College basketball

Tonight: USF men vs. No. 21 Cincinnati

By GREG AUMAN
Published January 27, 2005

WHEN/WHERE: 7; Sun Dome, Tampa.

TV/RADIO: ESPN2; 570-AM and 910-AM. RECORDS: Cincinnati 15-3, 4-1 Conference USA; USF 8-8, 1-4.

COACHES: Cincinnati - Bob Huggins (389-122, 16th season; 557-194 overall); USF - Robert McCullum (15-28, second season; 59-73).

NOTABLE: Cincinnati is one of four teams tied for the C-USA lead at 4-1, while USF is 10th after losing its past four league games, putting the Bulls on the bubble for the C-USA tournament, which takes the top 12 teams. ... Cincinnati's frontcourt lacks height but makes up for it with strength, led by 6-foot-7 Jason Maxiell (15.6 points, 7.9 rebounds) and 6-6 forward Eric Hicks (12.8, 8.6). The Bearcats are C-USA's best rebounding team, while USF ranks last, so the Bulls will need big games from 6-10 C Solomon Jones and 6-9 F Terrence Leather. ... Cincy ranks fourth nationally in field-goal defense, so USF will need to find scorers in addition to Leather and point guard Brian Swift. ... The Bearcats lead the series 17-3. Cincy has won the past 13, dating to 1988, but their common opponent offers hope for USF: The Bulls won at East Carolina by one, and the Bearcats won by six there. ... This should be USF's largest crowd of the season, though the attendance to beat is just 4,037, the turnout for a 73-67 loss to Memphis eight days ago.

[Last modified January 27, 2005, 00:41:13]