The Cincinnati Bearcats (15-6 5-3) travel to New Jersey to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (11-10 3-5) on Saturday evening at 6 pm.

The Bearcats are looking to bounce back from a two game conference losing streak after falling at WVU last Saturday and at home to Syracuse on Big Monday.

The Scarlet Knights are on a two game skid as well with road losses at Georgetown and a disappointing home defeat to DePaul on Wednesday night.

The DePaul loss is quite shocking when you consider how tough Rutgers has been at home this season as they have notched wins against Florida, UConn and Notre Dame at the RAC. Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin is ready for their best shot after their most recent result.

“They've got some big time wins at the RAC,” Cronin said. “They got a wake up call (Wednesday) and I'm sure they'll have some spirited practices for Saturday.”

One of Cronin's biggest concerns going in to the contest is defending an old school style motion offense implemented by coach Mike Rice.

“They run more of a motion offense than we've seen in a long, long time,” said Cronin. “I can't even remember a team that sets as many screens as Rutgers sets. It's more of a concern because its something we haven't dealt with a lot.”

While a motion offense is a staple in the college game, the system has moved more towards the high ball screen with a lot of cuts off the ball. With Rutgers, Rice has his young squad focusing on screens off the ball and it is something different to prepare for.

“The majority of what we've been dealing with is pick and rolls,” Cronin said. “West Virginia runs motion, but they don't screen a lot, its a lot of cutting. Same as Notre Dame, same as Georgetown, they run a version of the old Bob Knight true motion offense where there's a lot of screening off the basketball.”

Triggering the attack for the Scarlet Knights are a pair of talented freshmen guards in Eli Carter (14.4 ppg) and Myles Mack (9.6 ppg). The New Jersey natives are smaller in stature, but both are a threat from anywhere on the floor and on average produce 40% of the team’s total offense in 8 Big East games.

“We've got to guard Eli Carter and Myles Mack,” said Cronin. “Those guys can shoot the basketball. They both look like point guards, but they're both scorers. We have to defend those guys.”

The have some experience at the forward spots as 6-foot-6 junior Dane Miller and 6-foot-8 sophomore Gilvydas Biruta provide match up problems at the 3 and 4 spots on the floor. Miller averages 6.0 points and 6.9 boards a game while shooting 42% from 3 in Big East action while Biruta is 3rd on the team in scoring at 7.6 per.

“Dane Miller is a problem when he's at the 3 because he's bigger than our guy and I'm worried about his offensive rebounding,” Cronin said. “Biruta is more of a perimeter player this year. He's shooting the 3-point shot, he's playing more off the dribble. He's playing almost exclusively at the 4, more of a face up player this year.”

The Scarlet Knights are also getting solid production from another freshman guard Jerome Seagears. The former UC target is shooting 45% from 3 in league play and is 4th on the team in scoring at 7.1 a contest.

While their overall numbers as a team don't wow you, there is no doubt that Rutgers can be a tough out at home, and Cronin knows his squad will get their best shot on Saturday evening.

“We've gained the respect as a team, so teams are ready to play against us,” said Cronin. “We have to understand that. If you've got a sell out crowd Saturday night at Rutgers, it’s a big game for them. We've got to make sure we're ready to play.”