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Wednesday, December 15, 2010

CINCINNATI REMAINS UNBEATEN...LOOKING FOR RESPECT!

Cincinnati continued their hot start by blasting Georgia Southern Tuesday night at Fifth Third Arena by the score of 99-54. The Bearcats improved to 9-0 on the season with the victory.

"Probably the best game we’ve played for forty minutes and as well as we played against Dayton," said coach Mick Cronin. "We defended until the buzzer against Dayton, but tonight we played offense and defense."

The Bearcats raced out of the gates once again, leading 8-2 at the start and never looking back, grabbing a 50-23 lead at the half and keeping the pedal to the medal all game. Six players scored in double figures and the team was credited with 26 assists on 35 made field goals against just nine turnovers, showing a new dedication to sharing the basketball this season.

“A lot of that has to do with the guys in the locker room taking ownership of why we lost close games last year," Cronin said following the game. "Because of what we went thru together, it has made them better. Now they are easier to coach because they understand the things they did wrong that cost us some games and the NCAA Tournament."

With Deonta Vaughn and Lance Stephenson in the backcourt last season expectations where high for UC last season. However they struggled in close games and the heralded duo never seemed to gel on the court. Things seem different this season, but the coach believes it has more to do with who they have and how they have matured than what they lost.

"It's not Lance and Deonta being gone; its guys taking ownership," Cronin said of the team chemistry. "Rome wasn’t built in a day. It isn’t an overnight process for every team.”

On Tuesday night, Rashad Bishop, Yancy Gates, Dion Dixon and Ibrahima Thomas all scored a team-high 12 points while Larry Davis (11 points) and Sean Kilpatrick (10) also came off the bench to reach double figures. Point guard Cashmere Wright set the tone with a stat-line of nine points and seven assists against just one turnover and remarked after the game about the balanced effort of the team this season.

“I think it makes it easier knowing that anyone on the floor can score, said Wrigth. "You aren’t referring to one person. Anyone that is open you can throw the ball to, and they will make the shot.”

UC shot 56% from the field and held a healthy advantage on the glass. Still, at 9-0, UC is not getting much attention for their hot start. Their win over Dayton opened some eyes, but the pollsters and fans have not seemed to buy into the impressive start yet. Last night a crowd of just 4,523 showed up to see the contest.

“We stay focused on winning games, getting better, and improving," Cronin said. "I choose to focus on the people that come to games, and we appreciate that. We keep trying to give them a good show.”

The preseason rankings and current Top 25 polls are also things that the players and coaches are using as motivation tools to keep working hard and improving, as chances to impress more skeptics are ahead.

“A lot of people aren’t giving us as much respect," said Yancy Gates. "It doesn’t bother us but we notice it. It helps us stay focused on what we are trying to do. We feel that if we keep playing with high intensity and with energy, we’ll get some of the respect that we deserve.”

"That’s the great thing about it is that we will get our chance," added Cronin. "The longer we stay unranked, it bothers them, and I can use that.”

This Saturday the Bearcats can add a 'name' school to their resume when Cincinnati travels to the Ford Center in Oklahoma City to meet the Oklahoma Sooners for a 9 pm tip time. It will be a good test ahead of the Big East schedule which begins later this month.

--game quotes courtesy of www.gobearcats.com

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