Monday, February 14, 2000

Mickeal came to play and made 'Q' pay

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BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Pete Mickeal blows past DePaul's Quentin Richardson in the first half Sunday. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        “Q” had no answer for Pete.

        DePaul star Quentin Richardson came into Sunday's game at UC averaging 18.3 points, third in Conference USA. He left the Shoemaker Center with little to say after scoring just seven points in the Bearcats' 87-64 domination of the Blue Demons.

        Thank Pete Mickeal for that. UC's senior forward again proved his reputation as one of the nation's best defensive players, forcing Richardson into a 3-for-13 shooting day.

        A sophomore from Chicago considered one of the best players in the country, Richardson was 1-for-6 on 3-pointers, never attempted a free throw and committed six turnovers.

        “That was the Pete I like,” UC coach Bob Huggins said. “That guy came to play today. I thought Pete was terrific.”

        UC at times used Jermaine Tate and DerMarr Johnson on the 6-foot-6 Richardson, but Mickeal was his biggest nemesis. It was Richardson's second-worst game of the season and just his fourth in 24 games he didn't reach double figures. He never scored with Mickeal guarding him.

        “He made me change some shots, but I missed some open shots,” Richardson said. “It was just good, solid defense.”

        Richardson was scoreless the first 11 minutes of the game, getting his first bucket on a 3-pointer over Johnson with 8:48 left in the first half. He hit a jumper and a layup in the paint for his only other two baskets.

        UC got a body on Richardson on nearly every rebounding opportunity, limiting his put-back chances. He finished with nine rebounds, just under his average, but the Bearcats forced him to get his shots from the outside — with Mickeal all over him.

        “I don't think any of us were open,” Richardson said. “None of us could get any shots to go down.”

        Mickeal, who went out of his way to compliment his counterpart, said Richardson knew how tough a day it was going to be. “He got exactly what he expected,” Mickeal said, but “I didn't think he was going to leave here with seven points.”

       

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