Monday, February 14, 2000

BEARCATS NOTEBOOK

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Martin's defense dominates again

Kenyon Martin wrestles the ball from DePaul's Rashon Burno in the first half Sunday. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        When Kenyon Martin swatted back the first shot attempted by DePaul freshman center Steven Hunter — a shot launched from so close to the goal Martin all but put his hand inside the rim to block it — Hunter's day was all but done.

        Martin did not have a big day in blocks, getting three in 29 minutes, but that block was big enough. Hunter had scored a combined 45 points in his previous two games. He scored four against UC in an 87-64 Bearcats victory.

        “I don't think he realized how quickly I got up,” Martin said. “I was surprised he tried to lay it up. When you're that close and you're that tall, you've got to dunk that.”

        Martin's play against DePaul was routine for him, but impressive enough to Blue Demons coach Pat Kennedy that he compared Martin to former Duke All-American Grant Hill.

        “You watch him on tape, but until you play him in person you don't get a true appreciation of how far he's come,” Kennedy said. “He dominated us, without any question.”

By the bay
        Organizers of the Pete Newell Challenge have approached UC about participating in their event for the 2001-2002 season. It's an annual doubleheader in Oakland, Calif., each December that matches two top teams with two Division I schools from the San Francisco Bay Area.

        The Newell Challenge is played in honor of Pete Newell, a Hall of Fame coach whose California team knocked off UC in the 1959 Final Four semifinals.

Bench presence
        For the first time in six games, freshman center B.J. Grove dressed for the Bearcats. He did not make any of their last three road trips and did not sit on the bench during their home game against South Florida because he did not meet conditioning goals.

        Grove saw his first action since the Bearcats played UNC Charlotte Jan. 5.

Faces in the crowd
        UC hosted three key recruits for the DePaul game, including two juniors who may be their top targets for the 2000-01 recruiting class: Shooting guard Mike Sylvester of Moeller High and forward Jawad Williams of Cleveland.

        UC has offered a scholarship to Sylvester, the area's leading scorer. He would be the Bearcats' first recruit from a Cincinnati high school since Eugene Land in 1997-98.

        Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax, who attended UC, also took in Sunday's game at the Shoe.

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