CINCINNATI TOPS XAVIER IN CROSSTOWN RIVALRY

Bearcats snap three-game series slide to city rival, now 15-0 on season

While the sports news around the country is fixated on this weekend's NFL Playoff match-ups, fans in Cincinnati have a different topic of conversation. The 15-0 Cincinnati Bearcats.


Last night the Bearcats matched the 1998-1999 team with the second-best start in school history with a 66-46 drubbing of rival Xavier in the annual rivalry game before a crowd of more than 13,000 which included Cincinnati baseball legend Pete Rose at Fifth Third Arena. Local product Yancy Gates led the home team with 22 points and 14 rebounds in the win.

“More proud of the win," said Gates afterwards when asked about his performance. "If I had to choose (between points or rebounds), it would be the rebounds. Down the stretch that was the key of keeping them off the glass. At halftime, we were down 2 or 3 on the boards. We wanted to come out at half and change that.”

Cincinnati used full court pressure, which turned Xavier over 17 times, and a strong performance on the glass, outrebounding their opponent 36-29 for the game, as key factors of UC ending their three-game losing streak in the series to the Musketeers. However it was the play of Gates that had his coach most proud afterwards.

"Yancy decided it was time to win the Crosstown Shootout," said Mick Cronin. "The more we got him the ball; the more we got separation. Made them defend him more inside and got us to the free throw lane. He was definitely the difference.”


The Bearcats got off to a slow start and a Jamel McLean put-back basket gave Xavier a 10-4 lead with 13:38 left in the half and UC went scoreless for a 5:20 stretch that was broken by a Dion Dixon basket with 11:46 left in the half. This started a 22-5 run where Cincinnati took a lead they would never relinquish and when Gates scored with 2:35 left in the half, the lead was 11, 26-15. Gates scored 8 points in the run.

The Musketeers would chip away at the lead and another McLean basket would pull them within five points, 35-30 with 15:05 left in the second half. UC answered with 11 consecutive points to take their biggest advantage of the night, to that point, of 16 points, 46-30 with 12:38 left on a Larry Davis three-pointer. The score would never be closer than 13 points again as the Bearcats put away the game on the way to the 66-46 victory.

Dion Dixon added 16 points and 9 rebounds while Cashmere Wright scored 10, making all eight of his free throw attempts. As a team UC was 15 of 16 from the line on the night.

Tu Holloway, the Musketeers’ leading scorer at 21.3 points per game, managed only five on 2-of-13 shooting. As this game often does, it got physical and tempers flared a bit as Holloway was issued a technical for an elbow.

"They were a tough physical team," said Holloway. "They made it hard to get to the easy baskets. They were just a physical team."

Cronin credited his team's maturity this year in not getting caught up in the environment and keeping their cool, unlike some times in the past in the rivalry.

“Something happened at the other end that no one retaliated and we got the advantage," said Cronin. "I told our guys in pregame that everything we’ve talked about in maturity would be shown tonight.”

The Bearcats were also able to use their depth with the fullcourt pressure and players are sticking to their assignments defensively, another sign of the maturation of the team and program under Cronin.

"The thing about pressing is if you can throw them off their rhythm, Tu Halloway missing free throws because he is tired," pointed Cronin to a key element of his game plan. "The strength is our depth and we can run teams down and it shortens the shot clock. It stops them from possibly running a play that the coach calls. It’s a little easier to do it when you have a veteran team, and that is the luxury I have this year.”

Now the veteran club will face the toughest test of all in a difficult spot, heading to the Pavilion to face top-10 Villanova on Sunday in a building where the Wildcats have won 44 straight. Cronin hopes his big man is ready to bring his game once again.

"I have to point out to him that he has to do that again on Sunday and we have to get him the ball when he decides to dominate the paint on offense," said Cronin.

Sunday should be a good one. You can never let up in the BIG EAST as the next challenge is right around the corner. Even when your 15-0!

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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NO. 25 CINCINNATI FALLS AT UAB, 64-47

Following the emotional and intense crosstown shootout loss Sunday night at rival Xaiver, seeing a letdown of sorts from Cincinnati Wednesday night when they faces UAB was expected. However, this effort was more than a letdown as the Bearcats Suffer a Setback at UAB (Cincinnati Enquirer) in a 64-47 loss.

The Bearcats can almost certainly kiss good-bye their top 25 ranking and head coach Mick Cronin does not want to hear any excuses because of their previous game.

“One team was humble and hungry to win,” said UC coach Mick Cronin following the game in the Enquirer. “The other team was overconfident and uninterested.”

UAB Had Something to Prove Against No. 25 UC (Birmingham News) as the Blazers raced out to a 34-19 halftime lead and outrebounded the Bearcats 29-14 in the opening 20 minutes.

“We played like we had no energy,” Cronin told the Enquirer. “Whether that comes from Sunday night, we’d better grow up because we play in a conference where you’ve got to play tough games every game.”

Cincinnati, now 6-3, closes out their pre-conference schedule with Lipscomb and Winthrop at home before hosting Connecticut on December 30th to open Big East play.

Before conference play begins, UC will need to find a way to get senior Deonta Vaughn playing better. After struggling in the loss at Xavier Sunday night, Vaughn was just 2-9 from the field against UAB and committed five turnovers. After averaging over 15 points a game in his first three years as a Bearcat, Vaughn is averaging just 10 points a game this year and seeing his shooting percentages drop to career lows as well. If UC is going to challenge in the Big East like many believe they can, Deonta Vaughn will need to be producing at, or near, his previous levels.

Dion Dixon led UC with 13 points in the loss at UAB as the entire Bearcat club struggled offensively. Cincinnati shot just 32% (19-61) from the field in the game and 3-22 from three-point range. Add in 17 turnovers and it was a recipe for disaster for the Bearcats.

CINCINNATI FALLS IN EMOTIONAL CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT CLASSIC

There has been a lot of exciting battles in the crosstown shootout between Cincinnati and Xavier over the years. In a rivalry that has seemed to have lost some luster in recent seasons, last night's game might have brought the emotions back as Tempers Flare Like Crosstown Shootouts of Old (Cincinnati Enquirer) before the Musketeers pull off the upset in double overtime, 83-79.

Pushing, shoving and two technical fouls made for a tense atmosphere after Xavier’s Jordan Crawford and UC’s Rashad Bishop got into a scrum with just over seven minutes left in the first half, and each drew a technical foul.

Seconds after the dust-up, Bishop had to be restrained from going after Crawford. A few minutes later, both teams nearly went at it at midcourt during a TV timeout.

After emotions simmered, a classic of a basketball game ensued as 12 ties, nine lead changes and two overtimes followed. Cincinnati rallied in regulation to force OT as Lance Stephenson again showed his enormous potential with a game tying drive to the basket in the final seconds. In overtime, Xavier Rallies to Send Crosstown Shootout into First Ever Double Overtime (Cincinnati Enquirer) before X outscored the Bearcats 9-5 in the second OT.

The big difference in the game was from the foul line. Xavier was 28 of 36 from the stripe while UC was a poor 10-22. Also, Immaturity Helps Doom the Bearcats (CNati.com) as Mick Cronin's team lost their cool and focus. Stephenson glared down the Xavier bench, repeatedly jawed with Musketeers players, found himself in the middle of an altercation and even spent time talking at Musketeers coach Chris Mack, at least according to XU coach in CNati.com.

"True toughness is dealing with the environment and winning the game," Cronin told CNati.com.

It is a lesson for the Bearcats, one that will serve them well, despite the loss, once the Big East battles begin later this month.

Stephenson finished with 22 points for UC. Yancy Gates came off the bench to score 18 in 40 minutes and Deonta Vaughn added 13. Vaughn, however, was just six of 19 from the floor and one of seven from three-point range. He finishes his Crosstown Shootout career with a 1-3 record against XU as the Musketeers have now won three in a row in the series.

RANKED BEARCATS PLEASE COACH IN WIN, FANS DISAPPOINT

Cincinnati played like the nationally ranked team they are on Tuesday night as Mick cronin's team shot 57% fromt he floor, outrebounded Texas Southern 47-25 and placed seven players in double figures in a 94-57 rout at Fifth Third Arena.

The win uppded UC's record to 5-1 as they head into a nine-day break before returning to action against Miami (OH) on December 10th. On Tuesday, Depth Shined for #22 UC (CNATI.com) as Rashad Bishop (14) and Dion Dixon (13) led the seven players reaching double figures. Freshman phenon Lance Stephenson was not one of the seven in double figures, scoring just seven points himself, but he led the Bearcats with 11 rebounds and 7 assists in the contest.

Still, even with the easy win, a coach needs to find something to be unhappy about. However, Mick Cronin was not upset with his team, instead Cronin was Disappointed in the Fans (CNATI.com) as 6,825 showed up to see No. 22 Cincinnati.

Former UC star Nick Van Exel had a good view of the action and received a rousing ovation from the UC fans that did show. Van Exel is a first-year assistant coach with Texas Southern and last night watched as his alma mater UC Breezed Past Texas Southern (Cincinnati Enquirer) for the win.

CINCINNATI COLLAPSE COMPLETE, LOSSES TO DEPAUL

March 10, 2009


The first 16-seed to ever play in the Big East Tournament became the first one ever to win a game in the conference tournament as DePaul turns back Cincinnati, 67-57, in Madison Square Garden.

After an 0-18 Big East regular season, DePaul Finally Wins a Game (NY Times) against Big East competition at the expense of the Bearcats. Will Walker continued his hot scoring streak over the last 10 games by scoring 17, which shared team-high honors with Dar Tucker who made the necessary free-throws to keep the thought of a comeback out of the minds of the UC players. Mac Koshwal and Jeremiak Kelly both scored 12 points a piece.

The madness of March has officially begun as DePaul Upsets Cincinnati (Cincinnati Enquirer), handing the Bearcats their sixth loss in their last seven contests. The last three at the hands of South Florida, Seton Hall and now DePaul. Not exactly what Mick Cronin had in mind for his team when they could have pushed for a 2009 NCAA Tournament bid if not for their collapse of the last week.

Deonta Vaughn was the only Bearcat in double figures, finishing with 15 points.

POP GOES THE NCAA'S FOR CINCINNATI

March 4, 2009

This one is going to hurt Mick Cronin and his Cincinnati squad as the Bubble Bursts for the Bearcats (Cincinnati Enquirer) in an inexcuseable 70-59 loss at South Florida Tuesday night.

USF rallied from a five-point halftime deficit to outscore UC 46-30 in the second half. This offensive explosion came from a Bulls squad that looked gassed in Sunday's home loss to West Virginia. In that game South Florida managed just 50 points in the full game, only four points more than their second half output in a game the Bearcats HAD to have.

Dominique Jones led the Bulls with 30 points as USF used a 17-2 run over seven minutes to turn a 50-46 deficit into a 63-52 lead with just 1:08 left in the game. Jones also added a team-high 8 rebounds and dished out 5 assists in a dominating performance. Augustus Gilchrist added 13 and point guard Chris Howard was credited with 10 assists without committing a single turnover in the game.


The loss was a devastating blow to the Bearcats who now could be faced with having to win the 2009 Big East Tournament next week in Madison Square Garden for any chance at making the NCAA Tournament. Their blowout loss at Syracuse on Sunday and the loss to USF puts them at 8-9 in the Big East with Seton Hall coming to Fifth Third Arena to close out the regular season this weekend.

UC was without starting forward Mike Williams again. They did manage to eat West Virginia with their 6'7 forward, who is out with a sprained knee. However, USF has plenty of their own injury issues (no Jesus Verdejo), and the Bearcats simply failed to get it done.

Yancy Gates had a team-high 14 points. Like the Syracuse loss, UC struggled shooting the ball, connecting on just 37% of their shots from the field and were 7-32 from beyond the three-point arc as they look to have shot away the chance at the NCAA Tournament.

BEARCATS LOSE GROUND ON NCAA BID

March 2, 2009

Coming off the emotion and tense win over West Virginia and former coach Bob Huggins on Thursday night, Cincinnati looked to have little left in the tank on Sunday afternoon when they visited Syracuse in the Carrier Dome.

After the win against WVU gave the Bearcats their eighth win in their last 12 games, they were hoping to show some hunger in a push to make the Big Dance. However, UC Loses Appetite for Tourney (Cincinnati Enquirer) and pushed their backs against in a quest for a bid as SU Bears Down (Syracuse Post-Standard) expecting UC's best shot. Instead, the Bearcats misfired early and often as the Orange cruise to an 87-63 win.

It was not even that close. The Bearcats Were Knocked to the Canvas Early and Often (Post-Standard) as SU raced to a 19-4 lead in the opening minutes, stretched it to 40-17 at the half and 54-21 in the opening minutes of the second half.

Jonny Flynn led five Orange players in double figures with 17 and Paul Harris (16), Rick Jackson (13), Eric Devendorf (13) and Arinze Onuaku also reached double figures.

The Bearcats did themselves no favor with the embarrasing loss on Sunday. They were playing without starting power forward Mike Williams and their depth took another hit as an Alvin Mitchell Hard Foul on Paul Harris Leads to an Ejection (Post-Standard).

UC leading scorer Deonta Vaughn scored all 11 of his points in the final six minutes of the game when the outcome was already well decided. Freshman Dion Dixon led UC with 18 points.

Cincinnati is now 8-8 in the Big East and closed with a pair of winnable games this week, at South Florida and home against Seton Hall, ahead of the 2009 Big East Tournament next week. Right now, their two losses to Providence may be very hard to overcome on selection Sunday without putting some distance between themselves and PC while in NYC next week.

February 27, 2009


Last night in Cincinnati there were a lot of Huggs and Misses (Charleston Gazette) as Bob Huggins' Night Not One to Remember (Charleston Gazette) as West Virginia falls to UC, 65-61.

It was an Emotional Return for Huggins (Times West Virginian) who wiped tears from his eyes during a pregame video highlight tribute film to his career as the UC head coach, one which saw him become the winningest coach of the program's history. In the game, however, it was the Bearcats Who Made their Own Highlights (Cincinnati Enquirer) as Mick Cronin beat his former mentor and UC icon for the second consecutive season. It was a win UC simply had to have to keep their NCAA Tournament chances alive and they delivered by riding the back of freshman big man Yancy Gates, picking up the slack for injured starter Mike Williams, whose sprained knee could improve enough to have him back for a game at Syracuse on Sunday. Gates finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds and the Mountaineers had no answer for him when he got the ball on the block. He was 9-11 from the field. Deonta Vaughn added 13 points for the winners as UC Takes Down Huggins and WVU (Cincinnati Enquirer), improving to 18-7 in the Big East and 18-10 overall.

West Virginia fell to 8-7 in the Big East and into a tie in the standings with UC and Syracuse in Big East competition as the Mountaineers Waste an Opportunity Against the Bearcats (Daily Mail) to seperate themselves a little from the pack. They also lose an tie-breaker with both the Orange and Bearcats since they have lost to each of them.

The UC defense held the Mountaineers to just 34% shooting from the field in the game. Alex Ruoff led the Mountaineers with 18 points, but he was just 3-15 from the field and 2-11 from beyond the arc.

The Bearcats hit the road for games with Syracuse on Sunday and South Florida before wrapping up the Big East regular season at home against Seton Hall. Winning two of three should but them in a pretty good situation heading to the 2009 Big East Tournament in Madison Square Garden the second week of March.

CINCINNATI STILL SEARCHING FOR SIGNATURE WIN, FALLS AT PITT

February 15, 2009

The Pittsburgh Panthers took care of business on Saturday afternoon, beating the Cincinnati Bearcats 85-69 at the Peterson Events Center. In doing so, Pitt matched a school record by shooting 67.4% from the field and guarantees that their meeting with UConn on Big Monday will be a battle of top 5 teams.

Pitt had five players in double figures, led by Sam Young's 18 points. DeJuan Blair added 17, Jermaine Dixon 14, Gilbert Brown 12 and Levance Fields added 11 points while orchestrating another flawless floor game, handing out 13 assists without turning the ball over. As a team, Pitt was credited with 21 assist on their 31 made field goals and had just six team turnovers.

While the Pitt defense allowed UC to shoot 52% themselves, Pitt did an excellent job on the two Bearcat stars, Deonta Vaughn and Yancy Gates. Vaughn was hounded by the JUCO transfer Dixon and sophomore guard Brad Wanamaker the entire game and finished with just nine points in 37 minutes. Gates was just 2-8 from the field, scoring 4 points in 28 minutes.

Pitt's 6'7 Blair, the nation's leading offensive rebounder, was quiet on the boards today as Cincinnati did a good job limiting second chance opportunities, of course, when a team missed just 15 shots the ENTIRE game, there aren't many rebounds available, so next time, Mick Cronin would probably prefer his players to make Pitt miss AND prevent the offensive rebounds.

UC had won seven of their last nine, but they have been desperately searching to a signature win that will impress the NCAA Tournament committee. Two wins over Georgetown and a win over Notre Dame do not have the same weight now as it did earlier this season. Home games with Louisville and West Virginia are up next and then a road trip to Syracuse, so they have a couple more opportunities to impress the selection committee.

Mike Williams scored 17 to lead UC and Larry Davis added 13.

UC NEEDS TO SUPPORT CURRENT COACH & PLAYERS

February 11, 2009


by Ray Mernagh


It's not Mick Cronin's fault that Nancy Zimpher fired Bob Huggins as the basketball coach at Cincinnati back in August of 2005. None of the current players had anything to do with it either. In fact, both Cronin and his players are too busy trying, finally, to make good on their first real chance at an NCAA Tournament berth since Cronin took over the program. Cronin accepted the job in March of 2006 after leading Murray State to two NCAA Tournaments in his three years there -- compiling a 69-24 record while in charge of the perennial Ohio Valley Conference power. Why some in Cincinnati are still upset with the Huggins firing is somewhat understandable, given the love for Huggins there (think Pete Rose-like adulation). But to use that bitterness as a reason not to support native son Cronin and the Bearcats program is petty.

With yesterday's news that Zimpher will be leaving the Queen City to take over the reigns of the SUNY system, the largest state university system in the country that has 64 campuses across New York, it seems like now is the perfect time for closure. Cincinnati plans to honor Huggins, a mentor of Cronin's who gave the young coach his start in the D-1 game, when West Virginia visits Cincinnati later this month. Honoring Huggins is fine. He's a legendary figure in Cincinnati lore, having turned the ravaged program he inherited from Tony Yates in 1989 into a huge winner. He deserves to be recognized for what he accomplished, especially if honoring Hugs will allow the Bearcat Nation to move on and finally embrace native son Cronin and the job he's doing.

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The only situation even comparable to the one Cronin stepped into at Cincinnati is the one currently happening at Indiana. Tom Crean, after cleaning house and watching Jordan Crawford transfer to Xavier, had no returning scholarship players. When Cronin began his first season at Cincinnati, he had one scholarship player returning -- on a team expected to compete in the Big East. Not an easy gig. Yet some fans of Cincinnati basketball still consider Cronin a traitor. You see, Cronin left Huggins' staff to be Rick Pitino's associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Louisville in 2001. Yes, Louisville was a huge rival of Cincinnati in Conference USA, but holding the move against Cronin, especially now, is nuts. Because when you look at it with the 20/20 vision that hindsight provides, Cronin not only made the right decision for his career at the time, but ultimately, the right decision for the future health of the Cincinnati basketball program.

Cronin was a recruiting beast as an assistant under Huggins. He was the lead recruiter on five Bearcats who went on to be NBA draft picks: Steve Logan, two-time Conference USA Player of the Year (Golden State); DerMarr Johnson, Parade Magazine National Prep Player of the Year and C-USA Freshman of the Year (Atlanta); Pete Mickeal, a junior college national player of the year selection (Dallas); Kenny Satterfield, a McDonald's All-American (Dallas); and Jason Maxiell (Detroit). Cronin helped deliver recruiting classes ranked in the top-five nationally in two of his last three seasons and another that was ranked in the top-ten. His work helped UC compile a 108-26 record, capture five regular season titles in Conference USA, plus two conference tournament titles.

So Cronin's move, while upsetting to Huggins and UC fans at the time, wasn't traitorous. He'd repaid any debt to Huggins for making him an assistant coach in the first place by doing such a monster job on the recruiting trail. Cronin showed keen insight and intelligence for making the move when he did. Rumors were swirling at the time that Huggins wasn't long for Cincinnati, plus Cronin felt he'd never have a shot to be a head coach -- especially in his hometown -- if he didn't go somewhere else and have success first. When Pitino called, as hard as it was for Cronin to leave, the choice to get in that car and head to the 'Ville was a no-brainer. Being on Pitino's staff was, and is, a gateway to a head job in D-1 basketball. That's exactly what Pitino used to sell Cronin on the move. It turned out exactly the way Pitino pitched it.

Cronin delivered for Pitino -- and in turn -- Pitino delivered for Cronin. Cronin was hired by Murray State in 2003 and had the aforementioned success. When his dream job came open following his third season at Murray State, Cronin's success made him a viable candidate, and more importantly, he was ready for the job.

Now in his third year, Cronin has implemented the toughness he learned under Huggins into the program, while steadily acquiring the kind of talent needed to compete in the Belly of the Beast. The Bearcats stand at 16-8 and 6-5 in the Big East going into their game with St John's this evening. They look to be on track for 20 or 21 wins and certainly are in the discussion for a bid to the NCAA's.

None of that would be possible if Cronin had stayed eight years ago.

Huggins is gone, coaching a conference rival in what he calls his dream job. Zimpher is on the way out the door.

Cronin is back home where he belongs. UC fans should be thankful for that.
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Ray Mernagh is the Basketball Editor for the Pittsburgh Sports Report and writes for Basketball Times as well as his own blog, Hoop Wise. Ray's first book, 1 Chance 2 Dance: A Season Inside Mid-Major Hoops in Mid-America, focuses on 18 months of MAC basketball.
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CINCINNATI EDGES HOYAS IN OT ON THE ROAD

February 7, 2009


The way Georgetown started off conference play, with a win at UConn, nobody foreshadowed the fall that has occurred the past few weeks. Saturday might have been rock bottom as Cincinnati finished off a sweep with a 64-62 overtime win at Georgetown.

The Ice Cold Hoyas Continue to Skip (Washington Post), now losing six of their last seven and find themselves at 4-7 in the Big East.

UC Beats Georgetown in OT (Cincinnati Enquirer), despite not making a field goal in the extra session. The Bearcats scored all five of their OT points from the line. Georgetown missed all eight of thier field goal attempts in OT, including Austin Freeman's attempted three-pointer to win at the buzzer.

Deonta Vaughn had 16 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists to lead UC while Mike Williams, Larry Davis and Yancy Gates each scored 11. Cincinnati is 6-5 in the Big East and have won six of their last eight games.

BEARCATS CLAW IRISH IN BIG EAST ACTION

February 5, 2009


So with their season most likely on the line last night against Cincinnati, how does Notre Dame respond to the challenge? By giving up 93 points for the second consecutive game as the Bearcats Deep-Six ND (South Bend Tribune), dropping them to 3-7 in the Big East.

The Bearcats Shock Irish, Extend Losing Streak to Six (Journal Gazette) as junior Deonta Vaughn scored 34 points while just making five (all three's) shots from the floor. Vaughn was 19-22 from the line and as a team UC was 31-41.

Larry Davis added 21 points and Yancy Gates had 15 points and 8 rebounds as UC Takes Down Irish (Cincinnati Enquirer) at US Bank Arena in Downtown Cincinnati and even their conference mark at 5-5.

BEARCATS EVEN BIG EAST RECORD, UPSET #25 HOYAS

January 29, 2009



As Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin said after the game, "Sometimes when it rains, it pours." Georgetown and coach John Thompson III can certainly identify with that statement. Last night, the Hoyas Add an Injury to their Latest Insult (Washington Times), a 65-57 loss at Cincinnati.

The Bearcats Prove They Belong (Cincinnati Enquirer), evening their conference record at 4-4, by finishing the game on an 11-2 run over the final 4:38 for the comeback victory.

Junior Deonta Vaughn scored 20 points with Mike Williams adding 12 and Dion Dixon 10 to lead UC in the win.

Late in the first half, DaJuan Summers, the Hoyas' leading scorer, went down with a sprained ankle. Summers would not return and the thin and inexperienced Hoya line-up was stretched even more. With Jesse Sapp's shooting woes continuing (0-3 from the field), Georgetown had little answers offensively when they needed them and lost for the fourth straight game and are now 3-5 in the Big East.

CINCINNATI RALLIES FOR BIG EAST ROAD WIN

Tempers and frustrations boiled over in the meeting between St. John's and Cincinnati at Carnesecca Arena last night.

When order was restored, it was the Redstorm in Foul Mood After Collapse (Newsday) and the Bearcats celebrating their third win in their last four conference games

With the score 43-35 in favor of SJU following a DJ Kennedy three-pointer 2:57 into the second half, referee karl Hess stopped the game and issued a double technical to Kennedy and UC forward Rashad Bishop for excessive jawing that had been building throughout the game. When both continued even after being seperated and issued T's, Curtis Shaw then hit the pair again with double technicals, ejecting both from the game.

The double ejection crippled the Redstorm as a deeper Cincinnati team took advantage UC Grinds out a Victory (Cincinnati Enquirer), outscoring SJU 36-17 over the final 17:03 of the game.

Deonta Vaughn scored 20 of his game-high 23 in the second half, including 10 in a row in a spurt that allowed UC to take control of the game after trailing 55-52 with 7:50 to go.

Bishop added 15 for the Bearcats despite missing the final 17 minutes.

Even though Kennedy Gets Thrown Out (Daily News), the Redstorm extended the lead to as many as 11, 51-40, with 13:16 left, but they managed just one field goal in the last 7:50 and were outscored 31-9 to close the game.

With Kennedy out of the game and Malik Boothe unavailable because of injury, SJU was without their two best ball-handlers and the Bearcats took advantage with a press. The extended defense wore out the thin Redstorm and forced their shakky ball-handling to be exposed as they committed 21 turnovers, to just 10 for the game by UC.

Paris Horne had 20 for the 'storm and Justin Burrell added 15. Sean Evans had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, but was just 4-13 from the foul line.

Notes:

-Cincinnati matched last year's win total (13-19) as they moved to 13-7 overall. They are now 3-4 in the Big East, winning three of their last four.

-The Redstorm held a 43-33 rebounding edge, but it was negated by the 21 turnovers to UC just turning it over 10 times in the game.