Thursday, December 23, 1999
Little misses game for personal reasons
BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NORMAN, Okla. — Donald Little, a redshirt freshman center, left the team after practice Tuesday to attend to personal concerns at home in Augusta, Ga.
UC coach Bob Huggins would not elaborate on Little's reason for leaving the team, but said he is expected back in Cincinnati with the rest of the Bearcats on Christmas night. “I would think he'll be back for the next game,” Huggins said.
Little's lack of consistency in two years on campus has frustrated UC's coaches. A 6-11, 215-pound product of the Winchendon School in Massachusetts, Little flashes impressive offensive skills and shot-blocking ability, but turnovers and lost rebounds cost him more playing time.
“I think what's holding him back is he's got three seniors in front of him,” Huggins said. “I think he's a young player that needs to grow up. He can't go as long or as hard as what those other guys can. Hopefully, that comes with time. He's never had to do it before.”
Little redshirted last season with an elbow injury that occurred not long after a promising 11-point, five-rebound performance against Southwestern Louisiana. This season, he has not played longer than 12 minutes in any game — he sat out against Iowa State and Xavier.
Asked whether he thought Little's limited playing experience is a factor in his development, Huggins responded, “Probably.”
Tight rotation
With Little unavailable, Huggins limited himself to playing Jermaine Tate, Ryan Fletcher and Kenyon Martin inside. He did not use freshman B.J. Grove.
“It's what we've been doing anyways, playing those guys,” Huggins said.
With sophomore Eugene Land planning to redshirt after rejoining the team and Little missing, Grove is the only big man left on the bench after the three regulars.
UC got its best effort from Tate in five games, although he fouled out for the second time in that stretch and again failed to reach four rebounds. He was one of UC's most effective defenders and scored six points, all in the first half.
Tate had offseason surgery on both his knees, and has practiced sporadically.
“I figured I had to step up with Kenyon out,” Tate said.
Up next
UC moved up a spot to the fourth-longest home winning streak after Arizona lost Tuesday to New Mexico at the McKale Center.
The Bearcats have won 34 consecutive games at the Shoemaker Center, which ranks behind Murray State (46) and Utah and Duke (both 41).
UC returns to the Shoe Monday to play Wisconsin-Milwaukee at 7:05. Six of the next eight games will be at the Shoe.
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