Friday, February 04, 2000
UC NOTEBOOK
'SI' changes tune, sings UC's praises
BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The news was much better on this trip into Charlotte.
A year ago, just before the Bearcats left to play UNC Charlotte at the Halton Arena, they were treated to a profoundly negative report on their program by ESPN's SportsCenter on which the anchor wrongly declared coach Bob Huggins had never had one of his players graduate.
This time, UC made the national media in a positive piece about center Kenyon Martin headlined “Grand Kenyon” in Sports Illustrated — the magazine so rough on the Bearcats in 1996 that Huggins still bristles at its mention.
The article looks at Martin's upbringing, his battle to control a speech impediment and his relationship with fiancee Fatimah Conley.
Writer Grant Wahl said of Martin: “After all, his dunks are not dunk. They're detonations. He doesn't just block shots. He often catches them. More than any other player in the nation, Martin visibly frightens opposing players.”
The only remotely negative item in the piece was a slight hint about the Bearcats' recent NCAA Tournament troubles, but Wahl brushed those off by saying Martin's improvement, UC's depth of talent and a more composed Huggins likely would prevent another second-round loss.
Road trip
This is the third and final time this season UC will have to play consecutive road games.
After the UNCC game, the Bearcats will have a short turnaround before playing UAB Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. EST.
In the past three seasons, eight of the Bearcats' 13 losses occurred when they were on extended road trips. They are 2-4 at Bartow Arena.
Numbers games
The Bearcats held UNCC to .286 shooting, the second time this season they kept an opponent under .300. The first? UNCC, which hit a season-low .275 at the Shoemaker Center last month. UC has held 14 of 21 opponents under .400 shooting from the field.
• Martin's 10 made free throws were a career high.
• After entering the game as the nation's No.3 free throw shooter at .915, guard Steve Logan missed almost as many attempts against UNCC (four, 2-of-6) as in the entire season (five). His percentage dropped to .862.
• Martin moved into the top 30 in career scoring at UC with 20 points that gave him 1,073 and allowed him to pass five players, including Eddie Lee (1,068, 1975-79), now No. 31.
• Martin is three blocks short of his single-season school record, which he set with 83 in 1997-98.
Bearcats Stories
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Red-letter day for Marty
Marty speaks on ...
Marty: Great broadcaster, lousy golfer
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Humble start to Hall career
Xavier meets the one that got away
NKU 79, Wisconsin-Parkside 65
Brotherly battle for Esterkamps
Richmond 89, Stuff 80
St. X wrestler closes in on record
CHCA star takes quick path to college scholarship
Cincinnati girls basketball roundup
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball scores
Campbell hard-pressed to repeat wrestling success
CovCath may face rough waters without stars
Holmes' Hallman scores, dishes
N.Ky. girls basketball roundup
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
Mighty Ducks 3, Kentucky 2
