By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Moments after the University of Cincinnati's stilted offensive display in its 50-44 loss to Xavier on Saturday, Bearcats forward Jason Maxiell suggested that coach Bob Huggins had his practice priorities skewed.

UC is spending too much time working on defense, he said, and not enough time honing its shooting skills.

Huggins' reply?

"When I quit, Jason can coach," Huggins said.

Huggins' resignation isn't expected anytime soon, but it's clear the Bearcats' coach is growing frustrated with his group.

Following its 18-for-60 performance against Xavier, UC (3-2) is shooting 38.3 percent. The Bearcats have yet to surpass the 50 percent mark this season.

That's a troubling state for a team that was picked to win its eighth straight conference championship and began the season ranked 23rd nationally.

"We know we have some limitations," UC associate head coach Dan Peters said Sunday. "But their effort was good. We don't have any complaints that way."

The Bearcats don't play until Saturday when they play host to LaSalle at Shoemaker Center. UC then goes on the road to face seventh-ranked Oregon on Dec. 17 in the Jimmy V Classic in East Rutherford, N.J., and visits Clemson on Dec. 22 before playing the Miami RedHawks on Dec. 28 at U.S. Bank Arena.

Asked if he would do anything differently to prepare for those games, Huggins said, "What different things do you want me to work on? We didn't make shots. We've got to make shots."

When exams are finished this week, the coaches will be able to spend more time concentrating on individual offensive skills in an attempt to improve the Bearcats' offensive execution. Defense will continue to remain a priority, though, because at this point it's about the only thing this team does well.

"We need to play as good a defense as we can to try to keep shot totals down," Peters said, "until we get more proficient on offense."

UC has so many offensive shortcomings it's difficult to know where to start, but the logical place is at center, where the Bearcats have received practically nothing in the way of offense aside from Rod Flowers' 10-point, first-half outburst against Dayton.

With no offensive threat in the low post, opposing centers are free to roam the baseline, as senior forward Leonard Stokes discovered in the first half against the Musketeers when his attempts to slither through openings in XU's defense were quickly blocked.

UC's offense seemed to function more smoothly when 6-foot-8 freshman Armein Kirkland was in the game at forward. Even though he made only two of nine shots, his size and ballhandling have the potential to create matchup problems that could free Maxiell under the basket and clear the lanes for Stokes' penetration.

"That's one option we've got to look at," Peters said.

Even poor-shooting teams can score if they receive their share of easy, fast-break baskets, but the Bearcats generate few such opportunities.

They also have a difficult time getting to the free-throw line. They have attempted 76 free throws in five games, 17 fewer than their opponents, and have made 48. Last season, they attempted 111 free throws in their first five games.

UC has no one who can draw fouls consistently. Point guard Taron Barker, for example, played 40 minutes against XU and didn't go to the line. In fact, he has attempted only two free throws all season.