Cincinnati beats DePaul 76-60 to stay perfect
CINCINNATI — With its defense making the difference, Cincinnati opened Big East play with a perfect record.
Larry Davis scored a season-high 20 points, and the undefeated Bearcats opened Big East play by beating DePaul 76-60 on Tuesday night with a dominating first half set up by its energetic defensive pressure.
The Bearcats (13-0) extended their best start since the 2003-04 season, when they also won their first 13 under coach Bob Huggins. The gaudy record hasn't gotten a lot of attention — Cincinnati has had the fourth-easiest schedule in Division I and got to open conference play against the Big East's bottom team.
"People can continue to think we're not very good, so that can keep us hungry," coach Mick Cronin said.
Dion Dixon added 16 points and Yancy Gates had 15 in a balanced offense. After a sluggish start, Cincinnati took control with a 34-6 run sparked by its trapping defense.
"I'm impressed with their team," coach Oliver Purnell said. "I thought they played pretty well and under control with good balance. I'm just very impressed with them. What don't they have?"
As the pressure continued, DePaul (6-7, 0-1) came apart, repeatedly shooting air balls and throwing the ball away — a familiar performance on the road, where the Blue Demons have lost their last 24 games. Cleveland Melvin had a career-high 24 points for DePaul.
Cincinnati tore through one of the nation's easiest nonconference schedules, ranked No. 342 out of the 345 Division I teams. The Bearcats are counting on a solid showing in the Big East to get them into the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005, Huggins' final season as coach.
They eased into Big East play as well, taking on its worst team in their conference opener. Up next is Seton Hall, also at home.
"This is real important," Gates said. "The Big East is so tough, you play so many games. Especially having the first two Big East games at home, you want to have a fast start and try to get wins."
The Blue Demons went 1-17 in the conference last season, losing their final 13 games. Purnell left Clemson to try to resurrect the program.
It's going to take time.
The Blue Demons have lost 24 road games in a row since a win at Illinois-Chicago on Nov. 22, 2008. They got off to a solid start on Tuesday, pulling ahead 6-1 as the Bearcats missed their first six shots.
All downhill from there.
Cincinnati went on a 34-6 run that reminded the Blue Demons a lot of last season. The Bearcats turned up the halfcourt pressure, forcing DePaul to turn it over seven times and miss 18 of 21 shots during the crushing run to a 35-12 lead. Twice, guard Jimmy Drew threw the ball to Cincinnati's bench.
The Blue Demons managed only seven field goals in the first 18 minutes, six by Melvin. Only three Blue Demons managed to score during that span.
The Bearcats led by 23 in the first half, taking a 40-21 lead into the break. Davis made three 3s during the half for a game-high 11 points, extending his personal surge. Davis had 18 points — his previous season high — in a win over St. Francis, Pa., last Thursday.
"The difference is just putting in extra time, getting in before practice and after practice and getting some shots," Davis said. "I think I wasn't getting enough arch on my shot. I'm putting arch on it now, so it's starting to fall."
The Blue Demons never got closer than 14 points the rest of the way.