Cincinnati Bearcats: Are they worthy of a one-seed after losing to Houston?

Cincinnati had their 12-game winning streak snapped. How concerned should the Bearcats be heading into the NCAA tournament, with March Madness looming?

The Cincinnati Bearcats suffered their first loss in conference play, dropping a close one on the road to the Houston Cougars 67-62 — in front of a packed house and rambunctious crowd at Hofheinz Pavilion. Houston now boasts wins over Wichita State and Cincinnati in AAC play, all but assuring themselves a spot in the “big dance,” with fans celebrating by storming the court after beating a top-five ranked opponent.

Meanwhile, the Bearcats may have cost themselves an opportunity at securing a one-seed for the upcoming NCAA tournament, and things don’t get much easier in the next few weeks — with two dates against the pre-season AAC favorite Wichita State Shockers. The Bearcats loss opens up the door for the Shockers to share a piece of the AAC regular-season title, which may cost them a chance at earning that coveted No. 1 seed for March Madness.

College basketball is unforgiving, and Cincinnati may learn that very truth the hard way during their final leg of the regular season. Bearcats head coach Mick Cronin didn’t hold back his thoughts on his team’s loss, in a postgame interview with Cincinatti.com, stating, “Lack of toughness and defensive breakdowns got us beat.”

A loss on the road to an NCAA tournament-worthy team is nothing to be alarmed about in itself, but if the Bearcats don’t rediscover their growl and do it quickly, they may find themselves neck and neck with the Shockers, and even the Cougars in the AAC standings. Should the Bearcats be concerned? Absolutely.

For the first time all season, Wichita State is healthy and firing on all cylinders, while Houston is peaking at the right time. Against elite opponents, such as Florida, Xavier, and now Houston, the Bearcats’ gaping holes expose their deficiencies, which need filling before March Madness arrives.

Free-throw shooting is the most glaring issue for the Bearcats, with a mark of nearly 69 percent as a team. Only Jacob Evans (81 percent) and Justin Jenifer (78 percent) are trustworthy during crunch time at the line. In close games and against elite competition, free-throw shooting separates contenders from pretenders.

Houston outrebounded Cincinnati 36-27 — a rarity, where the Bearcats outmuscle their opponents by an average of 40-32 per contest. The Shockers are licking their chops after seeing this setback, because they thrive on grabbing loose boards.

Wichita State is no doubt looking forward to this match-up with Cincinnati, where they’ve shown up for big games during Greg Marshall’s eleven-year tenure in Wichita. So far, the Bearcats have proven they can play with elite competition, but not entirely seal the deal — which does not bode well, at all. The next few weeks could showcase Cincinnati as more of a three-seed caliber team, with Wichita State the more talented bunch in the AAC by far.

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If the Bearcats want to make it to the promised land of the Final Four in San Antonio on April 2, they must dig deep and find that toughness that coach Cronin referred to after their loss in Houston. If not, the tough as nails Shockers will rip their hearts out and the AAC regular-season title from their grasp — exposing the Bearcats as Final Four pretenders in the process.