Sunday, November 28, 1999
Healthy Mickeal a happy forward
UC NOTEBOOK
BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Forward Pete Mickeal had the solitary lead among the Bearcats in only one statisticalcategory in their 88-67 victory over Santa Clara, but it was one that seemed unlikely earlier in the week.
Mickeal played 31 minutes Saturday. He has been bothered the last two weeks by pain in his left knee, but said the treatment and a new prescription he is taking has all but eliminated the discomfort.
“It feels great,” Mickeal said. “The last two days, I've been praying that it would feel just all right. I haven't had any trouble.”
Although Mickeal said his knee “was hurting so bad, I could barely walk some days,” an MRI showed no structural damage.
Point pleasant
With all the offensive weapons Steve Logan has at his disposal, it might seem the job of the Cincinnati Bearcats point guard has become an easy gig.
The trick, though, is deciding which direction the offense should flow at any given moment.
Logan has been almost perfectly efficient at the point through three games. He passed for 13 assists and committed just two turnovers. Combine his statistics with those of freshman Kenny Satterfield, Logan's backup, and UC's point guards have passed for 37 assists and committed six turnovers. That's a ratio of better than 6-to-1.
Boarding
Coach Bob Huggins' concern about UC's rebounding in the Cleveland State game was not overstated. The Vikings' 41-34 advantage in that category was as bad a beating as the Bearcats have absorbed in at least two years.
UC outrebounded all but seven of its opponents in 1998-99, and none of those that got the better of the Bearcats had a margin of more than six (UNC Charlotte, Duke).
“We're making such an emphasis on pushing the ball,” Huggins said. “Maybe we're forgetting to get it before we try to push.”
UC beat Santa Clara 37-28 on the boards, but Huggins was displeased only six of those came at the offensive end.
Rim shots
The Bearcats may not play again on rims as kind to shooters as those here, but if they approach the success they had here, they could be among the best offensive teams in UC history.
Through three games, UC owns a .538 percentage (90-of-167). The school record is .511, set by the 1959-60 team featuring Oscar Robertson.
Numerology
Huggins left the Santa Clara game with his 250th victory as Bearcats coach. He has a 250-82 record at UC, 418-154 in his career.
• After three games, UC is shooting 23-of-50 (.460) from 3-point range.
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