, I mean, the Joe Royer thing is really
(08:53):
interesting to me.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
How he only has four targets through the last three games.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
I don't know how much of a different Evan Pryor
can make besides maybe just bring some relief. And I'm
not under I'm not underplaying him at all because I
think he can make a big difference and just being
a guy who can get a dump off and make
a guy miss and go for fifteen yards in a
play that was.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Going to be an incompletion or maybe even a sack,
and then Caleb Goodie can take the top off.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
But I think the issues with this team are much
bigger than what those two guys coming back can fix.
And it's kind of feeling like last year when it's okay,
they just don't have the players that can beat Man
and they just have to get those players in this
offseason and then attack it again. And you know, they
took another step forward this year compared to last year,
(09:44):
And are you going to be able to get that
good of guys to the point where they can beat
zone and Man, Because those are the kind of guys
where LSU, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, those big
time teams are going to be knocking on the door
offering those guys a ton of money. So yeah, I
think it's going to be tough to fix it for
(10:05):
the BYU game.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
And that's probably why you see BYU being a favorite.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
But let me let me ask you, Tony, You've taken
a lot more snaps at a power for or a
Division I college football team at quarterback than I have.
What are you seeing that I'm not seeing or that
most fans might not be seen, you know?
Speaker 2 (10:26):
To me, for it's just I don't know if it's
a lack of confidence, but but I go back to
the answers and not having them. You know, it's one
thing if you're just exhausting the playbook. This team doesn't
run many screens to slow down the rush. You don't
see a ton of crossing routes against Man. Demand to me,
Joe Royer is the answer. He's the guy that you're
(10:47):
you're look leaning on to win those matchups. He's not
getting targeted. I feel like every defense pushes them outside
the hash marks. I feel like they don't attack the
middle of the field nearly enough.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
And I'm with you.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I think the alarming part is having the bye week
to come up with a game play and understanding, Okay,
the book's out, We've got to have an answer against Man,
and it doesn't feel like they have the answer. So
I think it's a little combination. I think Brendan Sowerzby's
playing with a little less confidence, which is easy to
get drawn into that when you're not winning and seeing
the results. But I also think they haven't equipped him
(11:21):
with enough answers to the puzzle that the defense is
throwing at him. And I feel like they have the
personnel to do that. That's the frustrating part. And to me,
it starts with Joe Royer, as you mentioned.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Yeah, and I'm also curious because Isaiah Johnson has been
really really good with the ball in his hands, especially
with those like pop passes and and to rounds. Is
it as easy as just, hey, let's draw up a
play for him, see if he can get a first
down and get the offense and rhythm or is that
something that you have to get into like as the
offense starts working now.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
I think that's something important in like those first ten
to fifteen scripted place which we've seen at times this year,
and then we didn't see as much motion last week.
We didn't see as much formation changing last week, and
I think there's something to be said for that as well.
How much, in your opinion, we saw this team get
the five and two last year and lost their last five.
(12:13):
This year, they win seven in a row, they've now
dropped too in a row. How much do they need
Saturday Night one because there still is an outside chance
things happen and you can find your way back to Dallas.
But two, if you lose Saturday and then you got
to turn to TCU to try to avoid losing four
in a row to to end the season, I feel
like it just almost erases the goodwill that was building
(12:34):
those seven games. How much importance of because of that
do you put on Saturday Night?
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Absolutely? And I think that the.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
Pitchforks are going to be out if they've finished seven
and five as much as they were after last.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Season finishing five and seven, because.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
There was so much made about how much more talent
they brought in, and I think that they did bring
in a ton of talent, and I think think that
all the receivers are much better. And we've talked about
all this and the running game was so good for
so long. Brendan swersby having a great season and then
somehow you're still finding ways to lose games that if
you want to be a Big twelve contender, which is
(13:16):
what they say their goal is, it's to play in
a Big twelve championship, you have to win those games,
and you're finding ways to lose them, and sometimes it
just seems like.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
You're latantly unprepared to play those games.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
So I think the difference between nine and three and
seven and five is obviously huge, but the difference between
eight and four and nine and three is also pretty big,
because if you lose the BYU and then beat TCU
is proving that they're just not a great team.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Still, people are going to think, Okay, who did.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
You really beat and whether it's fair or not, that's
what they're going to say. Because I think that an
eight and four season for this team is good and
I think it deserves the momentum.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
But people are just going to think we were right.
They're so close to.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Get into a big Toeve championship and get into back
to feeling like it's twenty twenty one, maybe even getting
into a playoffs, a few games or a few plays
for your way in that big top championship game, and
then it's just a complete and other collapse.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
At the end of the year.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
So yeah, I think Saturday is huge. If they win,
if they beat YU, I would expect them to carry
that momentum over and beat TFU, finish nine and three,
and then that sets them up for what can be
a successful offseason and then and then bouncing back next year.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
On the defensive side of the ball, Key, and I
feel like people are starting to grow a little impatient
with this bend but don't break style of defense, not
because of what it does for much of the game,
but in key moments a third down or a fourth
down where an easy throw is made and they move
the chains. And yes, they've done well to shrink the
field in the red zone, But do you sense a
little bit of a growing frustration in the style of
(14:54):
defense and their inability to get off the field at times.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
Yeah, The only thing I would say is that there's
a growing frustration, mainly because the offense is starting the
play worse. Like everyone was talking about, Hey, this defense,
this defense is at the end of the day.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Good enough. Like they're good enough.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
They're playing good enough to win games. They have good
enough players to make big plays with Jake Goldey, Jalen
Hunts had a really good year, Micah Coleman had a
good game against Arizona. And I think the other big
thing is Matthew McDoom was supposed to be a lockdown
player before the season, and then through the first six
(15:34):
games you kind.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Of saw, Okay, maybe we should peel back our expectations.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
He's not going to be that guy where he just
takes away a whole side of the field, but he's
still playing decent enough to prevent huge plays. Now against Arizona,
he gives up multiple big plays. I think he gave
up eighty four yards and was targeted eight times, so
that's a glaring issue. And then you're starting to see
the lack of discipline and safety's biding on run fakes,
(15:59):
leaving areas of the field wide open for Arizona to
hit through the pass.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
So I think the defense.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Against Arizona, despite everything I just said, still played good
enough for them to win that game.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
I don't think anyone would argue that.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
But the offense, it's the offense struggling just puts such
a magnifying glass on everything, especially since they were scoring
like thirty eight points a game for so long.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
But yeah, I think.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
Anytime the team's losing, the frustrations are going to be magnified.
But I also don't blame people for when it's third
and five and the dv is playing nine yards off,
basically just handing them a first down as a great
opportunity to get off the field and get the offense momentum.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Lastly, Keegan Saturday Night not only a nip at night,
but it's senior night as well. Talk about the importance
of what this group of seniors, a guy like Dante
Corleone has had on this program. Not only is time here,
but on the trajectory of where they're trying to go.
Always a special night for Senior Night, especially in this
it's such a different college football now with transfers and
(17:06):
guys not hanging around as long. How special and how
appreciative should those fans be of this group of seniors
on Saturday Night?
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Yeah? I think they should be very appreciative. And I
think one of the big things that guys like Dante Corleone.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Gavin Gerhart, and even Brady Lichtenberg did was they kept
belief in the fan base because a lot of the
fan base probably would have thought, well, why aren't these
guys leaving like they probably had better opportunities to play elsewhere.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
I know for a fact Dante corleon did after.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Last offseason the seeries that he had coming after him.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
So they kind of.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Infused the leaf to tell the fan base, Hey, if
they're not leaving and if they see something in this
coaching staff, maybe there's a chance that they could turn
it around and for this season they did. There's a
chance that it could be, you know, another flop with
these last two games, but I'm happy that these guys
got to go out on what could be a successful season.
(18:08):
Like Gavin Gerhardt has basically been a Bearcat since his
sophomore year of high school when he committed to U SEE,
and then he was at every game day for basically
every for all the seasons through his high school year,
and then he's six years that you see, he's pretty
much vacationed at Higher Ground every summer since he was
(18:28):
like fourteen, which is crazy.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
And then Dante Corleone could have.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Went to the NFL after last year, decided to come back,
and I talked to him after practice on Tuesday and
he said, hey, like, I think a lot of high
school recruits in Cincinnati should heavily consider playing for the
Bearcats because it's awesome to represent your hometome program. And
then he also just said, look, it's fun to have
moms cooking, so don't overlook how good it is to
(18:54):
have moms cooking when you're in college and be able
to drive twenty minutes down the road. But those guys
have been high character, great personality guys who have been
great representatives of the university University of Cincinnati, and I
think it's the end of an era when you see
those guys, especially like Kevin Garhart and Datta Cordeo, and
play their last game at Nippers Stadium. So I'm looking
(19:17):
for those guys to play out of their minds knowing
that it's their last chance to kind of get the
home crowd pumped.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Up, make it extra special to have it Nip and
Night be that last opportunity. Fans have been waiting for
it They've finally delivered. It should be a great atmosphere
Saturday night, a great opportunity Tomorrow night, Keegan. For those
following along, whether it's hoops, whether it's football, or everything
else bear caav related, what's the user way to do
so with.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
You follow at ka Nikos and forty two on X
and then make sure you're subscribe to Barricutt Journal.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
I'm going to have a ton of great stuff for
the Louisville basketball.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Game coming on Friday and then also the DYU game
coming on Saturday, So it's going to be a really
exciting weekend in Cincinnati.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Awesome, ke and I appreciate your time as always. Tell
my favorite Nickoson. I said, Hi, I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Yes, it's Keegan Nickoson Ferkat journal dot com. Why don't
you get his brother to come on next week? We
knew we should have that happen. We need to make
that happen. I'll tell you who's coming on next. The
head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats ahead of his tilt
tomorrow night at Heritage Bank Arena. Wes Miller joins us
next on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Is no better way to spend your afternoon unless you've
got Brooklyn Decker with you, and you don't. Lowagar Day
at three oh five on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station,
NITA space Ats Festives on and Tell
This is Tony Pike Cincy three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati,
sponsored in hard by Penn Station East Coast Subs. Hand
prep it hot grilled subs, fresh cut fries and lemonade.
It's all about good taste. Penn Station East Coast Subs
orderum line Today. This is ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
All right, welcome back our number three. We thank our
friends at Penn Station. We thank you for sticking with us,
listening along on ESPN fifteen thirty or via the iHeartRadio app.
Let's keep it going on a Thursday afternoon and our
number three. We kick things off now and through the
college basketball season with our guy covering the Bearcats for
Bearcat Journal dot Com. Kegan Nickoson is with us right now. Hi, Kegan,
(00:53):
how are you?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
I could not be better.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
It's Thursday at two, so it's my favorite minutes of
the week.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Thank you, Kegan. We appreciate that. I can tell your
excitement to join us today. Does that match, in your opinion,
the excitement from Wes Miller about playing tomorrow night at
Heritage Bank Arena.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
It matches my excitement for me getting a crown on my.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Teeth like in a month maybe, or getting like a
root canal, because that's what the Arcy cola is going
to do to my life. But I don't know.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
This whole situation is weird. I don't know the exact
ins and outs of how scheduling these things works or
why they couldn't do a home and home. I'm sure
as every negative thing about College of Athletics, it came
down the money, just like the Arrowhead.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Game to start the football season. So yeah, I don't
think he loves it.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
I don't think Pat Kelsey loves it, and I know
the fans definitely don't love it seeing the amount of
tickets that are still available for this game.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
All right, so let's take away the arena, which I
know makes a difference with depth, perception and things like that.
Let's take away the arena. Let's take away the crowd
this game itself. Is there a path that you see
can keep this close and put pressure on to maybe
upset Louisville late in the game, And if so, what
is that path?
Speaker 4 (02:17):
I think the path is using your size. I think
that they're more talented at the center and the four
with Baba Miller and your staffa cham than Louisville is
at those positions.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
But I just think that.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Their guards are way too good for you see to
deal with them. And you see has two good defensive
guards in Dayde Thomas and Sincere Harrits, who are both
they might have to play like thirty minutes. It's louis
built in order to come out with a win somehow.
But you know, Isaac McNeely, Ryan Conwell, Michael Brown and
(02:53):
then that kennisaf State kid, they're all really, really, really good.
And I think Brown is averaging nineteen point eight and
Ryan Conwell is averaging nineteen point three through four games
this year.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Both had really good games against Kentucky.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
So I think the past is there as in it
can happen. Cincinnati's a talented team with experienced players, but
I would be really really surprised if they were able to.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Pull out a win. I think Louisville, as I said
last week, is a national.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Championship contender, and they've shown it through four games so far,
and especially against Kentucky.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
If the Bearcats can rely on something I know a
lot of people look into Ken Palm, you see as
rated very highly as it comes to team defense in
Ken Pom what makes them so talented or such a
tough matchup on the defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
I think it starts with since Your Harrison and Daya
Thomas taking away opposing team's best scorer. They did it
against Dayton with Javon Bennett kind of struggled in the
first two games. Jelanie Hamilton scored a lot for Georgia State,
and then the other leading scorer I think was at
Cole Stansbury.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
For whoever they played first.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
It's hip in my head right now, but I think
he went for twenty plus as well, so they kind
of got that together since then. But then you look
at the size and Nustafa Cham He supplies a lot
down low and he's starting to get his blocks going,
which is one of his best features of his entire game,
which he didn't really contribute much through the first two
or three games. So I think it starts to Sincere
(04:33):
Harris taking away a leading scorer, and if he could
do that against MIKEL.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Brown or Ryan Combo, whoever he's.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Going to be on, I think that would just contribute
a lot to the game and kind of putting Louisville
off of their game plan maybe or catching them off
guard and then that's when you can attack. So I
think with those two with Dana Thomas and since your
hair it's big, with the Dustafa Cham's length, it's big,
but then also.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Got the glue.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Guys like Tyler McKinley have played a really really good
role and especially rebounding and turning over.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Possessions for Uce.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
So yeah, I mean, Wes Miller loves defense and he's
always going to pride himself on defense, and I am
kind of surprised that he's been able to consistently have
that top fifteen, top ten defense and it looks like
he's got another one this year. I have.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Offensively, I know it's a little bit different style and
a pace in which they play that could be conducive
to turning the ball over a little bit more than
what is comfortable. They cut down on the turnovers against
Mount Saint Mary's and by the way, you watch Dayton
go on the road and beat Marquette last night, that's
a good sign. Mount Saint mary on the Road took
Maryland overtime. But the way they play and their style offensively,
(05:45):
is that just going to lead to this team turning
the ball over a little bit more than maybe you're
comfortable with.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Probably, I would say they'll probably be in the outside
top one hundred of offenses in terms of turning the
ball over when you look at those numbers about the
entirety of the season. But I think where the game
is decided and where you really.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Have to pay attention is those last eight minutes.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
How is the opposition handling the offensive and defensive sides
of the.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Ball and are they wearing down?
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Are they committing fouls? They are they committing turnovers? Are
they getting beat on the boards because they're just half
a second too slow because of UC's pace and how
much they've been able to wear them down.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
I think that's the important thing.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
You saw that against Mount Saint Mary's, you saw it
against Dayton, and how YUC is just kind of able
to take over the game and run run away with it.
So yeah, I think you're going to turn the ball
over and it's going to be frustrating. But I think
Cincinnati fans are pretty familiar with frustrating stuff with the
basketball team over the past few years, especially the free
(06:50):
throw numbers. But as long as they're winning and as
long as they're making a push a kidding in the tournament.
If you turn the ball over a few times, I
don't think fans will be that upset. String together some
key wins in the non conference, and as long as
the turnovers aren't horrible.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
And costing you games, I think they'll be okay with
the pace.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Let's switch gears to Saturday, big noon kickoff comes to
town BYU comes to town. This game a little less
big game feel because UC did not get it done
against Arizona and it was a lot of the same.
Just this team offensively has not had answers, it seems
to man demand has not had many answers to pressure.
We saw that against Nebraska, saw it against Utah, saw
(07:32):
it again last week against Arizona. How concerning is that
for you going forward, that these three toughest opponents have
caused this offense to sputter at times?
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Yeah, it's very concerning, especially since YU is going to
come in and probably play a lot of man as well,
not as much as Utah for Arizona did, but they
have the horses on defense to give U see a
lot of trouble. I think another big concerning thing is
they had thirteen days after the Utah game to try
to figure out a plan, and they all knew that.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
You know, teams are going to see what Utah.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Did and see that as the blueprint, and then they're
going to bring pressure and play tight man, and they're
going to see if they can beat us. And they did,
and there wasn't really any response. If you look at
that offense what they have done without those two big
plays by Toylie Walker, I think it was a forty
and fifty yard rush to kind of set up some scores.
(08:31):
So this offense cannot thrive on boom or bus running
plays and that's what it's been. And I think you
have to get back to your identity up front and
just run for six and seven yards of play if
you can, and then hit those play action shots. But
right now, I mean, the Joe Royer thing is really
(08:53):
interesting to me.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
How he only has four targets through the last three games.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
I don't know how much of a different Evan Pryor
can make besides maybe just bring some relief. And I'm
not under I'm not underplaying him at all because I
think he can make a big difference and just being
a guy who can get a dump off and make
a guy miss and go for fifteen yards in a
play that was.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Going to be an incompletion or maybe even a sack,
and then Caleb Goodie can take the top off.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
But I think the issues with this team are much
bigger than what those two guys coming back can fix.
And it's kind of feeling like last year when it's okay,
they just don't have the players that can beat Man
and they just have to get those players in this
offseason and then attack it again. And you know, they
took another step forward this year compared to last year,
(09:44):
And are you going to be able to get that
good of guys to the point where they can beat
zone and Man, Because those are the kind of guys
where LSU, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, those big
time teams are going to be knocking on the door
offering those guys a ton of money. So yeah, I
think it's going to be tough to fix it for
(10:05):
the BYU game.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
And that's probably why you see BYU being a favorite.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
But let me let me ask you, Tony, You've taken
a lot more snaps at a power for or a
Division I college football team at quarterback than I have.
What are you seeing that I'm not seeing or that
most fans might not be seen, you know?
Speaker 2 (10:26):
To me, for it's just I don't know if it's
a lack of confidence, but but I go back to
the answers and not having them. You know, it's one
thing if you're just exhausting the playbook. This team doesn't
run many screens to slow down the rush. You don't
see a ton of crossing routes against Man. Demand to me,
Joe Royer is the answer. He's the guy that you're
(10:47):
you're look leaning on to win those matchups. He's not
getting targeted. I feel like every defense pushes them outside
the hash marks. I feel like they don't attack the
middle of the field nearly enough.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
And I'm with you.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I think the alarming part is having the bye week
to come up with a game play and understanding, Okay,
the book's out, We've got to have an answer against Man,
and it doesn't feel like they have the answer. So
I think it's a little combination. I think Brendan Sowerzby's
playing with a little less confidence, which is easy to
get drawn into that when you're not winning and seeing
the results. But I also think they haven't equipped him
(11:21):
with enough answers to the puzzle that the defense is
throwing at him. And I feel like they have the
personnel to do that. That's the frustrating part. And to me,
it starts with Joe Royer, as you mentioned.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Yeah, and I'm also curious because Isaiah Johnson has been
really really good with the ball in his hands, especially
with those like pop passes and and to rounds. Is
it as easy as just, hey, let's draw up a
play for him, see if he can get a first
down and get the offense and rhythm or is that
something that you have to get into like as the
offense starts working now.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
I think that's something important in like those first ten
to fifteen scripted place which we've seen at times this year,
and then we didn't see as much motion last week.
We didn't see as much formation changing last week, and
I think there's something to be said for that as well.
How much, in your opinion, we saw this team get
the five and two last year and lost their last five.
(12:13):
This year, they win seven in a row, they've now
dropped too in a row. How much do they need
Saturday Night one because there still is an outside chance
things happen and you can find your way back to Dallas.
But two, if you lose Saturday and then you got
to turn to TCU to try to avoid losing four
in a row to to end the season, I feel
like it just almost erases the goodwill that was building
(12:34):
those seven games. How much importance of because of that
do you put on Saturday Night?
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Absolutely? And I think that the.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
Pitchforks are going to be out if they've finished seven
and five as much as they were after last.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Season finishing five and seven, because.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
There was so much made about how much more talent
they brought in, and I think that they did bring
in a ton of talent, and I think think that
all the receivers are much better. And we've talked about
all this and the running game was so good for
so long. Brendan swersby having a great season and then
somehow you're still finding ways to lose games that if
you want to be a Big twelve contender, which is
(13:16):
what they say their goal is, it's to play in
a Big twelve championship, you have to win those games,
and you're finding ways to lose them, and sometimes it
just seems like.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
You're latantly unprepared to play those games.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
So I think the difference between nine and three and
seven and five is obviously huge, but the difference between
eight and four and nine and three is also pretty big,
because if you lose the BYU and then beat TCU
is proving that they're just not a great team.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Still, people are going to think, Okay, who did.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
You really beat and whether it's fair or not, that's
what they're going to say. Because I think that an
eight and four season for this team is good and
I think it deserves the momentum.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
But people are just going to think we were right.
They're so close to.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Get into a big Toeve championship and get into back
to feeling like it's twenty twenty one, maybe even getting
into a playoffs, a few games or a few plays
for your way in that big top championship game, and
then it's just a complete and other collapse.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
At the end of the year.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
So yeah, I think Saturday is huge. If they win,
if they beat YU, I would expect them to carry
that momentum over and beat TFU, finish nine and three,
and then that sets them up for what can be
a successful offseason and then and then bouncing back next year.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
On the defensive side of the ball, Key, and I
feel like people are starting to grow a little impatient
with this bend but don't break style of defense, not
because of what it does for much of the game,
but in key moments a third down or a fourth
down where an easy throw is made and they move
the chains. And yes, they've done well to shrink the
field in the red zone, But do you sense a
little bit of a growing frustration in the style of
(14:54):
defense and their inability to get off the field at times.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
Yeah, The only thing I would say is that there's
a growing frustration, mainly because the offense is starting the
play worse. Like everyone was talking about, Hey, this defense,
this defense is at the end of the day.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Good enough. Like they're good enough.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
They're playing good enough to win games. They have good
enough players to make big plays with Jake Goldey, Jalen
Hunts had a really good year, Micah Coleman had a
good game against Arizona. And I think the other big
thing is Matthew McDoom was supposed to be a lockdown
player before the season, and then through the first six
(15:34):
games you kind.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Of saw, Okay, maybe we should peel back our expectations.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
He's not going to be that guy where he just
takes away a whole side of the field, but he's
still playing decent enough to prevent huge plays. Now against Arizona,
he gives up multiple big plays. I think he gave
up eighty four yards and was targeted eight times, so
that's a glaring issue. And then you're starting to see
the lack of discipline and safety's biding on run fakes,
(15:59):
leaving areas of the field wide open for Arizona to
hit through the pass.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
So I think the defense.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Against Arizona, despite everything I just said, still played good
enough for them to win that game.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
I don't think anyone would argue that.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
But the offense, it's the offense struggling just puts such
a magnifying glass on everything, especially since they were scoring
like thirty eight points a game for so long.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
But yeah, I think.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
Anytime the team's losing, the frustrations are going to be magnified.
But I also don't blame people for when it's third
and five and the dv is playing nine yards off,
basically just handing them a first down as a great
opportunity to get off the field and get the offense momentum.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Lastly, Keegan Saturday Night not only a nip at night,
but it's senior night as well. Talk about the importance
of what this group of seniors, a guy like Dante
Corleone has had on this program. Not only is time here,
but on the trajectory of where they're trying to go.
Always a special night for Senior Night, especially in this
it's such a different college football now with transfers and
(17:06):
guys not hanging around as long. How special and how
appreciative should those fans be of this group of seniors
on Saturday Night?
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Yeah? I think they should be very appreciative. And I
think one of the big things that guys like Dante Corleone.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Gavin Gerhart, and even Brady Lichtenberg did was they kept
belief in the fan base because a lot of the
fan base probably would have thought, well, why aren't these
guys leaving like they probably had better opportunities to play elsewhere.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
I know for a fact Dante corleon did after.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Last offseason the seeries that he had coming after him.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
So they kind of.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Infused the leaf to tell the fan base, Hey, if
they're not leaving and if they see something in this
coaching staff, maybe there's a chance that they could turn
it around and for this season they did. There's a
chance that it could be, you know, another flop with
these last two games, but I'm happy that these guys
got to go out on what could be a successful season.
(18:08):
Like Gavin Gerhardt has basically been a Bearcat since his
sophomore year of high school when he committed to U SEE,
and then he was at every game day for basically
every for all the seasons through his high school year,
and then he's six years that you see, he's pretty
much vacationed at Higher Ground every summer since he was
(18:28):
like fourteen, which is crazy.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
And then Dante Corleone could have.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Went to the NFL after last year, decided to come back,
and I talked to him after practice on Tuesday and
he said, hey, like, I think a lot of high
school recruits in Cincinnati should heavily consider playing for the
Bearcats because it's awesome to represent your hometome program. And
then he also just said, look, it's fun to have
moms cooking, so don't overlook how good it is to
(18:54):
have moms cooking when you're in college and be able
to drive twenty minutes down the road. But those guys
have been high character, great personality guys who have been
great representatives of the university University of Cincinnati, and I
think it's the end of an era when you see
those guys, especially like Kevin Garhart and Datta Cordeo, and
play their last game at Nippers Stadium. So I'm looking
(19:17):
for those guys to play out of their minds knowing
that it's their last chance to kind of get the
home crowd pumped.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Up, make it extra special to have it Nip and
Night be that last opportunity. Fans have been waiting for
it They've finally delivered. It should be a great atmosphere
Saturday night, a great opportunity Tomorrow night, Keegan. For those
following along, whether it's hoops, whether it's football, or everything
else bear caav related, what's the user way to do
so with.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
You follow at ka Nikos and forty two on X
and then make sure you're subscribe to Barricutt Journal.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
I'm going to have a ton of great stuff for
the Louisville basketball.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Game coming on Friday and then also the DYU game
coming on Saturday, So it's going to be a really
exciting weekend in Cincinnati.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Awesome, ke and I appreciate your time as always. Tell
my favorite Nickoson. I said, Hi, I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Yes, it's Keegan Nickoson Ferkat journal dot com. Why don't
you get his brother to come on next week? We
knew we should have that happen. We need to make
that happen. I'll tell you who's coming on next. The
head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats ahead of his tilt
tomorrow night at Heritage Bank Arena. Wes Miller joins us
next on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Is no better way to spend your afternoon unless you've
got Brooklyn Decker with you, and you don't. Lowagar Day
at three oh five on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station,
NITA space Ats Festives on and Tell
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