It's getting too late to presume the University of Cincinnati will develop a consistent inside game this season, or that it regularly will be able to get points from its post players.

        Entering the home stretch of the season, the Bearcats to an extent are right where they were in November: relying mostly on guards Steve Logan and Kenny Satterfield.

        Logan has been the team's steadiest player in Conference USA play, which continues Thursday night at South Florida. Satterfield has been solid the past several weeks.

        After scoring in single digits in four of his previous six games, including two two-point outings, Satterfield has scored in double figures six straight times, averaging 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists over that stretch. He also has hit 13 of his last 31 attempts from 3-point range. In his previous eight games, he was a combined 3-of-20 from behind the arc.

        “I knew I could make shots, I just wasn't making them,” Satterfield said. “I don't know the reason for that, so I just came in and worked on my shot harder.”

        Early in the season, when Logan was struggling, Satterfield was UC's main offensive weapon, averaging 18.9 points over the first 10 games. Logan, who had been a point guard his whole life, was adjusting to playing shooting guard and not having the ball as often.

        Satterfield, too, had to learn to play without the ball as the UC coaches tried to let Logan handle it a little more. Then, as Logan's offense took off, Satterfield had to adjust to taking fewer shots.

        Over his first 10 games, Satterfield averaged 15.3 field goal attempts a game. Over his last 17, he has averaged 9.6.

        When evaluating his point guard, here is what coach Bob Huggins looks at:

        • UC averages just 11.3 turnovers, the fewest in his 12 years as coach;

        • Satterfield, who leads the team with 44 steals, plays much better defense than ever before;

        • He also has grown into his position.

        “He's kind of more into getting other people involved, understanding what everybody else is supposed to be doing and where they're supposed to go.” Huggins said.

        “With each day and each expe rience, he starts to learn a little more about what being a leader is, about what being a good point guard is.”

        Expectations for Satterfield were high, perhaps escalated because he declared himself eligible for the NBA draft last spring before changing his mind.

        There was pressure, especially early in the season, for him to help carry the team offensively as one of the team's two most experienced players (with Logan).

        NBA scouts were attending UC games. His career-high 27 points in the season opener against Boise State only heightened the anticipation of Satterfield's sophomore year.

        He hit the game-winner at Memphis. He became the fourth player in school history to record a triple-double.

        The next mission: Leading UC into its final two regular-season games with the C-USA title on the line, then the postseason.

        “I think I've grown,” Satterfield said.

        “I've just got to come out and try to play with a lot of intensity and try to be more of a leader instead of waiting for the game to come to me. I think I have to attack more.”

UC, XU on 'high side' of bubble What if it's XU or UC for final bid? Satterfield's shots finally falling UC baseball team gets long-awaited ranking

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