Cincinnati should be a very improved team this season. The Bearcats finished 18-14 last year including 8-10 in the Big East and they return four starters as well as bringing in two very talented freshmen. Depth was an issue for this team the last few seasons but with a full roster for the first time under fourth-year head coach Mick Cronin, expectations are once again on the upswing for the Bearcats. The best player on this team is guard Deonta Vaughn who is a two-time All-Big East selection but there is plenty of talent around him. Yancy Gates averaged double figures last season and was named to the All-Big East Freshman team while Rashad Bishops joins him down low and is the best defender on the team. Two of the players that could make the difference this season are both in their first year.

True point guard Cashmere Wright was injured last season and is back healthy while incoming freshman Lance Stephenson is considered one of the best incoming rookies in the entire country. Cincinnati had trouble getting points last season as it was 12th in the Big East and 158th nationally but with all of the pieces in place, that should improve greatly. Vanderbilt is no slouch either and it will be a player in the SEC this season. The Commodores return all five starters to a team that endured a number of injuries and bad luck last season and it results in Vanderbilt missing the postseason for the first time in six years. It is coming off a big win at St. Mary's in its last game but the matchup here is not in its favor. The team is athletic but not very physical and that is not good against a very physical Cincinnati team.

The Commodores will be at a disadvantage down low and that is partly due to center A.J. Ogilvy still not at 100 percent. Vanderbilt has gotten outrebounded by five per game in the first two games while the Bearcats +13.5 rpg through their first two games. Vanderbilt is just 7-19 ATS in its last 26 games following a win by six points or fewer and being on the road for a lengthy period, as it travelled last Wednesday to St. Mary's, that will make thing even tougher. 3* Cincinnati Bearcats