UofC Aims to Leave C-USA in Style

[MrMustang1965]

By C. Trent Rosecrans
Post staff reporter

When it comes to Conference USA and the University of Cincinnati, the Bearcats have a tradition to uphold -- a tradition of dominance.
In the nine years of the conference, the Bearcats have won either the regular-season or conference title eight times, and won both four times.

When the Bearcats start Conference USA play tonight against DePaul at Fifth Third Arena, the objective is clear.

"We want to go out like we came in," UC junior guard Chadd Moore said.

The Bearcats christened Conference USA in 1995-96 by winning both the regular-season and tournament titles.

Only one year in the nine years of the conference have the Bearcats failed to win either title -- that was two years ago, the 2002-03 season.

Except for that one season, the Bearcats have been the team to beat.

"We've been the flagship team," UC coach Bob Huggins said. "We've carried the banner. You win eight out of nine championships; you carry the banner. You talk about appearances in the NCAA tournament, seeding in the NCAA tournament, games won in the NCAA tournament and we've carried the banner."

The Bearcats will take that banner to their eighth different conference next season, the Big East. The Bearcats will leave behind a vastly different Conference USA than the one they helped found nearly 10 years ago.

In the 1995-96 season, UC was one of 12 schools to begin play in the conference, which grew out of the Metro and Great Midwest conferences. The move was announced more than a year ago, before the most successful basketball season in league history. UC was one of a record six Conference USA teams to make the 2004 NCAA tournament.

That will be different next season as UC, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette and South Florida will leave C-USA to go to the Big East. Texas Christian is headed to the Mountain West and St. Louis and Charlotte will move on to the Atlantic 10. Marshall, Rice, Southern Methodist, Tulsa, Central Florida and Texas-El Paso will join the 12-team Conference USA. All 12 C-USA teams will play both football and basketball.

With Cincinnati and Louisville gone, the league will be searching for new marquee names.

"As you look down the road, Conference USA has a tremendous name," UAB coach Mike Anderson said. "There are tremendous coaches. They're already making an impact at their programs. It's going to impact the league. Over a period of time you're going to see some programs evolve and it's still going to be a good conference."

Memphis coach John Calipari said the new C-USA will be shooting for three or four bids a year. That would be quite a feat, considering the league had just two in 2001 and three in 2002.

"This league will be fine," Calipari said.

Still, the Bearcats are the only current member that has made the tournament in each of the last three seasons -- part of its streak of 13 consecutive tournament appearances.

"I think (C-USA) has been a tremendous vehicle for our basketball program," UC athletic director Bob Goin said. "We've been very successful. Secondly, it's given us the vehicle to move to the NCAA for 13 straight years. It's given us a lot of national recognition."

With the Bearcats gone, it will create a chance for new schools to emerge at the top of the conference standings.

"I knew the conference was going to be changing and I felt there's a chance right here in a couple of years where we might be able to be a serious contender," first-year Houston coach Tom Penders said. "To climb from the bottom to the top is very difficult with the way the league is now, but next year we'll have a chance."

Mostly because the conference's most consistent teams -- UC, Charlotte and Louisville -- will be elsewhere.

During its time in Conference USA, the Bearcats have taken advantage of the opportunities provided by the conference. C-USA introduced Bearcat basketball to several markets, including the South with UAB, Florida with South Florida and perhaps most importantly, Texas, with Houston and Texas Christian. There are more current Bearcat players from the Lone Star State than any other state. Jason Maxiell, Armein Kirkland, Nick Williams and Jamaal Lucas are all from Texas.

The wide-ranging conference has also helped the Bearcats in the polls and in postseason awards. UC has had just five consensus All-Americans in its history and three of those have earned those honors while playing in C-USA. In 1997 Danny Fortson was the Bearcats' first consensus All-American since Ron Bonham in 1963.

All that success has put a target on the Bearcats during their run in the conference, and there's no doubt 13 other teams would like to end the Bearcats' streak of dominance in their last season in C-USA.

"We've got the bull's-eye on our back," Huggins said. "You'd like to think someone else would pick up some of the slack, but it hasn't happened. If you listen to everyone, they say the road to the championship comes through Cincinnati. They don't say any of those other people. So everyone circles us. That's the way it's been; it's not a new thing."

That's not all bad, Huggins said. "It's better than the alternative."

http://www.cincypost.com/2005/01/06/uch ... -2005.html

[MrMustang1965]

During its time in Conference USA, the Bearcats have taken advantage of the opportunities provided by the conference. C-USA introduced Bearcat basketball to several markets, including the South with UAB, Florida with South Florida and perhaps most importantly, Texas, with Houston and Texas Christian. There are more current Bearcat players from the Lone Star State than any other state. Jason Maxiell, Armein Kirkland, Nick Williams and Jamaal Lucas are all from Texas.
The wide-ranging conference has also helped the Bearcats in the polls and in postseason awards. UC has had just five consensus All-Americans in its history and three of those have earned those honors while playing in C-USA. In 1997 Danny Fortson was the Bearcats' first consensus All-American since Ron Bonham in 1963.

All that success has put a target on the Bearcats during their run in the conference, and there's no doubt 13 other teams would like to end the Bearcats' streak of dominance in their last season in C-USA.

"We've got the bull's-eye on our back," Huggins said. "You'd like to think someone else would pick up some of the slack, but it hasn't happened. If you listen to everyone, they say the road to the championship comes through Cincinnati. They don't say any of those other people. So everyone circles us. That's the way it's been; it's not a new thing."

That's not all bad, Huggins said. "It's better than the alternative."

http://www.cincypost.com/2005/01/06/uch ... -2005.html