Monday, March 20, 2000

UC NOTEBOOK

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Mickeal 'moving on' after loss

BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Tulsa's Marcus Hill goes after a loose ball with Pete Mickeal in close pursuit. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When Pete Mickeal fouled out with eight seconds left of Sunday's NCAA Tournament loss to Tulsa, he was sent to the bench by a standing ovation from the Cincinnati Bearcats fans in the crowd at the Gaylord Entertainment Center.

        He closed his two-year UC career with 16 points and 11 rebounds but without the championship he thought possible when he signed with the Bearcats.

        Mickeal had won two national junior-college titles with Indian Hills Community College of Iowa, and an NCAA title seemed possible — almost likely — just two weeks ago.

        “I wanted to win a championship, but I didn't accomplish it,” Mickeal said. “It's emotional. It's my last game as a Bearcat. You don't have to cry. There's no need to cry. We just come in, took the loss, and we've got to move on with our life.”

        Mickeal finished his career with 925 points and a 14.2 career scoring average. His 11 rebounds gave him 439. Mickeal started every game during his UC career except the final two of the regular season.

        “Everybody wishes we could be playing in Austin next week, but we aren't,” Mickeal said. “That's the bottom line.”

Writing "30'
        The Bearcats entered the Conference USA tournament with 28 victories and the chance for the first 30-win season in their history.

        Instead this team ends with the total of 29 recorded in 1961-62 and 1991-92.

Shelton soars
        CBS had the right scriptwriter working Sunday. With 47 seconds left and Tulsa leading by seven, Golden Hurricane forward David Shelton stepped into the picture and made two free throws to ice the game. Shelton is the Cincinnati native who always wanted to be a Bearcat but ended up in Tulsa after a junior-college hitch at Independence in Kanas.

        Shelton, a 6-foot-6 junior, had an off shooting night at 4-for-10. But he was 2-for-3 from 3-point land, including the missile that gave Tulsa its biggest lead at 28-12 after he made a steal. He was solid with 14 points, seven rebounds and one turnover in 25 minutes.

        “It was sweet. After the game, it was mixed emotions,” said Shelton, who got a semi-embrace from UC coach Bob Huggins and a hug from UC assistant Mick Cronin. “I always wanted to be a Bearcat ... but I wouldn't change the way it happened today, playing them and beating them. I'm still trying to get my emotions right.” — Geoff Hobson

Numbers game
        The Bearcats' field goal percentage of .352 was their lowest of the season. They were held below .400 only once during the regular season, but it happened twice in the three games they played without Kenyon Martin.

        • The Bearcats lost the rebounding battle 44-39. Big men Jermaine Tate, Ryan Fletcher and Donald Little combined for six.

        • Tulsa enters the Sweet 16 with 31 victories, a total matched or surpassed by only eight of the past 64 teams to advance that far.

        • This is Tulsa's third trip to the Sweet 16; the Golden Hurricane got there in 1994 and 1995 under coach Tubby Smith.

        • Six personal fouls were called Sunday before either team scored a point.

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