BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Junior point guard Charles Williams is preparing to start for the Cincinnati Bearcats against Butler in the opening round of the 1997 NCAA Tournament. If only he knew for certain he'd be playing ...

''It's frustrating, for the most part,'' Williams said, making his first public comments since he was witheld from competition by the UC administration while his eligibility is investigated.

''Hopefully, I'll be able to play, from what the coaches are saying. They're doing everything possible to get this done.''

The Bearcats (25-7) will be among the first teams to play in the tournament, with their game against Butler (23-9) tipping off at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Palace of Auburn Hills in suburban Detroit. There has been no indication Williams will join them.

According to George Tarkanian, Williams' coach at Chaffey College in California, UC is examining how Williams procured the funds to pay for the summer school classes he took at UC to complete his junior college degree. Tarkanian said the money came from associates of Williams, and not from representatives of UC's athletic interests.

Athletic Director Gerald O'Dell said the key to the investigation is ''to be thorough and accurate in our assessment. It just takes time, so there really isn't a timetable. It would be misleading to say there is.''

There may be no timetable, but there is a deadline, and it approaches rapidly. Monday afternoon, Williams was the first player on the Shoemaker Center court, firing jumpshots at the goal better than an hour before coach Bob Huggins blew the whistle to officially begin the UC workout.

He wants to play, and UC apparently needs him, having gone 2-2 in the four games he's been inactive. The Bearcats have used senior reserve Terrence Davis and Damon Flint, the regular shooting guard, to fill the position. Each has produced moments of excellence, but .500 play is not going to get them to the Final Four.

Flint also is not completely healthy. His eye injury continues to flare up intermittently, and he must wear shades to practice.

''Terrence is good in some situations, and in some situations Damon is better,'' Huggins said. ''Charles' situation was the same. It depends on how they're playing us, what they're trying to do to us, what we think we can do.''

For Williams, the most difficult part aside from being forced to sit out is fighting the uncertainty as he goes through practice each day. Does he get himself mentally ready to start the game, or does he go through practice like a redshirt, somebody who's there merely to provide competition for the regulars?

There were moments in Monday's practice when Williams did wear a red jersey, same as starters Danny Fortson, Ruben Patterson and Jackson Julson. Although Huggins chooses not to comment on the Williams matter, it is apparent he is keeping alive the possibility he could have his regular point guard for the NCAAs.

''I don't know. I was approaching it last week thinking I was going to play,'' Williams said. He declined to discuss the particulars of his situation, but said has has not been told why this probe began so late in the season. ''It just came out of the blue.''

Without Williams, UC permitted Memphis guard Chris Garner to control the game, passing for six assists and leaving without a turnover. Marquette's Aaron Hutchins was 5-of-10 from the field and scored 21.

''Damon sees the floor and knows where the ball is supposed to go,'' Huggins said. ''Damon's problem is whether or not Damon is going to guard that day. That's part who he's guarding, and part mental preparation.''

FORTSON ALL-AMERICAN
HUGGINS CANDIDATE FOR OHIO STATE?
MARSHALL HAS THE MUSCLE TO CHECK FORTSON
MEN'S BRACKET

Previous NCAA Tournament stories

UC, XU ON COLLISION COURSE IN SWEET 16 March 10,1997
LET FORTSON PLAY, REFS - IT'S HIS TIME Daugherty column, March 10,1997
OPPONENT DOESN'T MATTER TO BEARCATS March 10,1997
BUTLER ROSTER HAS LOCAL FLAVOR March 10,1997