Kevin Johnson is hot, after starting slowly this year for the University of Cincinnati basketball team.

Johnson, a 6-foot-3 senior shooting guard from Summit Country Day, comes off a career high 18-point game in UC’s 119-68 rout of Fairleigh Dickinson this past Saturday. The No. 24 Bearcats (9-2) next play Marshall (7-4) on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Fifth Third Arena (CBS Sports Network).

Johnson averaged only 2.0 points through the Bearcats’ first four games. Johnson since has averaged 10.6 points, having scored in double figures in five of seven games. For the year, Johnson is averaging a career high 7.5 points per game.

“It’s a long year, and you’re gonna go through ups and downs,” Johnson said. “Just staying in the gym getting extra shots and being confident, trying to figure out what I can tweak to keep improving our offense.”

Johnson’s slow getaway may have been partially because of having bronchitis in preseason. Healthy now, the lanky Johnson has started to score and also maintained his elite level of defense. Johnson is tied for the team lead in steals, with 15.

“Kevin is our best defensive player, and it’s not even close,” UC coach Mick Cronin said.

UC junior forward Gary Clark was named American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season by league coaches, when Clark’s numbers included 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. But, it was Johnson who received UC Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors (along with since-departed forward Octavius Ellis) at the team banquet.

“Gary Clark is extremely smart,” Cronin said. “He led us in blocked shots, and coaches love him because he never takes a bad shot. Coaches want to vote for Gary Clark for something. He plays quietly good defense. He helps, he rotates, he blocks shots.”

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Still, it is Johnson who often sets the tone with tenacious perimeter defense. Quick, fast and smart, Johnson tries to thwart opposing guards before they can get their offense started.

“You’ve got to embrace any role you get on the team,” Johnson said. “It all counts. Being a defensive person who can guard on the perimeter is something we need. Stopping penetration is big for our defense and key for our team victory. I just try to do my part.”

The 18 points last Saturday were a nice bonus for Johnson, including 4-for-6 from three-point range. Johnson also made the weekly AAC honor roll.

“Kevin played so hard the other night,” Cronin said. “He’s such a good athlete, but I never saw him as tired as he was the other night. He was playing so hard, trying to smother FDU. That was our game plan and he was so bought in, trying to smother them. It was the first time I ever took in him out in four years because he was tired.”

UC has made the last six NCAA Tournaments and, barring something unforeseen, should make it seven.

“Being a senior, winning our conference title, winning the conference tournament and trying to make a run, that would be the greatest thing,” Johnson said. “I’d love for us to go deep in March. That’s my plan. That’s what I would wish for my last year.”

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Scouting Marshall: Marshall was picked to finish fourth in Conference USA in a preseason poll of league coaches.

The Thundering Herd are an offensive machine, ranking 17th nationally with an 86.2 scoring average. Marshall also has trouble stopping people, ranking 335th in scoring defense at 83.1.

“Great offensive team,” Cronin said. “We’re going to use some of their clips to show our guys, ‘Here’s how you do it right.’ ”

Yet, the Herd are relatively undersized, one reason they allow so many points.

“Their rebounding is a weakness, but that tells you how good they are on the offensive end, to be 7-4,” Cronin said.

Marshall is led by 6-3 junior point guard Jon Elmore, who averages 21.1 points and 6.9 assists. Stevie Browning, a 6-3 senior guard, averages 16.7 points.

Other probable starters are 6-5 senior forward Ryan Taylor (12.5 ppg), 6-4 senior guard Ryan Loop (11.6) and 6-9 sophomore forward Ajdin Penava (6.4).

Third-year Marshall coach Dan D’Antoni is the older brother of NBA Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni.

Flying high: UC is known as a defensive team, but the Bearcats are shooting 49.6 percent from the field and averaging 80.1 points per game. Both figures are the best of the 11-year Cronin era.

UC lineup: Probable UC starters are 6-6 sophomore guard Jacob Evans (15.1 ppg), 6-9 junior forward Kyle Washington (15.0), 6-4 senior guard Troy Caupain (10.5), Clark (8.7) and Johnson (7.5).

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No. 24 Cincinnati vs. Marshall

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Thursday at Fifth Third Arena (13,176)

TV/Radio: CBS Sports Network/700-WLW AM

Records: UC 9-2, Marshall 7-4