BEN MAUK STATUS UPDATE

June 23, 2008


The Cincinnati Enquirer updates readers on the Ben Mauk appeal process. Mauck is attempting to receive a 6th year in order to compete his four years of eligibility. The NCAA has turned down the request twice in 2 1/2 months and Mauk will have a final attempt this week.

Mauk's Bearcat Fate Due no later than this Tursday when Mauk and UC will present their case to a five-person Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee armed with a precedent they believe closely mirrors Mauk's situation.

Mauk's request for a medical hardship waiver was turned down by the NCAA on April 30 because Mauk lacked contemporaneous documentation from his former school, Wake Forest, to support his claim that an injury prevented him from competing during his freshman year in 2003.

Mauk then will get 10 minutes to plead his case.

A ruling is expected within several hours after the completion of the hearing.

If Mauk is granted the extra year of eligibility, it will make a huge difference in UC's prospects for this football season. Mauk passed for 3,121 yards and a school-record 31 touchdowns last year.

"It puts us in a position where, from an offensive standpoint, we return arguably the best quarterback in the (Big East)," UC head coach Brian Kelly told the Cincinnati Enquirer, "the most productive. And we return a veteran defense. It puts us in a position to win a championship. There's no question."

BEARCATS ADD 2010 LINEBACKER COMMITMENT

June 24, 2008


In college basketball, many recruits from the class of 2010 are committing and nobody is really blinking an eye, especially with Kentucky's Billy Gillispie out recruiting the junior high playgrounds.

However, college football is much different, so when a player from the class of 2010 commits, it does draw a little extra attention.

The Cincinnti Enquirer reports on such a case with linebacker Preston Brown, a 6-foot-one, 225 pound rising junior. Northwest's Brown Commits to UC as it gives him the chance to play close to home in front of friends and family.

Brown is just over 20 months away from the time he can sign a letter of intent with the Bearcats.

Taran Buie: 2010 PG HEARS FROM CINCINNATI

June 15th represented the first day college coaches could call prospects of the class of 2010. Since that day, the phone of Taran Buie has had Coaches Calling Early and Often (NBE Basketball Report) to express their interest.

Buie, a 6-foot guard out of Bishop Maginn High School in Albany (NY) and standout for the City Rocks AAU program, is a name that has not generated a lot of attention nationally in the media to date. However, judging by the coaches that have reached out to him the first chance they were allowed to, college coaches are VERY aware of his talents.

“This week I’ve talked to Boston College, Notre Dame, Clemson, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Penn State, Miami, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Florida, Xavier, West Virginia, Marquette, and Maryland,” Taran Buie relayed to the NBE Basketball Report, doing the best he could to recall all of the coaches that have placed calls to him this week.

“He is a great kid,” City Rocks Vice President Carmen Maciariello stated. “Respectful and hardworking. His personality is a big attribute. He makes a difference on the floor not only in the scoring column but in the hustle categories as well. Deflections, loose balls, charges, rotations etc.,” Maciariello, a former standout at Siena college, said in describing Taran’s impact on the floor.

Maciariello continued to note how well-rounded Buie is off the court, too. “He is a no-brainer for the high majors because he gets it done in the classroom as well!” It was a sentiment echoed by Bishop Maginn coach Rich Hurley as well, “Taran carries a B+ average in the classroom and his involved in many school activities aside from basketball.”

CINCINNATI 2008-2009 SNAPSHOT

June 6, 2008


Head Coach: Mick Cronin
2006-2007 Record: 13-19 (8-10 in Big East)

Returning Players:
Deonta Vaughn, Junior (Guard)
Rahsad Bishop, Sophomore (Guard/Forward)
Larry Davis, Sophomore (Guard)
Alvin Mitchell, Sophomore (Forward)
Kenny Belton, Sophomore (Power Forward)
Darnell Wilks, Sophomore (Forward)

Eligible Transfers:
Mike Williams, Junior (Forward)
Steven Toyloy, Junior (Forward/Center)

Incoming Freshmen Recruits:
Cashmere Wright (Point Guard)
Dion Dixon (Shooting Guard)
Yancy Gates (Power Forward)

Graduated Players:
John Williamson
Adam Hrycaniuk
Marvin Gentry
Jamual Warren
Marcus Sikes

Transferred Out:
None


Open Issues:
Cincinnati currently has one scholarship opening heading into the 2008-2009 season. They have been involved with JUCO PG Roburt Sallie as well as Sean Kilpatrick, a potential late-qualifier from White Plains (NY). With no scholarship seniors on the projected roster for 2008-2009, it is probably a wise move to hold the scholarship unless something too good to pass up presents itself. Alvin Mitchell finished the 2007-2008 season on an indefinite suspension from the team, to this point, he should rejoin the team for next season.

Summary:
Mick Cronin continues his attempt to rebuild the Cincinnati program in short order and, prior to their seven-game losing streak to finish the 2007-2008 season, things seemed to be well ahead of schedule. The Bearcats proved to the rest of the conference they would be a tough out at home with wins over Villanova, Syracuse and Pittsburgh early in conference play. With five seniors in their 9-man rotation, the veterans used their experience from their first season under Cronin and bought into a tough, defensive-first mentality. Now, Cronin and his staff will have to mold a roster without a scholarship senior into a similarly minded squad.

One player that Cincinnati is guaranteed to rely on is junior Deonta Vaughn. The high-scoring guard kept Cincinnati in games virtually all by himself on many occasions. However, for UC to take another step forward this season, consistent point guard player and offense from the post is MUCH needed.

The point guard play is likely to be handled by freshman Cashmere Wright. Wright has more of a reputation as a scorer, but will need to think pass first as a freshman. This can be a tough adjustment at times for a freshman. It is important for UC to have Vaughn in a scoring role, so finding a consistent ball handler to think distribution is a must.

The interior offense will hopefully get a big lift from three newcomers: Mike Williams, Yancy Gates and Steven Toyloy. Williams is a transfer from Texas who has missed the last two seasons, the 2006-2007 season because of NCAA transfer rules and last season because of an Achilles tendon injury. Williams was a McDonald's All-American that had two rather pedestrian seasons with a loaded Texas squad prior to leaving for Cincinnati. Williams has the strength to play early on, recovering the skills and realizing the potential that made him such a coveted high school recruit will go a long way to helping UC be successful in the Big East.

Two new big men to the program include prized local recruit Yancy Gates and JUCO recruit Steven Toyloy. Gates, from Cincinnati's Withrow High School, has a nice high school pedigree and a body built to contribute early in the Big East. Toyloy is another big body that should compliment long and lean Anthony McClain in the post and give the Bearcats several options in the front court that they have not had the last two seasons under Cronin.

I really like the most recent class Mick Cronin has brought in. It might take them a little time to get settled in and they should mesh with the large sophomore class and work themselves out. The junior trio Vaughn, Williams and Toyloy will be looked upon for leadership, and if the group can stay together through some growing pains this year, they should be a very formidable squad later in the season and a team that could gel for a big season in 2009-2010. This team is probably one year away from being in the NCAA Tournament mix, the NIT is a very good goal and would be solid progress this year.


------------
For the best in sports betting!
------------