Let's forget about the most obvious question regarding next year's University of Cincinnati basketball team — whether or not Bob Huggins will return for his 14th season as the Bearcats' coach — and focus on the players coming back.

        While the top three scorers for this year's team (Steve Logan, Leonard Stokes and Immanuel McElroy) were all perimeter players, expect more balance next season with so many returning big men.

        There's 6-foot-11 Donald Little, who made strides this season but still has a ways to go to be a consistent offensive threat. There's Jason Maxiell, who plays much bigger than his height (6-7) and is likely to become one of the primary scoring options. There's 6-10 Derek Hollman, who sat out this season after having shoulder surgery (UC will apply to get a sixth year of eligibility so he can play two more seasons). There's 6-11 B.J. Grove, who will return for a final season only if he loses weight — and lots of it.

        “Last summer I took a lot of time off,” Grove said. “Next year, I want to definitely be a part of everything. I didn't accomplish what I wanted to (this season).”

        All that doesn't include 6-8 Rod Flowers or 6-6 freshman forward Eric Hicks, who will bring an exciting Maxiell-like, high-flying, rebounding ability to the team.

        “This is a good team and next year we're going to be even better,” Maxiell said. “It'll be different. We can dominate inside next year. We'll probably be a big-man team. ... I'm just going to be in the weight room all summer and preseason, working on my dribbling skills and turning into a (small/power forward).”

        The team leader, of course, will be Stokes, who will be a fourth-year senior and the Bearcats' go-to scorer.

        He was second on the team this year (12.7 ppg) and scored 30 or more points three times. What Stokes will have to do is become consistent so UC can count on his points every night, much like it did with Logan.

        Stokes will also have to stay positive about himself and the team and become a little more vocal.

        “I've got a lot of work to do over the summer and the rest of the spring,” Stokes said after UC's loss to UCLA on Sunday. “I just don't want to go through this feeling again.”

        The backcourt picture is hardly clear. Field Williams, who has been a 3-point specialist, improved other areas of his game from last season and could be looking at more playing time. He hopes to be a team leader and challenge for a starting job. “I've been patient, but now is my time and I'm going to take advantage of it,” he said.

        Junior college transfer Tony Bobbitt, who has verbally committed and expects to sign a letter of intent next month, is being counted on to help immediately as a scorer.

        A key to the season, if there is one, may be the point guard position.

        Taron Barker, who practiced against Logan all season, will be a senior and have the inside track on the starting spot. He will have to run the team, take care of the ball and become a more consistent perimeter shooter.

        “I've got to be focused now,” Barker said. “I've got to fill some big shoes, some really big shoes, and that ain't gonna be easy to do. I know I've got to get in there and bust my tail — offensively, defensively, in the weight room. I've got to do it all.”

        There are some wild cards.

        Jimmy Hubbard, who missed the end of this season because of back problems, hopes to be a contributor in his final season from the small forward spot. Hicks has had an impressive high school senior season and could have an immediate impact.

        Armein Kirkland and Chadd Moore, two incoming freshmen guards, have the potential to compete for playing time right away, too. And, UC has one more scholarship available.

        It could be a roster loaded with versatility.

        “I think coach is going to give us a week off and after that we're going to hit the weights hard,” Williams said. “I think we'll win more than 30 games again next year. We've just got to come in with the same intelligence and go out and attack everybody.

South Carolina's 25-0 blitz too much to overcome WVU wants to talk to Huggins Forecast for UC: Big, balanced

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