The No. 12 Cincinnati Bearcats are expected to rout Savannah State in their season basketball opener Friday (noon at NKU), but UC fans also will enjoy a rare treat.

Senior forward Gary Clark needs just two points to reach 1,000 for his career. Clark will become only the 51st Bearcats men's player to reach that milestone, as he enters his fourth year as a full-time starter.

"Coming in as a freshman I just was hoping to get a couple minutes a game, just to really help the team," Clark said. "To be able to do all the things I've done, it's big. I just try to get our younger guys to understand how early they can help contribute, just listening and paying attention and being ready to do whatever it takes to win."

The most recent Bearcat to reach 1,000 points was point guard Troy Caupain. Caupain completed his UC career last season with 1,317 points, tied with Cashmere Wright (UC 2010-13) for 22nd on the Bearcats' career list.

Clark (6-foot-8, 230 pounds), from Clayton, North Carolina, has been part of three NCAA Tournament teams, helping extend the program's total to seven consecutive NCAA appearances. The Bearcats are 75-28 since Clark arrived.

Clark averaged 7.8 points as a freshman, 10.4 as a sophomore and 10.8 as a junior. He also has averaged 8.0 rebounds per game for his career.

Clark made the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie team as a freshman, was AAC Defensive Player of the Year and second team all-league as a sophomore, and made the AAC all-tournament team as a junior.

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This year, Clark joined teammates Kyle Washington and Jacob Evans as preseason second team All-AAC choices at the league's preseason media day.

"This is the closest team I've been on since I've been here," Clark said.

Clark also has been named to preseason watch lists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy (national Player of the Year), Lute Olson Player of the Year (national POY for those with at least two seasons of Division I basketball), and the Karl Malone Poward Forward of the Year.

Clark finished last season ranked among the nation's leaders in career rebounds (24th, with 819). Assuming good health, Clark will surpass Yancy Gates (916 from 2009-12) for most career rebounds in the 12-year Mick Cronin coaching era.

The gentlemanly Clark remains a quiet presence, but he has somewhat emerged from his shell. Clark now is a team leader with the only other UC senior, Washington.

"From (freshman) Eliel (Nsoseme) being the quietest on the team to (freshman) Trevor (Moore), who's the loudest, I probably fit right in the middle," Clark said, smiling. "I'm close to everyone. I think everyone leans on me and Kyle a lot, the younger guys."

SCOUTING SAVANNAH STATE: Savannah State (Ga.) was picked to finish fifth in the preseason MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) poll. The Tigers went 13-16 last year.

Savannah State is known for its freewheeling game. The Tigers last year led the nation with 13.5 made 3-pointers per game, and also had the most attempts with 1,182.

"In their two exhibition games they shot 111 three-point shots," Cronin said. "So, it should be interesting. If I was a fan of basketball I'd come to our businessman's special on Friday, just to watch."

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Of those 111 bombs, Savannah State made just 23. That is just 21 percent, but it obviously does not stop the Tigers from shooting.

Savannah is led by junior guard Dexter McClanahan, who averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and two assists last season. Coach Horace Broadnax is 156-211 at Savannah, entering his 13th year.

TIME TO PLAY: Cronin saw his team crush Division II teams Bellarmine (89-61) and Embry-Riddle (101-68) in exhibition games. Cronin has heard all the talk that this will be the best team in his Bearcats tenure, but they don't award banners for being ranked No. 12 in preseason.

"It's our first game together in a real game, where it matters who wins," Cronin said. "Now it becomes a journey, building a resume for March. Stat sheets matter more to players and families now. All the things that go into running a program, coaching a team, become a lot more real."

Expect UC to be pressing more defensively, with the most depth Cronin has had. That does not mean UC necessarily will play racehorse basketball against trigger-happy Savannah State.

"Teams like this, they're not gonna change," Cronin said. "They're gonna press us and they're gonna shoot the three. They'd love to get the win and the upset, but they're still gonna prepare for what they think is gonna be successful in their conference."

CAYMAN CLASSIC: Technically, this game is part of the Cayman Islands Classic. Both teams travel to Grand Cayman for games Nov. 20-22, where they will compete in separate brackets.

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Gary Clark's UC career

Season - Points - Avg.

2014-15: 265 7.8

2015-16: 344 10.4

2016-17: 389 10.8

Totals: 3 years, 998 points, 9.7

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