Cincinnati @ Temple preview

Cincinnati at Temple

Last Meeting ( Jan 18, 2017 ) Temple 74, Cincinnati 81

Temple has faced one of the nation’s toughest schedules to date, and it takes on another challenge when it visits No. 20 Cincinnati on Thursday. The Owls are trying to avoid an 0-3 start in American Athletic Conference play, while the Bearcats look to improve to 2-0 in league action.

The Owls are reeling, having dropped three straight and four of their last five after their comeback fell short in a 76-73 loss at Houston on Saturday. The Bearcats have won five in a row since losing back-to-back decisions to Xavier and Florida, and their last three victories have been blowouts. They crushed Memphis 82-48 on Sunday to open conference play behind 15 points from Jarron Cumberland and Gary Clark’s 22nd career double-double. Cincinnati swept the Owls last season, winning 81-74 at home and 56-50 at Temple to end its three-game losing streak in the all-time series.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT CINCINNATI (12-2, 1-0 American): Four players average double digits in points, with point guard Jacob Evans (13.5 points) leading the way. Cincinnati’s frontcourt is a handful, as both the 6-8 Clark (12.5 points, 8.7 rebounds) and 6-9 Kyle Washington (10.3, 4.8) can do damage in the paint. The Bearcats are even tougher to handle at the defensive end, as they rank fourth nationally in scoring defense (59.1 points allowed) and sixth in field-goal defense (37 percent).

ABOUT TEMPLE (7-6, 0-2): The Owls get much of their offense from the backcourt, as guards Quinton Rose (16.5 points, 5.7 rebounds) and Shizz Alston Jr. (15.2 points) are the team’s top two scorers. They start a pair of 6-10 players, though, including power forward Obi Enechionyia (11.5 points, 6.6 rebounds). Despite the size inside, the Owls need to do a better job on the glass, as they’ve been outrebounded by an average of 3.8 boards compared with Cincinnati’s plus-9.8 rebounding margin.

TIP-INS

1. Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin is one win shy of 250 in his 12-year tenure at the school.

2. The Owls have defeated a top-25 team each of the last 10 seasons but have yet to do so this campaign.

3. Cincinnati is likely to be without backup PG Cane Broome (9.8 points, 3.1 assists) for a second consecutive game due to a sprained left ankle.

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 74, Temple 69