Monday, December 27, 1999
UC's home at last
Bearcats at Shoe tonight for Wis.-Milwaukee
BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The UC Bearcats' holiday stocking stuffer was a return to the Shoe. But they also got a quick ticket back out.
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WIS.-MILWAUKEE at UC
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• When: 7 p.m. today
• Where: Shoemaker Center
• Records: UC 9-1, Wisconsin-Milwaukee 6-3
• TV: Channel 19
• Radio: WLW-AM (700)
BY THE NUMBERS
• 6: Number of times in 10 games UC has shot 50 percent or better from the field, including last week's win at Oklahoma.
• 39.7: UMW's 3-point shooting percentage.
• 2: Back-to-back double-doubles for Kenyon Martin.
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The fourth-ranked Bearcats return home tonight (7 p.m., Channel 19) to face Wisconsin-Milwaukee in their first game at the Shoemaker Center in more than two weeks. They've played just about everywhere else this season — Hawaii, the United Center in Chicago, Gund Arena in Cleveland, the Cincinnati Gardens — but tonight's game is just their third at the Shoe in 11 dates.
“It's nice to play at home every once in a while, just to get your comfort back,” UC senior center Kenyon Martin said. “You've got to be out of your comfort zone every once in a while. That's where we've been. When you play at home, you've got to take advantage of it.”
UC (9-1) played its last three road games in hostile environments — wins at St. Louis and Oklahoma and a loss at Xavier. Its last Shoe game was a Dec. 11 win over Mississippi Valley State, its 34th straight home victory.
But the Bearcats will be back on a plane Tuesday, headed for Thursday's matchup at Boise State. After that, they play three straight and five of six at home.
“You don't get tired of (the travel),” sophomore point guard Steve Logan said. “You might be a little fatigued, but you know you have to be ready to play. That's what you're here for.”
After suffering its first loss in the Crosstown Shootout to Xavier, UC responded with probably its best game of the young season, a 72-57 victory at 21st-ranked Oklahoma last Wednesday in its last game.
The Bearcats dominated despite not playing with Martin and small forward Pete Mickeal much of the game because of foul trouble. Freshmen DerMarr Johnson (12 points, 11 rebounds) and Kenny Satterfield (16 points) filled the void nicely, Martin took full advantage of his limited playing time with 23 points and power forward Jermaine Tate played stellar defense on Sooners star Eduardo Najera, limiting him to 6-of-21 shooting.
UC coach Bob Huggins is looking to keep all that going tonight.
“Early on, we passed the ball pretty well,” Huggins said. “We defended their 3s pretty well. We've just got to keep getting better at both ends.”
“We played well for a long period of time,” Martin said. “That's what we needed to help us get back on track.”
Wisconsin-Milwaukee may not be quite as much of a challenge. The Panthers have won six of their nine games but have only one starter taller than 6-foot-3: 6-9 center Chad Angeli, who averages 15.7 points and 4.6 rebounds.
That means 6-3 forward Clay Tucker (13.8 points) has to contend with either 6-7 Mickeal or 6-9 Tate, and the Panthers' small three-guard rotation (5-9, 5-9 and 6-2) will be harassed by the 6-7 Mickeal and 6-9 Johnson, along with Logan (6-0) and Satterfield (6-2).
UMW does shoot fairly well from outside (39.7 percent on 3-pointers), but is being outrebounded by nearly two boards a game. If the Panthers zone to shut down Martin, Mickeal could have a big game slashing, or Johnson, Logan or Satterfield shooting.
“I know they can shoot the 3-ball,” Logan said. “We're just going to throw it down in the post and let our post guys go to work. We've really got to work on the defensive end, because they're quick. They can give our big men trouble on the matchups, so we have to get after them a little bit.”
Redshirt freshman center Donald Little, who left the team last week for personal reasons and missed the Oklahoma game, returned to practice Saturday and will suit up tonight.
UC third in USAT/ESPN Poll
RAVENS 22, BENGALS 0
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Dillon, Anderson may play despite injuries
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UK goes for 3 straight tonight
Jordan tops Ruth on ESPN list
Locals golden in goal
Stuff 105, Baltimore 93
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