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Cincinnati point guard Cashmere Wright suffered a sprained knee as part of the Bearcats’ 75-70 victory over DePaul on Tuesday night, and has been limited on the court ever since.
At 15-3 overall, the Bearcats are facing a task on Saturday where they are looking to end a three-game losing streak at home. After a tremendous start to the season, Cincinnati enters Saturday’s contest against Marquette with just a 3-3 mark in their previous six games.
As for the Golden Eagles, however, head coach Buzz Williams has Marquette flying through the start of Big East play, posting a 4-0 mark thus far. Despite the losses from a season ago, the Golden Eagles, who are known for their gritty play and toughness, have seemingly not missed a beat and are once again looking to compete among the contenders in the conference.
A win for Marquette on Saturday would be just another staple point and statement that they could potentially send to the rest of the league.
Overall, the health of Wright is what is hanging in the balance looking ahead to Saturday’s contest. Wright, who is currently listed as questionable for the game, may not even be able to go for the Bearcats when the ball tips at 7:00pm (EST).
Wright has been among the leading point guards in the conference this season, averaging 15.1 points and 3.7 assists per game. His deduction from the lineup in this pivotal game could be crucial. Wright’s production on this Bearcats’ squad speaks for itself, so if he is unable to go, others will obviously have to step up, especially on the perimeter. Head coach Mick Cronin might just need another monster game from Sean Kilpatrick, but he’s shown in the past that he is more than capable.
With a trip to Syracuse hanging in the balance next week for Cincinnati, the Bearcats face the difficult task of producing a win on Saturday, although it remains uncertain if they will have to attempt to do so without Wright.
Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS
