Cincinnati, Utah Seek to Ignite Struggling Offenses

Cincinnati heads to Salt Lake City on Tuesday for a Big 12 showdown against Utah, with both teams looking to reignite their faltering offenses and end their respective two-game losing streaks.

The Bearcats (12-7, 2-6 Big 12) come into the matchup after their worst game of the season, an 80-52 defeat at BYU on Saturday. Cincinnati’s struggles were highlighted by a dismal 3-point performance, as they shot just 17.9 percent (5-for-28) from beyond the arc while allowing BYU to hit 11 of 15 3-point attempts in the second half.

Cincinnati’s Offensive Woes

Cincinnati ranks at the bottom of the Big 12 in multiple offensive categories, including field-goal percentage (39.8 percent) and 3-point shooting (25 percent) during conference play. Their scoring average of 60 points per game in league action also places them last.

“We have a chance to be a good shooting team this year,” Bearcats coach Wes Miller said after the loss to BYU. “Point blank, we’ve got to shoot it better.”

Simas Lukosius leads Cincinnati with 12.3 points per game, though his production has dipped to 8.8 points per game in Big 12 play. However, Lukosius has scored in double figures in four consecutive games, including a team-high 14 points in Saturday’s loss.

The Utes (11-8, 3-5 Big 12) are also looking to bounce back after a 76-61 home loss to Baylor on Saturday. Like Cincinnati, Utah struggled from long range, shooting just 21.7 percent (5-for-23) on 3-point attempts, including a dismal 1-for-13 effort in the second half.

Utah’s offensive numbers mirror Cincinnati’s struggles. The Utes rank just above the Bearcats in 3-point shooting (26.5 percent) and average 63.3 points per game in conference play, ranking 14th in the Big 12.

Gabe Madsen, a former Cincinnati player, leads Utah with 14.8 points per game but has endured a significant slump in Big 12 play. He’s shooting just 25.3 percent overall and 18.8 percent from beyond the arc while averaging 9.3 points per contest.

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Coaches Reflect on Challenges

Utah coach Craig Smith addressed Madsen’s struggles after the Baylor game, acknowledging that the senior guard has never faced such adversity.

“A lot of times you can draw back on experiences,” Smith said. “But when you’ve never been through something like that, it’s probably a little bit harder because what experience do you have doing that?”

For both teams, Tuesday’s game represents an opportunity to hit the reset button and build momentum heading into the latter part of the conference schedule. Can Cincinnati rediscover its shooting form, or will Utah’s home-court advantage prove decisive?