2007-2008 Big East Conference Preview- #12

#12- Cincinnati Bearcats

Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati, OH.

Last season: 11-19 (2-14). No postseason.
Head coach: Mick Cronin, 2nd season. 11-19 at Cincinnati.
Associate head coach: Larry Davis.
Assistant coaches: Chris Goggin, Tony Stubblefield.

New additions: Kenny Belton (2 star PF), Rashad Bishop (3 star SF), Larry Davis (3 star SG), Adam Hrycaniuk (transfer), Anthony McClain (4 star C), Alvin Mitchell (4 star SF), Darnell Wilks (2 star SF), Mike Williams (transfer, Texas).

Losses: Cedric McGowan (8.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg), Timmy Crowell (1.5 ppg, 0.8 apg), Ronald Allen (1.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg), Connor Barwin (1.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg).

Roster: (#, Ht/Wt, Pos., Class, Hometown, last year’s stats)

32 Kenny Belton 6-8/245 F Fr. Salem, VA
22 Rashad Bishop 6-6/220 F Fr. Newark, NJ
11 Larry Davis 6-3/180 G Fr. Houston, TX
1 Marvin Gentry 6-3/180 G Sr. Fort Worth, TX (7.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.25 apg)
34 Adam Hrycaniuk 6-10/230 C Sr. Mysliborz, Poland
30 Anthony McClain 6-11/245 C Fr. Fort Washington, MD
20 Branden Miller 6-4/195 G Jr. Cincinnati, OH (0.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.2 apg)
23 Alvin Mitchell 6-5/215 F Fr. Fort Lauderdale, FL
10 Marcus Sikes 6-8/230 F Sr. Richmond, VA (9.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.4 apg)
5 Deonta Vaughn 6-1/195 G So. Indianapolis, IN (14.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.5 apg)
33 Jamual Warren 6-2/195 G Sr. Springfield, MA (8.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.2 apg)
15 Darnell Wilks 6-7/195 F Fr. Nashville, TN
21 Mike Williams 6-7/240 F Jr. Camden, AL (injured)
45 John Williamson 6-6/225 F Sr. Columbus, OH (13.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.0 apg)

Backcourt:

Plain and simple, I expect Cincinnati to have a much better year than last year’s 11-19 (2-14) disaster in Mick Cronin’s first year. In their backcourt, Cincinnati returns Marvin Gentry, Deonta Vaughn, and Jamal Warren to form a very nice core of guards. They will be joined by freshmen Larry Davis and Alvin Mitchell, two talented newcomers. Deonta Vaughn was one of the more underrated players in the Big East last season, putting up 14.5 ppg as a freshman. Gentry and Warren are seniors and I expect them to have big years as they don’t want to end their college careers by missing the Big East Tournament again. All together, this backcourt is one of the better ones in a conference filled with good backcourts.

Frontcourt:

Up front, the story for the Bearcats is John Williamson and freshman Anthony McClain. Other than that, the Cincinnati frontcourt is not very deep and that might end up being their Achilles heel. Williamson had a nice season last year and McClain will come in with high expectations. Coach Cronin will miss Mike Williams, a transfer from Texas who will be out with an achilles tendon injury (no pun intended). Another transfer, Adam Hrycaniuk, figures to see some time off the bench for this thin frontcourt. Senior forward Marcus Sikes has been a solid contributor all throughout his career and should get the start at the four.

Schedule:

11/9- vs. Belmont
11/10- vs. Western Carolina
11/11- vs. Bowling Green
11/16- vs. Coastal Carolina
11/24- vs. Fairfield
11/26- vs. South Carolina Upstate
12/1- at UAB
12/8- at Illinois State
12/12- at Xavier
12/19- vs. Memphis
12/23- at North Carolina State
12/29- vs. Miami (Ohio)
1/1- at Louisville
1/5- at St. John’s
1/9- vs. Syracuse
1/12- vs. Villanova
1/15- at Notre Dame
1/19- vs. Pittsburgh
1/23- vs. Connecticut
1/27- at Seton Hall
1/30- at West Virginia
2/2- vs. Marquette
2/9- at Rutgers
2/13- vs. St. John’s
2/20- vs. South Florida
2/23- at Georgetown
2/27- at Pittsburgh
3/2- vs. Providence
3/6- vs. DePaul
3/8- at Connecticut

Projected record: 15-15 (7-11).
Postseason: None.