Sunday, November 05, 2000
UC 129, California Southeast All-Stars 73
Guards off and running in exhibition rout
By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The University of Cincinnati started its first exhibition game just as it expected: With its two guards taking control.
Junior Steve Logan and sophomore Kenny Satterfield, the most experienced Bearcats, scored UC's first nine points and 14 of its first 18, setting the tone for Saturday night.
The final score was Cincinnati 129, the California Southeast All-Stars 73.
The final tally for the UC starting backcourt: 56 points, 15 assists and just three turnovers.
Satterfield finished with 30 points and nine assists; his career-highs are 23 and 10. Logan had 26 points and six assists. They were a combined 23-of-33 from the field.
“If we shoot 64 percent, we're going to be pretty good,” UC coach Bob Huggins said.
Seven Bearcats scored in double figures. UC had 24 assists and only five turnovers.
The game never was close. The Bearcats, ranked No.14 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, led 18-5 just 4:07 into the game. They led 61-38 at halftime.
The most pleasant surprise for UC was sophomore Leonard Stokes. The 6-foot-6 forward started the game and finished with a double-double: 20 points on 7-of-7 shooting and a team-high 11 rebounds; he totaled 18 rebounds in 30 games last season.
“I think Leonard's smart enough to understand I maybe could've scored a couple goals today,” Huggins said.
Stokes took over the early part of the second half, scoring 14 of the Bearcats' first 16 second-half points, including three 3-pointers in a 56-second stretch.
“When the shots are open, I take them,” Stokes said. “When they're not, I try to do other things.”
Said Huggins: “Leonard's a good player. Leonard's biggest problem is he's too good a guy; he doesn't want to make mistakes and hurt the team.”
UC's centers were ineffective much of the night. The All-Stars won the rebounding battle 37-35.
“That's probably going to be a year-long struggle for us,” Huggins said.
B.J. Grove, a 6-11 sophomore, started at center instead of Donald Little (“We've got to play the guys who deserve to play,” Huggins said). The two centers and power forward Jamaal Davis combined for only 10 rebounds.
Little struggled the most, picking up three fouls in the first half. He finished with one point and one rebound in 10 minutes before fouling out.
“He made some pretty dumb plays,” Huggins said.
Huggins used the 6-9 Davis and 6-8 freshman Rod Flowers together on the front line, and also paired Grove and the 6-11 Little.
The Bearcats hit the 100-point mark with 8:26 left. But this wasn't a very good test.
The All-Stars were playing for the fourth consecutive night, following losses at Louisville (95-87), Kentucky (98-82) and Xavier (101-76).
The Bearcats play host to MAFC-KE Budapest next Saturday (6:05 p.m.) in their final exhibition game. Tickets are $20 adults, $12 youths (12 and under).
They open the regular season Nov. 18 at home against Boise State.
CALIFORNIA ALL-STARS — Prince 1-4 2-3 4, Goodwin 1-8 0-0 2, Willingham 6-11 0-1 12, Titus 2-7 6-10 11, Robinson 7-13 2-7 20, Shannon 7-11 2-2 16, Johnson 4-7 0-0 8, Bostic 0-2 0-2 0. Totals 28-63 12-25 73.
CINCINNATI — Davis 5-9 2-4 12, Stokes 7-7 3-3 20, Grove 4-8 6-8 14, Satterfield 12-16 4-5 30, Logan 11-17 2-2 26, Williams 3-5 2-2 11, McElroy 3-6 4-5 10, Flowers 2-3 0-0 5, Little 0-2 1-2 1. Totals 47-73 24-31 129.
Three-point shooting: Cal 5-13 (Goodwin 0-3, Titus 1-1, Robinson 4-7, Johnson 0-1, Bostic 0-1); UC 11-18 (Stokes 3-3, Satterfield 2-3, Logan 2-6, Williams 3-4, Flowers 1-2). Rebounding: Cal 37 (Shannon 12), UC 35 (Stokes 11, Grove 6, Flowers 5). Assists: Cal 5, UC 24 (Satterfield 9, Logan 6). Halftime score: UC 61, Cal 38. Attendance: 11,092.
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UC 129, California Southeast All-Stars 73
