Illinois St. @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 8, 2007 ) Cincinnati 52, Illinois St. 62

The big unknown heading into Cincinnati's matchup with Illinois State on Friday afternoon at the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands is the status of Bearcats senior standout Jarron Cumberland. The team's top player sat out the previous game against Alabama A&M because of a "coach's decision" and his status remained unclear.

Cumberland, last season's American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, hasn't played since a Nov. 11 victory over Drake. In two games this season, he's averaging 12 points. Cincinnati was able to breeze past Alabama A&M for an 85-53 victory without him, but the competition level figures to be a little tougher this weekend with the likes of Bowling Green or Western Kentucky up next after Illinois State and Nevada, Fordham, Grand Canyon or Valparaiso in the third game of the pre-Thanksgiving tournament. Illinois State, which lost five of its top six scorers from 2018-19, began its season with two wins before losing 67-65 to Central Florida on Sunday.

TV: 5:45 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT ILLINOIS STATE (2-1): Sixth-man Dedric Boyd scored a game-high 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting in Sunday's loss to UCF and the Eastern Kentucky transfer is averaging 13 points. Senior Zach Copeland, the lone returning long-term starter from last season, leads Illinois State in scoring at 14 points per game. Guard Ricky Torres, a transfer from Wichita State, averages a team-best five assists and has made 5-of-10 3-pointers.

ABOUT CINCINNATI (2-1): Chris Vogt: a 7-foot-1 center who is averaging 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds, will present a matchup problem for Illinois State. In the win over Alabama A&M last week, Vogt finished 18 points and 10 rebounds. Other key players to watch for the Bearcats are 6-8 senior forward Trevon Scott (16 points, eight rebounds versus Alabama A&M) and 6-3 guard Jaevin Cumberland (13 points, six assists, five steals against Alabama A&M), who has made at least one 3-pointer in 36 straight games.

TIP-INS

1. Scott's 31 rebounds are the highest three-game total in his Cincinnati career.

2. Bearcats graduate transfer G Chris McNeal has started all three games and leads the team in steals with eight and is tied for the lead in assists with nine, but he is shooting 32.1 percent from the field and 2-for-16 from 3-point range.

3. Illinois State senior G Jaycee Hillsman (7.7 points per game, 5-for-11 on 3-pointers) and junior F Keith Fisher III are transfers from San Jose State.

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 72, Illinois State 61