Cincinnati Bearcats could be Final Four team, according to former Xavier coach Pete Gillen

The No. 8-ranked University of Cincinnati basketball team has Final Four potential, according to a former rival coach.

Ex-Xavier University coach Pete Gillen, now with CBS Sports Network, will do television analysis for the UC-Houston game Wednesday night at Northern Kentucky University. Gillen has seen several UC games on TV and video this season, and Wednesday is his first in-person look at the 2017-18 Bearcats.

"I think they've got an outstanding team that could get to the Final Four depending on who they play, the health, and if they bring their 'A' game," Gillen said, in a telephone interview with The Enquirer this week.

UC took a 19-2 overall record (8-0 American Athletic Conference) into Wednesday's game against Houston (16-4, 6-2 AAC).

Gillen said that Final Four teams generally share some of the same characteristics, including a go-to player (or players) at crunch time, defense and depth. UC has the No. 2-ranked national defense among several measuring sticks, including scoring defense (56.2 per game) and the Kenpom.com ratings for defensive efficiency (.840 points allowed per possession).

Having a reliable offense also is essential, and that sometimes has hurt UC in NCAA Tournament play. UC this season has its highest-scoring offense in 12 years under coach Mick Cronin, at 76.9 points per game.

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"You need a player that can make a big shot down the stretch," Gillen said. "I think Jacob Evans can do that. Gary Clark can do that. Usually those last games tend to be low-scoring. Coaches get a little conservative. You need guys that can put it on the deck and create. That, and great defense. Defense travels on the road and in your tournaments."

More from Gillen, regarding the Bearcats:

- "Tremendous defensive team. Very physical, very aggressive. That stands out the most to me. They block shots. They contest shots."

- "Gary Clark is playing like the best player in the league right now. He's scoring, he's rebounding, he's blocking shots, he's defending."

- "Kyle Washington gives them an extra offensive weapon that they haven't had in a while, the frontcourt scoring along with Clark. Two great athletes and great defenders."

- "I think it's the best offensive team Mick has had. Evans, he's tremendous handling the ball and he's doing it more out front right now. He can score. He might have the most potential on that team to be an NBA guy."

- "(Jarron) Cumberland is coming on. He's a sophomore and he can shoot it. (Justin) Jenifer and (Cane) Broome give you two quick guards out there. I think they expected more of Broome with the scoring, but he's still very good. They can hurt you from all five spots, especially when Broome is in there."

College basketball analysts also tend to agree that point-guard play separates pretenders from contenders in the NCAA Tournament. That is one reason that Gillen likes UC's chances if Evans continues to play out front. Jenifer and Broome also run the point sometimes but Evans would be the man at crunch time, as when his jumper beat Temple with 0.4 seconds to play on Jan. 4.

"One thing that is important is terrific point guard play, which I haven't always seen from them," Gillen said. "I think that's the one question that has to be answered. It's a terrific team with good balance, but you have to be A-plus there (at point guard) during the tournament."

STILL WORKING: Gillen, 70, was Xavier coach from the 1985-86 season through 1993-94. Gillen was 202-75 at XU, and held the school record for coaching wins until Chris Mack recently broke it. Gillen's XU teams made seven NCAA Tournament appearances in his nine seasons.

After XU, Gillen coached at Providence (four years) and Virginia (seven years), with one NCAA Tournament appearance at each school. Since 2005, Gillen has been a broadcaster.

Wednesday, Gillen was set to do UC-Houston analysis alongside play-by-play man Carter Blackburn, with reporter Allie LaForce also working the game.

"Carter is the star," the famously self-deprecating Gillen said. "I get him coffee. That's what I do, I get him coffee. 'Anything you need, Carter?' "

GAME ANALYSIS: For Wednesday night's UC-Houston game result and analysis, please visit Cincinnati.com.