Bob Huggins stands by several things he has said all season about the University of Memphis basketball team:

        “I think they're the most talented team in the league,” the University of Cincinnati coach reiterated Saturday. “I think — if you look at where guys are going to get drafted — they're maybe the most talented team that's ever been in the league.

        “I think they legit have four No.1 (NBA draft) picks. (Kelly) Wise without question. (Dajuan) Wagner without question. (Earl) Barron without question. And probably (Chris) Massie.”

        That's what the No.4-ranked Bearcats have to contend with today when the teams meet at Shoemaker Center for UC's Senior Day.

        Which may sound daunting, until you consider:

        • UC, coming off Wednesday night's 74-71 loss at Louisville, has not dropped consecutive games since Jan.20 and 24, 2001;

        • It has not lost a regular-season conference game in March in five years;

        • The Bearcats are 27-0 against C-USA National Division teams since the league went to a two-division format in 1997-98;

        • They are 51-3 all-time in C-USA games at Shoemaker.

        “The scary thing for me, as a coach, is we've got all these freshmen,” Memphis coach John Calipari said. “They've never been in this battle, and I'm trying to talk them through it. But it's not talk, it's feel. You've got to feel and know and have experience, and that's where we're at a big disadvantage.”

        The winner today will be the No.1 seed in the Conference USA Tournament, which starts Wednesday.

        If the Bearcats win, they will capture the league's regular-season championship outright and face the winner of No.8 seed South Florida and No.9 Alabama Birmingham at 7p.m. Thursday at Firstar Center. Marquette will be the tournament's No2 seed, Memphis No.3 and Charlotte No.4.

        If the Tigers win today, they will share the regular-season title with UC and Marquette. UC would be the tournament's No.2 seed and play the winner of No.7 seed Louisville and No.10 TCU at 7 p.m. Thursday. Marquette will be the No.3 seed and Charlotte No.4.

        Memphis is playing for an NCAA Tournament bid. Cincinnati is playing for NCAA seeding. These were the teams picked to win their divisions in the preseason.

        “We know what we're up against,” Calipari said. “You can't fool them. They're too well-coached. No trickery stuff is going to work. It's going to be: "Throw it up, let's play the ball game and let's see who's better today.'”

        UC has the top-ranked defense in the league, holding opponents to 58.4 ppg. Memphis has the No.2 offense, averaging 80.7 points. The Tigers are first in rebounding margin (+7.2) with UC second (+6.2).

        There should be some great matchups to watch today.

        Start with Logan, playing his final game at Shoemaker Center, and Memphis' super-quick 5-foot-10 sophomore point guard, Antonio Burks, who sat out last season after transfering from Hiwassee College. Logan has scored 19 and 18 the past two games on combined 14-of-39 (.359) shooting. He has not been held to fewer than 20 points in three straight games since January 2001.

        Then there's UC senior Immanuel McElroy, a leading candidate for the league's defensive player of the year honor, against Memphis' highly touted guard Wagner, the team's leading scorer who probably will be C-USA's freshman of the year.

        Memphis has 6-4 freshman Anthony Rice on the wing. UC has Leonard Stokes, held scoreless at Louisville.

        The Tigers start 6-10 Wise and 6-11 Barron inside; they combine for 21.5 points and 16.4 rebounds a game. Wise is C-USA's all-time leader in double-doubles with 42. The Bearcats have Jamaal Davis and Donald Little, who average 14.2 points and 12.4 rebounds.

        “They're so talented,” Logan said. “They can do a lot of things on defense and offensively. We've got to stop all five of those guys. There's not just one guy who can score.”

        UC brings Jason Maxiell, one of the league's top freshmen, off the bench. Memphis has the physical Massie, whom UC recruited heavily, a junior-college All-American last season.

        The Tigers also have reserve guard Scooter McFadgon and center Modibo Diarra, both of whom started most of last season.

        “We've got to rebound, not throw it away, and it'd be nice if we'd make a couple shots,” Huggins said.

Hungry cats set for battle Logan is expecting an emotional finale

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