Getting The Madsen Twins Going Could Be Key For Utah Basketball Vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
Jan 27, 2025, 3:19 PM
Utah basketball's Gabe Madsen vs Texas Tech. PHOTO courtesy by Utah Athletics.
SALT LAKE CITY—After a tough couple of results, Utah Basketball is looking to rebound and get back on track Tuesday night.
The Runnin’ Utes will welcome the Cincinnati Bearcats to the Jon M. Huntsman Center for the first matchup between the programs since 1965.
Utah is coming off a 76-61 home loss to the Baylor Bears, while the BYU Cougars dismantled Cincinnati in Provo, 80-52.
Cincinnati vs Utah Basketball, How To Watch, Listen
Date: Saturday, 28, 2025
Tip-Off: 8:00 pm (MST)
TV/Stream: CBS Sports Network
Radio: ESPN 700 AM
Rich Waltz and Pete Gillen will call the action on CBS Sports Network.
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Can the Madsen twins get it going against their former squad?
It’s been a difficult stretch of basketball for Gabe and Mason Madsen. The twins have not performed to the level that many, including themselves, would expect.
There’s no denying that Utah desperately needs the two of them to regain form. Gabe was the a 20-point scorer in the non-conference portion of the schedule, while Mason provided a good spark off of the bench.
Since Big 12 play began, Gabe has reached double-digit scoring just twice in eight games, while Mason’s minutes have diminished. However, the two continue to show up night in and night out with the belief of everyone around them that they can get it going.
“We believe in him, and more importantly, his teammates still believe in him,” head coach Craig Smith said in the post-game presser. “We’ve got to get him going, and we’ve got to get our team going shooting the three.”
On the season, Utah is 168-of-498 for a 33.7% rate from 3-point range. In Big 12 play, the Utes have only converted 26.5% on 48-of-181 shooting from deep. Obviously, it’s not specific to Gabe or Mason, but the Madsen twins can significantly help Utah’s shooting woes if they regain their form. Coach Smith desperately needs to find a way to get these two going.
Utah has faced a challenging schedule up to this point, but several upcoming games may help them regain momentum. For the Madsen twins, facing the program they initially committed to after high school could provide the spark they need to get going for this next stretch of Big 12 basketball.
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Ezra Ausar not only emerging as the go-to option
“With this game, a lot of things come from just being mentally prepared,” Ezra Ausar shared after the Baylor game. “We get frustrated, and the confidence drops, but I think the main key is to just always remain confident, no matter what situation we’re going through.”
Over the last five games, Ausar has elevated his play by averaging 15 points and 5.2 rebounds. He’s emerged as the go-to option on the offensive end and has really settled in with this squad. As his role on the court is evolving, it seems his role within the team dynamic is, too.
“Mentally, it’s a big thing to always be confident,” Ausar stated. “I know I’m not at my best, and I feel like I can always do better, so it’s just trying to build consistency, which is also a challenge, but it’s all about being mentally prepared and encouraged.”
Through the ups and downs of the season, Ausar has seemed to get better and more confident in what he’s doing. With that individual confidence, Ausar’s focus seems to be shift toward making sure everyone around him is also in a good headspace.
“I need to keep encouraging my teammates, and my teammates encouraging me,” he shared. “I just think that’s kind of a big key when it comes to making sure everybody’s head is straight.”
The Need-To-Knows about the Cincinnati Bearcats
The Bearcats’ season has not been what they expected. A preseason favorite in the Big 12, Wes Miller’s squad is 12-7 overall and 2-6 in the Big 12.
The Bearcats have struggled offensively in recent weeks. In their last five games, they have shot just 39.4% from the floor, including just 22% from 3-point range. Despite that, the Utes cannot afford to concede much space on the perimeter to give the Bearcats a chance to shoot it well.
Utah has struggled with teams with length inside, and the Bearcats will present a new challenge in that regard. Defensively, the Bearcats will contest and block a fair number of shots. Over the last five games, they have had one of the highest block rates in the country, at 11.4%.
The 6-foot-6 forward Simas Lukosius leads the team with 12.3 points per game, shooting 37.8% from 3-point range and securing 3.4 rebounds per game. Texas transfer forward Dillon Mitchell has also been solid, averaging 10.7 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Guard Dan Skillings Jr adds 11.3 points a night, and is capable of scoring inside and out, while guard Jizzle James adds 10.4 points and dishes 4.2 assists.
