UC opens up Emerald Coast Classic in Florida against George Mason

NICEVILLE, Florida - Though they have technically played two initial games of the Emerald Coast Classic (victories over UNC-Central and Western Michigan) the University of Cincinnati men's basketball team begins the fun part of the trip Friday night. After spending Thanksgiving in the Tri-State tourist destination of Destin, UC travels across the bridge to mainland Niceville for a 7 p.m. tip with George Mason. 

The Patriots of George Mason are coming off a Tuesday night 15-point win over NC-Central, while UC just had their most effective game with a 78-52 pasting of Western Michigan Monday at Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats outrebounded Western Michigan 42-28 and outshot them 46.9 percent to 33.3, numbers that often equate to a win.

Jarron Cumberland was seen talking on the floor and spoke with his jump shot to the tune of 27 points. Nysier Brooks, who recorded his first double-double last Friday vs. Milwaukee, made it two-in-a-row with 15 points and 10 rebounds against Western Michigan.

Cumberland, who heard head coach Mick Cronin's remarks after their Milwaukee game, admitted he could be more vocal and stepped his game up Monday night.

"I was open and I knocked down shots," Cumberland said. "The big men got me open and the guards just got me the ball."

Broome getting a handle

After just five points against Ohio Stae and a goose-egg against North Carolina Central, Broome got the start against Milwaukee and responded with 17 points in over 36 minutes. With Justin Jenifer over his stomach virus, Broome was off the bench against Western Michigan but had 14 points in only 28 minutes.

Patriot games

George Mason has seven players who average in the 8-12 points per game range, but only four of them start. Javon Greene, a 6-2 guard is George Mason's fourth-leading scorer at 10.2 points per game but comes off the bench along with 6-7 forward AJ Wilson and 6-4 guard Ian Boyd. Head coach Dave Paulsen has been starting 6-7 forward Goaner Mar who has been limited offensively. UC has some height advantages with the Patriots having no starter over 6-7 and Greg Calixte at 6-8 playing just three minutes per game. 

Close but no cigar

George Mason has fallen short in some tight contests, losing 72-71 to Penn and 78-75 in overtime to American. They defeated Southern by just four, 69-65.

Unfortunately, UC cannot start this line-up

The last meeting between UC and George Mason came in the 1999 NCAA tournament with the Bearcats winning handily 72-48. The Bearcats started Pete Mickael, Melvin Levett, Steve Logan, Jermaine Tate and future consensus Player of the Year Kenyon Martin. Bob Huggins had an up and coming young assistant named Mick Cronin on the bench.

Niceville?

The Emerald Coast Classic is played in Niceville, home of Northwest Florida State College, the campus that brought UC fans Farad Cobb a few years ago. It is near Eglin Air Force Base near Boggy Bayou. It is less than 17 miles from Destin, but with tourist traffic that can be 30 minutes. For those beaching and balling, the toll on the Mid-Bay Bridge is $4 each way.

Scouting report

Dave Paulsen is in his fourth season coaching George Mason. The Patriots were 16-17 last season, with Paulsen's best season coming in 2016-17 when they won 20 and lost 14. The Patriots have dropped close games this season and let a 20-point halftime lead slide in a 98-89 loss to Georgia Southern.

The scoring is balanced as Jaire Grayer, Justin Kier, Javon Greene, AJ Wilson, Otis Livingston, Jared Reuter and Ian Boyd are at or within double digits any given night.

The 2018-19 Patriots are the only team in the nation to return 100 percent of their scoring offense and every player from a season ago. Mason's 4,306 combined career points as a team is the sixth-highest returning total in the country.

Paulsen's Patriots were picked fourth in the Atlantic 10. It was their highest ever predicted finish in the league. Tuesday night, George Mason beat UNC-Central 78-63, coming back from a 32-29 halftime deficit. Jarred Reuter led the Patriots with 24 points.

GEORGE MASON

Record: 2-3 

Offense: 76.4 ppg

Defense: 75.2 ppg

PROJECTED LINEUP

PLAYER POS. HT. KEY STAT

Otis Livingston G 5-11 8.2 ppg

Justin Kier G 6-4 12.2 ppg

Jaire Grayer G 6-5 12.0 ppg

Jarred Reuter F 6-7 11.8 ppg

Goaner Mar F 6-7 2.0 ppg

PLAYER TO WATCH

Justin Kier is George Mason's top scorer and top shooter at 55 percent from beyond the arc and 56 percent from the field. However, several Patriots have led the squad in scoring with Reuter most recently hitting for 24 points against UNC-Central.

CINCINNATI

Record:  3-1

Offense: 70.2 ppg

Defense: 57.5 ppg

PROJECTED LINEUP

PLAYER POS. HT. KEY STAT

Justin Jenifer G 6-0  5.0 ppg

Keith Williams G 6-5  9.8 ppg

Jarron Cumberland G 6-5 18.3 ppg

Trevon Scott F 6-8 9.8 ppg

Nysier Brooks C 6-11 9.8 ppg

THE GAME

Tipoff: 7 p.m. at Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Florida

TV/Radio: TV: CBS Sports Network/700 WLW/102.7 WEBN

NOTEWORTHY

Cat chat: UC plays George Mason Friday and the Ole Miss Rebels take on Baylor. The winners and losers would then square off Saturday. George Mason went to the Final Four in 2006, that same year Mick Cronin led Murray State to a second NCAA appearance in his tenure. Not long after he was named head coach of the Bearcats.

KenPom.com: 3-1 Cincinnati is No. 44. 2-3 George Mason is No. 151.