Anonymity has never been a concern for Valerie King.

        The University of Cincinnati sophomore guard is the focus of every opponent. Stop her outside shooting. Cut off her penetration to the basket. Short-circuit her transition opportunities.

        “I know it's hard for her because every game we play, people are all over her,” UC junior guard K.B. Sharp said. “And she has to work really hard. But she's doing great.”

        And so are the Bearcats.

        Heading into today's regular-season finale against Louisville at Shoemaker Center, King leads the team in scoring (18.9 points), ranks 12th nationally in 3-point shooting (44 percent) and is tied for first in the nation in free throw shooting (91 percent).

        Meanwhile, the 25th-ranked Bearcats are 22-4 overall, 10-3 in the league and headed for a first-round bye in the Conference USA Tournament March1-4 at the DePaul Athletic Center in Chicago. The Bearcats are a half-game behind TCU.

        Even when King doesn't score, Sharp said, King spreads out the defense. With opponents keyed on King on the perimeter, the inside opens for centers Debbie Merrill (15.3 ppg) and Tammy Douglass (10 ppg).

        But King would prefer opponents don't get time to set up their defenses. Her basketball love is the fast break, especially when she is running alongside Sharp.

        “That's fun,” King said. “Yeah, I like everything about it.”

        She is hoping UC can get on a run that will take the Bearcats more than just into the NCAA Tournament. UC is 0-2 in NCAA Tournament games.

        “If we get in there,” King said, “I think we can win some games.”

        Since poor defense caused UC to lose back-to-back road games against TCU and Houston in mid-January, the Bearcats have won nine straight.

        An NCAA Tournament berth would be the third in school history. The last berth came during the 1998-1999 season. The Bearcats have reached the NIT the past two seasons.

        “We've never been in a better position to get in than we are now, in the entire history of the program,” coach Laurie Pirtle said. “So I think we're sitting where we'll be really talked about.”

        King, who turned 20 Saturday, didn't take long to become the team's focal point. In her freshman year at UC, she led the Bearcats in scoring (16.3 ppg) and Tuesday scored her 1,000th point. Typical of King's ability to score inside and outside, the basket came on one of four 3-pointers. She finished with 14 points as the Bearcats beat Kentucky 73-57.

        Being a force on the court hasn't yet translated to being forceful off the court. But the normally reserved King is getting better. It's something she and roommate Sharp have both struggled with, but both are helping each other become more vocal.

        King says she's talking a little bit more, even to strangers asking questions.

        “It's pretty easy,” she said. “It feels like I've been here forever.”

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