Thursday, October 28, 1999
Bearcats top pick in C-USA
Martin, Mickeal named first team
BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It was hardly shocking to learn Wednesday the basketball coaches of Conference USA selected the Cincinnati Bearcats as the favorite to win the league. It wasn't even a surprise the vote was unanimous.
About the only thing unusual about this news is the Bearcats aren't entirely bored by the mention of C-USA.
“I think winning the league is a short-term goal,” said sophomore guard Steve Logan. “We're going to work hard to win the conference tournament, since we didn't win it last year. We came up short.”
The coaches voted the Bearcats No. 1 overall and first in the American Division. They've won each of the league's first four regular-season championships and two of the four conference tournaments.
DePaul, Louisville, UNC Charlotte, Saint Louis and Marquette followed UC. In the National Division, South Florida was first with UAB second, then Memphis, Houston, Southern Mississippi and Tulane.
Bearcats seniors Pete Mickeal and Kenyon Martin were named unanimously to the preseason all-conference team, along with DePaul sophomore guard Quentin Richardson. The coaches' other choices were Louisville's Nate Johnson, South Florida's B.B. Waldon and Houston's Gee Ger vin. Richardson is projected as player of the year.
Mickeal figures DePaul will provide the toughest opposition for the Bearcats within C-USA, but also mentions Louisville — “After we embarrassed them down their place, I know they'll be ready” — and UNCC.
“We've got to meet everybody's intensity,” Mickeal said. “It's always a goal to win the league. If we can get win the league, and if we can win the conference tournament, that'll get us to the big goal — and that's the national championship. Not the Final Four. That's what we're playing for.”
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HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS
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