Cincinnati will look to carry early-season momentum into Thursday night’s matchup against Green Bay as the Bearcats welcome the Phoenix to Fifth Third Arena. Both programs opened their 2026-27 campaigns with convincing victories, setting the stage for an early-season test between two undefeated teams.

The Bearcats opened with a 79-53 victory over American University, while Green Bay made quick work of Lawrence University in a 94-51 win. The Phoenix showcased their perimeter shooting ability in the opener, connecting on 57.7% of their three-point attempts while generating contributions throughout the rotation.

Head coach Doug Gottlieb enters his third season at the helm of the Green Bay program, and his team brings a distinct defensive philosophy built around individual accountability and aggressive man-to-man principles. Cincinnati will need to remain composed against that pressure while finding ways to take advantage of the opportunities Green Bay’s defensive approach creates.

Getting to Know the Green Bay Phoenix

Green Bay enters the season with a roster that combines veteran experience and several important contributors. The Phoenix have established a starting group featuring Orlando Lovejoy, LeBron Thomas, Marcus Hall, Isaiah Sutherland and Maruan Cicic.

Lovejoy handles the primary point guard responsibilities, while Thomas provides another experienced option in the backcourt. Hall gives Green Bay an important scoring presence on the wing, and Sutherland brings versatility to the forward position. Inside, the 7-foot Cicic provides the Phoenix with a legitimate interior presence.

Hall deserves attention heading into Thursday’s matchup. The 6-foot-6 senior averaged 13.9 points and 5.2 rebounds last season while shooting 40.6% from beyond the arc. He carried that scoring ability into the season opener against Lawrence, finishing with 12 points in just 16 minutes.

His perimeter shooting makes him an important component of Gottlieb’s offensive approach. Cincinnati cannot afford to lose track of Hall when he finds space around the three-point line, especially with Green Bay looking to generate offense through perimeter opportunities.

The Phoenix also received a productive performance from Ne’Quan Brown, who led the team with 14 points in the opener despite coming off the bench. Stewart Erhart II contributed nine points and five assists, providing another capable playmaker for Gottlieb.

Green Bay’s depth gives them several options beyond its starting lineup, and Cincinnati will need to account for more than just Hall when preparing defensive assignments.

Gottlieb’s Defensive Philosophy: Man-to-Man Pressure

One calling card of Green Bay’s identity under Gottlieb is its commitment to traditional man-to-man defense. Rather than relying on a complicated zone system, the Phoenix emphasize individual defensive responsibility, on-ball containment and keeping opposing offenses out of the paint.

The primary objective is to defend the basketball without constantly relying on help defenders. Green Bay wants its players to stay in front of their assignments, limit penetration and prevent opposing ball handlers from creating easy opportunities around the basket.

That philosophy places responsibility on individual defenders. When a player allows his assignment to penetrate, the defense risks creating openings elsewhere on the floor. Gottlieb’s preference for limiting unnecessary help also makes it important for his players to maintain their positioning and win individual matchups.

Green Bay also adjusts its pick-and-roll coverages depending on the opponent. The Phoenix can utilize traditional drop coverage, hedge ball screens or switch in certain situations. Those adjustments allow Gottlieb to tailor his defensive approach to the personnel and offensive actions he faces.

Defensive rebounding represents another important part of the system. With Cicic providing a 7-foot presence inside, Green Bay has the size to challenge opponents around the basket. The Phoenix emphasize finishing defensive possessions with strong box-outs rather than allowing opponents to generate additional scoring opportunities.

How Cincinnati Can Attack Green Bay

Cincinnati must approach Green Bay’s man-to-man defense with an emphasis on movement, spacing and attacking individual matchups. The Bearcats cannot allow the Phoenix to dictate the pace by simply containing the basketball and forcing difficult possessions.

One of the best ways to challenge Green Bay is through purposeful ball movement and off-ball activity. Cincinnati should look to use screens, cuts and player movement to force defensive rotations rather than relying exclusively on isolation opportunities.

The Bearcats can also test Green Bay’s pick-and-roll coverage. Gottlieb’s willingness to mix coverages creates opportunities to identify mismatches and attack whichever defensive approach the Phoenix deploy. If Green Bay drops its big man toward the basket, Cincinnati can look for opportunities around the perimeter or through the midrange. If the Phoenix hedge or switch, the Bearcats should look to exploit the resulting space and mismatches.

Attacking the paint will also be important. Green Bay wants to keep the basketball in front of its defenders, but Cincinnati should remain aggressive when opportunities to penetrate present themselves. Getting downhill can force defenders to make decisions and potentially create open looks for teammates.

The Bearcats must also recognize when to attack Cicic and when to make him defend away from the basket. His size presents a legitimate challenge around the rim, but Cincinnati can test his mobility by involving him in ball-screen actions and making him defend in space.

The Importance of Controlling the Glass

Cicic’s presence gives Green Bay a significant physical option in the middle, and Cincinnati will need to establish around the basket.

The Bearcats need to prioritize strong rebounding on both ends of the floor. Offensive rebounds can create valuable second-chance opportunities, while defensive rebounding will prevent Green Bay from extending possessions and generating additional scoring chances.

Hall’s ability to contribute on the glass adds another layer to the matchup. Cincinnati’s wings and forwards must remain engaged when the ball comes off the rim rather than allowing Green Bay’s perimeter players to collect easy rebounds.

The battle inside will become important as the game progresses. Cincinnati needs to establish a physical presence, protect the paint and avoid allowing Green Bay’s size to dictate the terms of the matchup.

Another Opportunity to Build Momentum

Cincinnati enters Thursday’s game with an opportunity to continue building confidence under Jerrod Calhoun. The Bearcats handled their opening assignment against American, but Green Bay presents a different defensive challenge with its emphasis on individual matchups and ball containment.

The Phoenix have several capable perimeter players, a productive scoring option in Hall and a 7-foot presence in Cicic. Cincinnati will need to account for those pieces while maintaining the offensive discipline that helped produce its opening-night victory.

Ultimately, the Bearcats must make Green Bay defend for the entirety of each possession. Consistent ball movement, aggressive drives and smart decisions against the Phoenix’s pick-and-roll coverages can help Cincinnati find its rhythm.

Both teams have started the season on the right foot. Now Cincinnati has an opportunity to protect Fifth Third Arena, and take another step forward to keep the momentum rolling.