Gale Catlett, who coached UC in the mid-70s, will face his former team Saturday.
Saed Hindash photo)
| ZOOM |
|
BOISE, Idaho - West Virginia coach Gale Catlett barely got 30 seconds to enjoy his team's 30-point win against favored Temple in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Then somebody asked about Cincinnati.
There were no immediate questions about WVU's 82-52 destruction of the seventh-seeded Owls, so somebody went and looked ahead, asking whether Catlett had any particular feelings about coaching in the tournament against the school he where he worked for six seasons in the mid-1970s.
This question was posed before the Bearcats played and narrowly escaped Northern Arizona in the second afternoon game Thursday at BSU Pavilion.
''Not a very good question,'' Catlett said. ''I haven't thought about that at this point. Tomorrow's press conference, I'll have something to say about that. There is a press conference tomorrow, isn't there?''
Catlett is not so familiar with how the NCAA Tournament operates once it gets past opening day. The Mountaineers hadn't made the tournament since 1992. They've gotten past the first game three times in seven tournament appearances under Catlett.
WVU (22-8) was not expected to do a lot with the Owls, but easily cut through an extended matchup zone in the first half and built an 18-point lead at 29-11. For the game, the Mountaineers shot .542 from the field.
The Owls (21-9) were impatient upon breaking the West Virginia press and heaved 17 threes in the first half. They made three. Only when guard Pepe Sanchez chose to cut into the lane for two baskets and a dump-off to center Lamont Barnes did the Owls cut the deficit to 12 at the half.
''We were rushing to do things instead of running the offense piece-by-piece,'' said Temple guard Quincy Wadley.
Balanced scoring that put four starters in double figures, led by guard Jarrod West's 15, allowed WVU to open that back early in the second half.
''They are a team that starts five seniors. They play real well together,'' said Temple guard Rasheed Brokenborough.
Saturday's game against West Virginia also will be a reunion for Bearcats coach Bob Huggins. He played for the Mountaineers under Joedy Garner and worked there as a graduate assistant. When Catlett was hired, he chose not to retain Huggins on his staff.
Huggins said it would not be emotional for him as long as the Mountaineer mascot ''doesn't shoot that musket. If he shoots that musket, I might feel some emotion.''
Wake up call doesn't spoil UC's dream Tim Sullivan column
Martin stars on big screen
Notebook: Patterson struggles on defense
UC, XU women open NIT tonight
SEASON IN STORIES
