The University of Cincinnati men's basketball program, often battered for perceived academic deficiencies, had the highest team grade-point average among the 14 teams in Conference USA and earned the league's Sport Academic Award for the 2001-02 academic year.

        Of all the sports sponsored by the conference, men's basketball was the only one in which UC had the best team GPA.

        “I certainly hope that people will start saying, "Hmmm, either something's changed or I was wrong,”' UC President Joseph Steger said Thursday. “I think this will make a point with the public. It certainly should.”

        The team's GPA was 2.57, according to a university source. The league did not release team GPAs.

        Three Bearcats - freshmen Jason Maxiell, John Meeker and Jamaal Lucas - were on the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll for maintaining a 3.0 or better GPA.

        Men's basketball coach Bob Huggins could not be reached for comment.

        Cincinnati had 135 student-athletes, including 13 football players (quarterback Gino Guidugli was among them), on the honor roll, and 19 who received the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal for maintaining a 3.75 or higher GPA.

        “I think that there is an atmosphere now in the whole athletic department about the value of what they're here for,” Athletic Director Bob Goin said.

        “People ask in the hall, "How are things going in your classes?' You've got to have a feeling that people look at you as a whole person.”

        While eight of UC's teams finished with GPAs better than 3.0 - and six finished second or third in their sport's rankings - men's basketball stands out mostly because of its reputation.

        Geoff Schimberg was hired in

        summer 2000 as assistant to the athletic director for basketball operations and was charged with overseeing the team's academics.

        For two years, the team's GPA climbed, as well as the number of hours per quarter student-athletes were taking, he said.

        Mr. Schimberg recently left to work at the University of Miami in Florida and has been replaced by former UC football player Joel Dolinski (1994-97).

        “I think basketball gets good services, they get good support and they're responding to it,” Mr. Goin said.

        “I think everybody's always wanted the same thing and always had the wishbone. Now, I think, we have the backbone, too.”

        Over the years, UC's zero graduation rates have come under heavy criticism, while Mr. Huggins has repeatedly pointed out that the most-often cited NCAA statistics do not count transfers from junior colleges or other universities, walk-ons or students who take longer than six years to earn a degree.

        Mr. Huggins talked about that in March on ESPN's Outside the Lines.

        Prior to this spring, 15 former UC players under Mr. Huggins had earned degrees. Five others either graduated June 7 or are expected to finish courses needed for their degrees in summer school.

        “The perception over the years is all wrong,” Dr. Steger said.

        Said Mr. Goin: “Let me tell you about perception: I don't put much stock in that. I put stock in facts and reality, and reality is we really work hard with our young men and women to get their degrees. It's not lip service. Are we the best ever at it? No. But are our energy and our efforts right? Yes.”

At 2.57 GPA, UC basketball team is champion in classroom

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