Saturday, February 12, 2000
'Q' focus of UC's defense
Mickeal prepares for DePaul star
BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DePaul's Quentin Richardson looks at Sunday's game as an opportunity to challenge the nation's No.1 college basketball team. Cincinnati Bearcats senior Pete Mickeal sees the chance to challenge a future No.1 draft pick.
When they meet on the Shoemaker Center court at 3:30p.m., UC will be continuing its pursuit of a top seed in the NCAA Tournament, and DePaul will be trying to reach its first NCAA Tournament in nine seasons.
“I'm just looking forward to playing, period, playing in that atmosphere,” said Richardson, a 6-foot-6 sophomore forward who is the fourth-leading scorer in Conference USA at 18.3 points a game and leads in rebounding at 9.8. “I'm not looking at it as a personal matchup.
“It's always going to be good to come in and try to get the No.1 team on their floor. I think just going in there and playing well — win, lose or draw — that's got to be positive for us.”
When DePaul and UC met last February, Richardson scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and sparked the Blue Demons' comeback from a late double-figure deficit to an overtime win.
Mickeal had guarded Richardson in the first meeting, holding him to 15 points, but did not draw the assignment in the second game.
“I wish I had him the second time,” Mickeal said. “I've got him this time. Luckily, I don't have to chase around shooters in this game. The last couple games, I've been chasing my butt off. I look forward to a guy who plays head-up. I like him, because he plays hard. Anybody that plays hard is somebody I enjoy going against.”
DePaul (16-7, 6-4) had been considered the only legitimate challenger to UC (22-1, 10-0) in Conference USA when the season began, but injuries to power forward Lance Williams and point guard Rashon Burno undermined the Blue Demons in the season's first two months.
Richardson had games of 27 points and 10 rebounds against Texas, 22 points and 15 rebounds against UCLA and 22 points and nine rebounds against Marquette, but those were losses because he didn't have sufficient help.
In DePaul's past three games, all of them impressive victories against high-caliber C-USA teams, Richardson was not the main offensive force. He shot well from 3-point range, making seven of 15, but struggled to convert closer to the basket.
That they were able to win with Richardson off his game indicates the progress the Demons have made, largely because of freshman center Steven Hunter.
Hunter averaged 18.3 points and shot .600 from the floor in those three victories. For the year, he's averaging 10.8 points and 2.0 blocks. Guarding him will be a test for UC's Jermaine Tate and Ryan Fletcher, especially since Hunter's quick release will make it difficult for Kenyon Martin to offer defensive help.
DePaul followed its win over UC last season with four consecutive wins that made an NCAA berth seem possible, even likely, but then came three losses four games. The Demons spent March in the NIT.
“That's our biggest goal right now; we want to make the tournament,” Richardson said.
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