Preview: Bearcats try to get Back on Track Against Florida A&M

Cincinnati is 2-0 all-time against the Rattlers.

CINCINNATI — The 89th Crosstown Shootout turned into a nightmare rivalry debut for UC men's basketball head coach Wes Miller. Xavier walloped Cincinnati (7-3) 83-63, and now the Bearcats have three games left before AAC play begins.

The Bearcats take on Florida A&M (2-6) on Tuesday night in Fifth Third Arena. This bout should be a game to work on weaknesses and get some players in rhythm ahead of conference play. Cincinnati is a 19-point favorite, and ESPN's matchup predictor has them winning 94.3% of the time. FAMU is 297th in KenPom and Cincinnati is 76th.

These teams have faced twice before, with Cincinnati winning both meetings. Unfortunately for FAMU, this current crop of Bearcats has the added motivation of playing in front of program greats. Cincinnati is honoring the 2000-01 Sweet 16 team at the game.

Tuesday's matchup is a tall, tall task to accomplish for FAMU, who hasn't defeated a Division 1 team this season and has stayed within ten points of one D1 squad. Senior guard MJ Randolph leads the team in scoring (17.8 PPG) and assists (3.9 APG).

The gunner has amassed nearly a third of the Rattlers points and lives within the three-point arc. Randolph likes to hunt his shot and use that gravity to create for his teammates, who haven't obliged very well in 2021. FAMU doesn't do anything well on offense as a team besides making free throws.

FAMU is outside the top-200 in every major offensive statistic other than shooting 74% at the line (84th). Jalen Speer is the only other player averaging double figures (10.8 PPG), and that's because he chucks up 5.3 three-pointers per game (29.7% from deep). The key team matchups don't spell out good omens.

The Rattlers are one of the worst shooting teams in the country (40.9% FG, 303rd), matched up against one of the best shot defending teams in the land. Cincinnati allows the eighth lowest shooting percentage of any D1 team (36.4%).

Height mismatches will be on full display as well. FAMU has one player over 6-foot-5 in its rotation, and it's caused them massive issues in the second most important part of the game besides making shots: rebounding.

Head coach Robert McCallum's team averages 31.6 rebounds per game (330th). They just don't have the bodies to keep up on the glass, which is a terrible identity to bring into Fifth Third Arena. Cincinnati has won seven games through depth and length attacking the glass (38.7 RPG, 79th).

The biggest way to chew through depth is causing chaos with foul trouble. No reason to worry about that on Tuesday. Cincinnati has struggled with the 69th most fouls per game, but no one gets into trouble against FAMU. They are 336th in opponent fouls per game (13.9).

Tuesday is a get-right game for Cincinnati, who needs to find some shooting rhythm at home. The Bearcats have played two true road games this season, scoring 59 and 63 points. Overall, Cincinnati ranks 286th in effective field goal rate. The physical advantages and sound ballhandling (10 turnovers per game, 18th-best nationally) can only take this team so far once AAC play starts at the end of the month.

Cincinnati has to find someone besides David Dejulius that can consistently fill up the cup. The search continues against FAMU at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

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