Cincinnati first-year coach Jerrod Calhoun likes what he sees from his team, however he knows the Bearcats need to step it up with the schedule getting tougher.
That starts Monday when the Bearcats (2-0) host Minnesota (2-0).
Cincinnati is coming off an 81-64 win over Green Bay Thursday.
“Sometimes it is the process over the outcome,” Calhoun said. “We missed 10 threes in the first half at one point, and I thought most of them were really good looks. You have to have the ability as a college basketball player to adjust. We have to do a better job of getting them to understand that. If you can’t make 3s, then get to the rim. This group is still learning. We are making progress.”
Calhoun has a chance to record his 300th coaching win on Monday. He has collected wins at Fairmont State (124), Youngstown State (118), Utah State (55) and Cincinnati (two).
Myles Colvin led the Bearcats against the Phoenix with 31 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
Amani Lyles scored 14 points and MJ Collins Jr. and Eric Mahaffey each added 11.
“A lot of guys stepped up in this game,” Calhoun said. “It is early season, so we just need to keep getting better.”
The Bearcats scored 23 points off 21 turnovers.
Minnesota is coming off a 76-62 win over St. Thomas in front of a mixed crowd in a cross-town battle. The Golden Gophers led by 18 at halftime, but St. Thomas cut the lead to seven twice in the second half.
“It was good facing adversity in the second half,” Minnesota star Isaac Asuma said. “We weren’t playing well and there were a lot of people in the crowd who weren’t rooting for us. It was good for us to play through it because now we go to Cincinnati.”
Asuma scored 14 of his career-high 20 points in the first half.
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson scored 11 points in the second half on his way to 16 points. He also had 10 rebounds.
The Gophers are averaging 23.5 assists per game and have outrebounded opponents 46.5-33.5.