By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Don't be surprised if a novice in today's Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout emerges from the shadows to become a star.

The annual confrontation between the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University usually is dominated by veteran stars such as Danny Fortson, Steve Logan, James Posey and Lenny Brown.

Generally, this isn't a game for the young and impressionable.

"If (Cincinnati) wins this basketball game, it will be on the shoulders of the guys that are returning," said Anthony Buford, a former UC guard who does color commentary on local Bearcats telecasts. "There will be way too much emotion for any of the first-year players to settle down and have a big game."

It's true that players competing in their first Shootout often are overwhelmed. UC's Dontonio Wingfield scored just two points in 15 minutes and missed all seven of his field-goal attempts in his only Shootout appearance before leaving for the NBA.

But there have been enough stellar performances by first-year players that it's not unreasonable to expect a standout, impact performance by a newcomer.

For UC, guard Tony Bobbitt is the most likely candidate. For XU, it could be guard Dedrick Finn.

Buford himself had an outstanding game in his only Crosstown Shootout. He scored 29 points and pulled down seven rebounds in UC's 93-75 win in 1992.

But Buford wasn't a typical first-year player. He was a senior who had transferred from Akron and sat out the previous year while practicing for UC. He had a good idea what the game was about because he had seen it first-hand the year before he played in it.

"It really depends on if you enjoy being in that type of environment," Buford said. "That game reminded me of a big high school game. The fans are so crazy and really close to you. You can feel the excitement coming from them."

But even freshmen, albeit very gifted ones, have had their moments in the Shootout. Roger McClendon scored 20 points for UC in the 1985 game. XU's Byron Larkin scored 12 points with five steals in the same contest.

Seven years ago, XU freshman Darnell Williams scored 24 points with six rebounds. Other XU freshmen Gary Lumpkin (14 points) and Lenny Brown (12 points) also made impressive Shootout debuts.

"I remember hearing from the older guys how crazy it is," Williams said. "They said, 'Just go out there and play.' But I didn't know it was going to be like that."

XU's Keith Jackson grew up in Cincinnati and knew all about the Shootout, but he didn't appreciate the game's intensity until he actually participated in it last year.

"It's a totally different atmosphere playing in the game than watching it in the stands or watching it on ESPN in your house," Jackson said. "You can't prepare somebody by telling them about it. They have to experience it."

Bobbitt and Finn will get their Shootout baptism today.

"Me and Field (Williams) were discussing the game," Bobbitt said, "and he said, 'This whole week is going to be crazy.' I was like, 'All right, I'm ready.'"

It ain't anything I'm not used to, a rivalry game."

He'll find out this afternoon just how ready he really is.

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com