Tuesday, February 15, 2000
CONFERENCE-USA NOTEBOOK
Drexler says UC won't intimidate Cougars
BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Houston ought to be downright petrified by the UC Bearcats. But Cougars coach Clyde Drexler says his team isn't even scared.
“Our guys know there's no one in our conference that really scares us,” Drexler said.
There should be at least one. Top-ranked Cincinnati (23-1, 11-0 Conference USA) travels to Houston to feast on the Cougars Thursday at 9 p.m. (ESPN). Houston (8-14, 2-8) has lost five straight, all on the road.
Drexler does have high praise for UC, but said his guys won't be intimidated.
“We've played some of the best teams in our conference close on the road,” Drexler said, noting road losses by four points or less at UAB, Tulane and Marquete. “There's no confidence loss in our team.”
Houston has the league's leading scorer, guard Gee Gervin, the son of former NBA star George Gervin who averages 19.3 points per game. But the loss of several key recruits to academic problems has made the Cougars weak inside.
That could be fatal against UC and Kenyon Martin.
“If one or two guys get in foul trouble, we don't have anybody that can come in and give us consistent play,” Drexler said. “But this team has continued to play hard. This team knows it has a long way to go.”
BEARCAT TALK: The talk of the league continues to be how dominant UC is.
“Obviously, they've got more talent, they're deeper, they're big and quick and agile and hostile,” Louisville coach Denny Crum said. “They can physically dominate you.”
South Florida coach Seth Greenburg said the only teams nationally that can match up with UC physically right now are Michigan State and Stanford.
WAVE OF SUPPORT: While UC is running away with C-USA's American Division, Tulane has quietly crept in front of the National Division at 6-5 in the league and 17-6 overall. The Green Wave plays at South Florida (14-9, 5-5) Wednesday in a battle for first place.
“Tulane is the most underrated team in Conference USA,” Drexler said. “They play great defense, they have tremendously talented big men. They don't get a lot of press, but trust me.”
MOVING UP: C-USA moved up to No.4 in the conference RPI ratings this week, its highest ranking since the end of the 1995-96 season. That puts C-USA ahead of the ACC (No. 6) and Big East (No. 7) and behind only the top-rated SEC, Big Ten (No. 2) and Big 12.
Much of the RPI strength comes from UC being No. 1. The next highest is Louisville at No.35.
Crum hopes the NCAA Tournament committee notices. UC is a lock for an NCAA bid, but Louisville (14-9, 5-5), DePaul (16-7, 6-5), Marquette (13-9, 6-5), Tulane, South Florida and Saint Louis (14-8, 6-4) will have to finish strong.
“If we're better than (other conferences), we deserve to get four or five teams in there,” Crum said.
GAMES OF THE WEEK: Louisville plays two of the biggest games in the conference this week: Wednesday at UNC Charlotte and Saturday at DePaul (televised on ABC).
The Cardinals have struggled on the road (2-6), but are coming off consecutive home wins over then-No. 4 Syracuse and Marquette.
“They're playing their best basketball at the right time,” Charlotte coach Bobby Lutz said.
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