Sunday, January 09, 2000
Struggling Johnson gets to watch, learn
UC NOTEBOOK
BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DerMarr Johnson watched much of UC's 67-48 victory Saturday from the bench. Sometimes, coach Bob Huggins said, that's the best way to learn.
Johnson struggled as the Bearcats beat Marquette. He scored just five points — eight below his average — in 22 minutes. The freshman made just one of two shots and committed three turnovers.
“It's hard to score when you don't get shots,” Huggins said, noting that Johnson wasn't in a good stance to receive the ball. Johnson also had trouble trying to make entry passes inside.
“I love him to death. He's a great guy to be around, but he'd be even better if he'd stay in a stance,” Huggins said.
Huggins said he likes Johnson's attitude, and he wasn't resting him as punishment.
“He doesn't pout,” Huggins said. “Those guys (UC's talented freshmen) are through a high school season now, and we're just getting started. The one thing I can't fault is that they try.”
Board games
UC outrebounded the Golden Eagles 42-38. But Marquette's aggressiveness on the offensive boards in the second half helped it crawl back from a 19-point halftime deficit to make it a game, cutting the lead to seven before the Bearcats pulled away.
Each team had 16 offensive boards, but the Eagles had nine of theirs in the second half.
“They got a lot of offensive rebounds they didn't get in the first half. They got some bounces,” UC center Kenyon Martin said. “They made some shots, and we didn't rebound the ball.”
Gymnastics fan
Thanks to some unusual efforts by his girlfriend, Martin got to meet one of his favorite athletes last week: Olympic gymnast Dominique Moceanu, who moved to Cincinnati to train at the Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy.
When Martin's girlfriend heard Moceanu was in town, she arranged a surprise meeting, luring Martin to the gymnastics training center in Fairfield. Martin was unsure why he was there until he saw Moceanu.
“I won't watch it if she's not performing,” Martin said. He became a fan of hers during the 1996 Olympics.
Though she had been in Cincinnati only two days, Moceanu also was excited to meet Martin. A cousin of hers is a big fan and has been touting Martin as one of college basketball's best.
'Cat scratches
Saturday's win was the third time UC has made fewer field goals (18) than its opponent (19). The others were against Gonzaga (25-22 in a 75-68 win) and Iowa State (25-24 in a 75-60 win). ... Martin had six blocks but had one of his shots blocked by 6-foot-11 Marquette center John Mueller.
Up next
The Bearcats travel to New Orleans to play at Tulane in an 8 p.m. Wednesday tipoff (Channel 19). The Green Wave were 10-2 overall and 0-1 in Conference USA before a game with Houston on Saturday night.
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