Dodgeball sets up BYU basketball, Cincinnati for 'biggest game of the year to date'

PROVO — Cincinnati had just lost a fourth consecutive game, and Wes Miller wasn't happy.

The head coach of the Bearcats — a former national champion at North Carolina himself — used some harsh language against his team after a 63-50 loss to West Virginia, saying how "disgusted" he was about his team's lackluster play.

But by Monday afternoon, Miller brought his team into the Bearcats' arena for practice and promptly escorted them to the school's practice facility — where they didn't touch a basketball for over an hour.

Instead, Miller channeled his inner Patches O'Houlihan — if you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball — and the team played an intra-squad dodgeball match, coaches and staff included.

The tactic worked, apparently, as Day Day Thomas scored a season-high 20 points and the Bearcats poured in 56 points in the paint in a 93-83 win Wednesday night over UCF.

So did a game of dodgeball fix Cincinnati's season?

"The truth is this, it is simpler than dodgeball," Miller said after the game. "It was the first time they all smiled, having joy (and) competing. Heck, even the coaches competed. We all fell in love with basketball when there was no pressure and expectations. It was good to get them back to competitions and said you guys have to go play basketball like you played dodgeball.

"At some point," he added, "that is how you play basketball all the time and don't really carry that extra weight on your shoulders. I thought our guys practice that way yesterday and played that way today. We have to continue and play free and have fun."

Added Dan Hoard, the Bearcats' play-by-play radio broadcaster: "It seemed to lift everybody's mood, and kind of took the weight of the four-game losing streak off everybody's shoulders. They looked like a much looser, more connected team on Wednesday night."

In many ways, Saturday's game (4 p.m. MST, ESPN2) comes as a crossroads for both Cincinnati and visiting BYU. Already scheduled at a sold-out Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati, the Cougars (15-7, 6-5 Big 12) had a four-game winning streak of their own snapped Tuesday night 85-74 by No. 20 Arizona.

Led by leading scorer Richie Saunders, BYU had previously won four consecutive games that included an 80-52 win over the Bearcats back on Jan. 25. Before that game against the Wildcats, the Cougars were 2 points in overtime at in-state rival Utah away from a six-game winning streak, as well.

But after opening Big 12 play with losses in four of their first six games, BYU began to put things together in wins over Colorado, Cincinnati, Baylor and UCF. Can it continue Saturday, the first of a two-game road trip that concludes next Tuesday at West Virginia (5 p.m. MST, CBS Sports Network)?

"I think this Cincinnati game is the biggest game of the year to date," Young said during his Thursday night coach's show. "We've got a chance to go get another road win. It's a situation where we're going to be on the road and stay on the road.

"Our approach all year has been the next thing in front of us, whether that's practice or one game at a time. We have a mature group, and they understand how we approach things."

Currently ranked No. 53 in the NET rankings, the Bearcats (13-9, 3-8 Big 12) represent a chance for another Quad 1 win for BYU — which is just 2-3 in such opportunities.

So, too, is West Virginia, which ranks No. 40 in the NET rankings.

After a setback to a top-20 team, BYU isn't lacking in confidence as it looks to bounce back on its two-game road trip.

"I think we left a lot of money on the table, which is frustrating," said point guard Dallin Hall, who had 11 points and six assists with just one turnover against Arizona. "We obviously didn't shoot well but just our execution of the game plan, we have to make some space there.

"We have so much shooting, so much talent, and IQ on the floor. It's really our intensity and attention to the scouting game plan and what we want to do offensively. Those are two spaces we have to grow in and our toughness as well. This was a battle and those are areas we have to improve if we want to beat any team in the country."

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