Bearcats Return to National Spotlight
"Cincinnati," answered Bob Huggins when a reporter asked him to identify his dark horse pick to contend in the Big East this year.
The goliath of all college basketball conferences, the Big East had their annual media day earlier this week and dubbed Villanova as its preseason favorite. A slew of big time programs followed, including West Virginia, Connecticut, Louisville, Georgetown and Syracuse. Just behind those juggernauts was the Cincinnati Bearcats. A team who has been dormant the past four seasons, a team many people have forgotten about, but a team ready to step back into the national spotlight and return to the Big Dance.
"Cincinnati," answered Bob Huggins when a reporter asked him to identify his dark horse pick to contend in the Big East this year. "Cincinnati is really talented."
Armed with the best squad since he arrived in Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin has all the tools needed to return to the NCAA Tournament. The addition of Lance Stephenson, the preseason Big East Rookie of the Year bolstered an already strong returning cast. That cast is led by senior guard Deonta Vaughn. Vaughn, a former first team all-Big East performer is a preseason selection again this year. Joining Vaughn in the backcourt is highly touted freshman Cashmere Wright. Wright tore his ACL before last season and missed the entire year. Up front sophomore Yancy Gates is as talented as any power forward in the league and 6'11" Oklahoma St. transfer Ibrahima Thomas offers some size down low.
This is the first time since joining the Big East that Cincinnati has been picked to finish in the upper half of the league. But, with the way Cronin is bringing in players, this is just a sign of things to come. Cronin signed five star recruit Yancy Gates a year ago and this year was able to bring in the most highly touted recruit to arrive in Cincinnati since Danny Fortson. Lance Stephenson, a McDonald's All-American was arguably the most talented high school player in the country last season. Off court issues forced Kansas and Memphis to back off Stephenson leading this blue chipper to choose Cincinnati.
While senior team leader Deonta Vaughn kept the Bearcats at respectability the past three seasons during their rebuilding years, Lance Stephenson will be known as the man who put the Bearcats back on the map. The all-time leading scorer in the history of New York high school basketball, Stephenson brings a wealth of talent to an already solid and experienced team.
With two of the top players in the conference in Vaughn and Stephenson, Cincinnati is in prime position to finish in the top five in the league and return to the NCAA Tournament. If Stephenson is able to stay on the court the whole season, the Bearcats will turn some heads and hopefully make die hard fans finally put the days of Bob Huggins behind them.
For the first time in years, the talent and experience are there. It is time for Cincinnati to return to national prominence. The time is now and come March 2010, the Bearcats will at last be dancing again.