Know Your Opponent: California State Bakersfield Roadrunners edition

The Bearcats look to bounce back from the tough loss against Pitt while playing their 3rd game in 5 days against Cal State Bakersfield. CSB has one of the most awesome nicknames in sports, the Roadrunners. Sadly for them, they have been more like Wile E. Coyote than the Roadrunner this season with a 2-11 record. They are one of the worst teams in the nation, certainly in the bottom third. The Cats should have no problem putting them away. It would be great to see the starters play well early and get some rest for the next game in the Big East grind against Seton Hall Saturday. Let's take a look inside the numbers to see what we can expect from the Bearcats and the Roadrunners tonight. Meep meep.

All stats taken from KenPom.com, the Polls, and the school's websites. 

For reference, there are 347 teams in the NCAA

Record: 10-4 

KenPom Rank: 56

AP/USA Today Rank: NR

Strength of Schedule (KenPom): 73

Tempo: 67.6 (218)

Offensive Ratings (Rank)

Points Per Game: 71.4

Efficiency: 105.3 (107)

Effective FG%: 48.4 (179)

Turnover %: 19.8 (114)

Off. Rebound %: 37.4 (44)

FTA/FGA: 29 (321)

3%: 28.3 (319)

2%: 51.4 (76)

FT%: 63.7 (299)

Point Distribution (% of total points)

3: 24 (235)

2: 60 (25)

FT: 16 (328)

Defensive Ratings (Rank)

Points Per Game: 62.8

Efficiency: 89.7 (32)

Effective FG%: 43.3 (27)

Turnover %: 19.1 (256)

Off. Rebound %: 28 (28)

FTA/FGA: 34 (114)

3%: 31.6 (76)

2%: 41.3 (20)

Block %: 11 (82)

Steal %: 8.9 (227)

Point Distribution (% of total points)

3: 28.3 (128)

2: 50.5 (224)

FT: 21.2 (145)

Statistical Leaders

Points (top 3): Lance Stephenson 13.1 Deonta Vaughn 11.4 Yancy Gates 11

Rebounds (top 3): Yancy Gates 7 Rashad Bishop 5.1 Lance Stephenson 4.7

Assists (top 2): Deonta Vaughn 3.8 Lance Stephenson 2.9

Blocks: Yancy Gates 1.5

Record: 2-11 

KenPom Rank: 308

AP/USA Today Rank: NR

Strength of Schedule (KenPom): 259

Tempo: 69.9 (115)

Offensive Ratings (Rank)

Points Per Game: 65.5 

Efficiency: 89.7 (308)

Effective FG%: 40.7 (335)

Turnover %: 20.7 (162)

Off. Rebound %: 36.3 (73)

FTA/FGA: 42.4 (71)

3%: 28.6 (314)

2%: 39.6 (337)

FT%: 67.7 (195)

Point Distribution (% of total points)

3: 25 (210)

2: 48.9 (257)

FT: 26.1 (18)

Defensive Ratings (Rank)

Points Per Game: 76.2

Efficiency: 106.7 (269)

Effective FG%: 50.1 (208)

Turnover %: 19 (260)

Off. Rebound %: 37.5 (307)

FTA/FGA: 38.9 (214)

3%: 32.5 (117)

2%: 50.6 (267)

Block %: 6.1 (285)

Steal %: 8.2 (278)

Point Distribution (% of total points)

3: 20.9 (319)

2: 57.1 (45)

FT: 22 (115)

Statistical Leaders

Points (top 3): Trent Blakley 14.9 Stephon Carter 12.3 Donavan Bragg 10.4

Rebounds (top 3): Santwon Latunde 8.8 Donald Johnson 4.8 Trent Blakley 4.4

Assists (top 2): Donavan Bragg 2.8 Stephon Carter 2.5

Blocks: Donald Johnson 0.7

It's sort of comforting to play a team that doesn't block a lot of shots following Pitt, Hamady Ndiaye, and UConn, although UConn didn't block a UC shot. The key to this game is quite simple. No let downs. The Bearcats should dominate this team from the opening tip. I would like to see the 3 pointers curbed for the most part. Bakersfield doesn't give up that many, and they have no interior defense, so that should be the plan. Trent Blakley and Donavan Bragg seem to be their best players, although neither one passes the ball. Especially Blakley. He averages .4 assists. He is going to shoot the ball at will. This should be a good game to fine tune the defense that Pitt shredded Monday night. I expect nothing but good games from Stephenson, Gates, Bishop and Dion Dixon. I would say Deonta Vaughn, but I don't know how much of a back seat he'll take against subpar competition. He has put up 17 in the past 3 games, and I think he'll hit double digits. He seems to be finding the scoring groove. I'm not worried about this one, and you shouldn't be either. If it's close or we lose, then flip your wig.

Prediction: Cincinnati 83 Cal St. Bakersfield Roadrunners 58