It hasn't been easy these past two years to get in to see one of Bob Huggins' basketball practices, but John Carson was welcome to all he wished to attend last season. He could have sat and memorized the Bearcats' schemes.
But Carson rarely showed. Too painful, he said, because he was not permitted to work with the Bearcats due to academic ineligibility. Now, he is finding UC practices can be painful in many ways.
He makes an error, he does extra running. He makes some more, he catches grief. When he makes too many, he does not get to play as much as he wants, even with the Bearcats lacking depth at guard. ''I came out and didn't know what was going on,'' Carson said. ''I didn't know what was expected of me, really.''
Junior Shawn Myrick is out with a stress fracture, healing less rapidly than was hoped, and is not expected to play for UC (1-1) in today's 2 p.m. game at Shoemaker Center against Morehead State (0-3). When Myrick made only a cameo against Arizona State, though, Huggins chose to play D'Juan Baker and Michael Horton the full 40 minutes.
Brent Petrus, who was a member of UC's football team, could serve as the third guard against Morehead.
''No one has to play,'' Huggins said. ''It depends on John Carson.'' Huggins has, almost daily, challenged Carson to rediscover the ability that led him to be ranked as a top 100 prospect in 1996, when he averaged 21.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and was selected first-team all-state playing for Springfield South High.
Carson now seems far removed from the No. 81 rating he received from recruiting analyst Clark Francis. When Francis recalls what he liked about Carson, though, his description fits the guy who's scarcely played for the Bearcats.
''He's got weight problems at times, but he carries it extremely well when he's in shape,'' said Francis, whose Hoop Scoop recruiting service is based in Louisville. ''He's a lot quicker than he looks.'' Carson has a thick midsection and thin legs and runs with small, choppy steps that definitely give the impression he is not moving fast.
''The more you watch him, the more you realize how well he can really play,'' Francis said. ''At a young age, ninth or 10th grade, he was top 30 or 40, and I'm not sure if he doesn't work at it he can't regain that.''
One of Carson's challenges has been learning both backcourt positions. In high school, he said, there were two plays: score and play defense. Carson admits to occasionally running to the point guard's spot in a set when he is operating at shooting guard. But he is becoming more comfortable on the floor.
''I'm starting to get myself more focused. If I'm given the chance, I can produce in any way that's needed.''
One thing that likely has held back Carson is the rust that built up on his game as he sat through his freshman season. It is rare that a player returns from missing the year and quickly begins performing at a high level, the way James Posey did at Xavier last season.
''I don't think his condition is near where it needs to be,'' Huggins said of Carson. ''I'm sure some of that is the result of having the year off.''
Huggins said UC is working on some defensive approaches - primarily zones - that will better suit Carson when he enters the game.
Power forward Aaron McGhee should know those zones well if Huggins decides to dust them off next season. Unlike Carson, McGhee has been a frequent visitor to UC practices during his inactive freshman year.
''Me and Aaron talk all the time,'' Carson said, ''and I told him that's one thing I made a mistake on.''
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