It's not always verbalized, but the University of Cincinnati players are well aware the Bearcats have won Conference USA's regular-season title every year since the league started in 1995-96.

        They also know that streak is in jeopardy.

        If UC (16-7, 6-4 C-USA) is to win the conference, this is the week to make a move. The Bearcats play both division leaders: at Memphis (14-9, 8-2) on Thursday night, and Marquette (12-9, 7-3) at home Sunday night.

        “I think everyone's focused on winning the conference,” junior Antwan Jones said. “To be honest with you, it'd be nice to have a ring on my finger. I think we'll be all right if we just keep playing as a team and we keep playing good defense.”

        The Bearcats have the fourth-best conference record, also trailing South Florida (15-8, 7-3). The top four teams each have six games remaining. Cin cinnati and Memphis have three home games left; Marquette and South Florida have two.

        UC has never lost more than four regular-season C-USA games.

        “We don't want to be the first team not to win the league,” sophomore Donald Little said. “Saturday was a big win for us. We've got to keep winning. If we beat Memphis and Marquette and Saint Louis, we should be fine.”

        Junior guard Steve Logan, the most experienced Bearcat, watches the standings but doesn't dwell on them because he believes UC will determine its own fate.

        “However long I'm going to be here, I want to win,” he said. “It's just driving me to go a little harder. It would be real strange for us not to win it. This is a big week for us. We've got to come out and practice with great enthusiasm, and when we get on the road, we've got to really concentrate and be focused. This is a business trip. It's not fun and games.”

        On Monday's weekly Conference USA conference call, several coaches addressed the league's chances for NCAA Tournament bids. In Monday's new forecast on College- RPI.com, Cincinnati and Memphis were the only C-USA teams in the NCAA field.

        “I think there are four or five teams that still have a shot,” South Florida coach Seth Greenberg said. “There are just too many games to be played.”

        Memphis coach John Calipari said C-USA should have no fewer than three teams in the NCAA.

        “If there aren't, then they did such a disservice, a disrespect for this league ... ” Calipari said. “I think, in the end, three teams from this league, at minimum, will get in.”

UC's title hopes on line

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