Monday, March 05, 2001
Conference USA tournament preview
It's UC until proven otherwise
By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Top-seeded UC plays its first Conference USA game at 7 p.m. Thursday at Louisville. UC meets the winner of Wednesday's UAB-Louisville game. Here's a tournament preview:
TEAM TO BEAT:How can it not be Cincinnati? The Bearcats have won four in a row and seven of their past eight games. They have the highest Ratings Percentage Index ranking in the league (33) and are the No. 1 seed in the tournament. They are 8-3 all-time in the C-USA tourney. Most of all, UC is doing two things extremely well: Taking care of the ball (11.1 turnovers a game) and playing defense.
DARKHORSE: Charlotte has won six of its last seven. Since freshman Rodney White returned from a knee injury, the 49ers have gone 7-2. They have the third-best overall record of all league teams (18-10) behind only Southern Miss (21-7) and UC (21-8).
MOST TO PROVE: Southern Mississippi, No.51 in the RPI on Sunday, has the best chance at an NCAA at-large bid — aside from UC — and has to hope either it or the Bearcats win the tournament. The Golden Eagles had the strongest finish of any team in the league with five straight victories. If they can at least get to the final, it will help their NCAA resume. It's doubtful the league will get more than two teams in the NCAA.
TOUGHEST DRAW: Memphis probably will have to play Marquette in its first game, then might face Cincinnati. The Tigers are 0-2 against those two teams. Memphis has lost two straight and four of its last six.
WEAKEST DRAW: Cincinnati has defeated every team in its half of the bracket except Marquette, which would have to win twice to meet the Bearcats. And don't think UC would mind playing Marquette, which beat UC twice this season.
MOST LIKELY MVP: If the Bearcats are to win, then Steve Logan will have to carry them, as he has most of the season. The junior guard is one of the leading candidates for Player of the Year and has been consistent throughout league play (20.9 ppg). Aside from Logan, Charlotte's White might be the best tourney MVP pick.
PLAYER ON THE SPOT: Vandarel Jones is the No. 2 scorer (12.7) and top rebounder (7.3) for co-champ Southern Mississippi.
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Conference USA tournament preview
