Frontcourt:  After losing Kenyon Martin, Jermaine Tate and Ryan Fletcher (not to mention Pete Mickeal), it's no secret this could be a weakness for the Bearcats.

        Two preseason games have done nothing to eliminate the question mark.

        Sophomore Donald Little will be the starter at center, and you can expect some highs and lows. Little could be a big-time offensive presence near the basket, but he has problems with foul trouble and rebounding position. UC will rely on its backcourt, but Little's development may be the difference between a good season and a great season.

        His backup at center, B.J. Grove, has shown some offensive ability during the preseason. The 6-foot-11 sophomore tends to get winded, and he's not as effective when tired. Grove will score some, but to be in games he also must rebound.

        Jamaal Davis, a junior-college transfer who started his career at Purdue, will start at power forward. Davis is a fundamentally sound player who needs to be aggressive in pursuing rebounds. His maturity on the court should help.

        Freshman Rod Flowers is the power forward reserve, and he has some versatility. Flowers can shoot from 3-point range, as well as collect putbacks around the basket. He must improve defensively.

        The key for the front line, which is not very deep, is rebounding. That's not the last time you will hear that mentioned.

       Backcourt:  Last season, teams focused on the Bearcats' front line. This season, it will be the backcourt.

        Sophomore guard Kenny Satterfield has had a splendid preseason both shooting and passing, and junior Steve Logan has done the same. Both have penetrated to the basket, shot well from outside and kept the team's offense racing.

        In two preseason games, Satterfield and Logan combined to shoot .698 from the field, .400 from 3-point range and .870 from the foul line. They averaged 49 points, 15.5 assists and 3.5 turnovers a game.

        If officials continue to call hand-checking closely, opponents are going to have a hard time stopping these two from driving to the hoop.

        They are the leaders. They are the go-to guys. They are the heart and soul of this team.

        And the two starting guards have plenty of help on the perimeter. Sophomore Leonard Stokes, the starting small forward, had a sensational preseason all-around. He will be counted on to rebound, too. The key for Stokes is to continue being aggressive as the regular season starts.

        When injured junior forward Antwan Jones (foot) returns, he is expected to have an immediate impact, especially offensively. Jones is an exciting talent who is an excellent shooter with good range. Junior Immanuel McElroy is solid at several different positions and is going to help right away (see below).

        Freshman Field Williams can provide some instant offense with his outside shooting. To get more minutes, the coachable guard has to continue to improve defensively.

       Bench:  McElroy, who figures to be the first man off the bench, should become one of the unsung heroes of the year. The quiet McElroy is a consummate team player, unconcerned with statistics and willing to play any position or role. One game he'll score 15, the next he may grab eight rebounds. He's also going to pile up some assists because he's an excellent passer, and he might be the best defender on the perimeter.

        Most of all, McElroy plays hard every possession. He's someone who will ignite the team with hustle and smart play.

        Once Jones comes back, he or Stokes probably will come off the bench. Either way, that's a major talent to insert.

        Grove will be called upon in spurts, and freshmen Williams and Flowers will help in spots. Sometime in December, junior Rodney Crawford should gain eligibility. Although he's a walk-on, the coaching staff thinks Crawford will earn some playing time. He works hard and should help UC's depth.

        It is probable that early in the season, all nine players who dress could contribute in games. How some produce early could determine the minutes they get later.

       Coaching:  This is Bob Huggins' 12th season as UC coach, and he is remaking his team yet again. Huggins does a good job of gearing the way Cincinnati plays to its talent. He has emphasized the big men and emphasized his guards. He has adapted each year.

        Though the emphasis will be on the guards and wings, the Bearcats would like to go inside. But if Little can't produce, Huggins may go with a smaller lineup and try to press more often.

        There is no No.1 ranking to deal with this fall. Huggins' preseason has been spent doing a lot of teaching and motivating. There are six new players, including walk-on Crawford, who have to learn to play as hard as Huggins demands. There are no seniors to help with the leadership. That falls upon Logan and Satterfield.

        This is a team that has some versatility and will allow Huggins to play different styles and different combinations of players. How he juggles it all and drives players who have not played major roles will be a key to the season.

        Mick Cronin, the recruiting coordinator, is back for his fifth season, and Dan Peters returns for his second. Former UC point guard Keith LeGree joins the staff and has been called into action for practices and an intrasquad game when there were not enough players.

       Intangibles:  This team will have to win some close games and find different ways to come out on top on different nights.

        How Jones returns to action will be a key. He can only help UC's depth and upgrade its offensive capabilities.

        The Bearcats can score, but can they defend? They can shoot from the perimeter, but can they grab a rebound?

        Little is an intangible, and perhaps the intangible. He is a player who could work himself into a first-round NBA pick in a few years, or he could disappear in UC's plans because of a lack of consistent effort and focus. If he plays big and strong consistently and develops into a complete force — rebounding, scoring and blocking shots — the Bearcats could become extremely hard to defend.

       Games to watch:
        • Notre Dame (Nov. 25 in Indianapolis): The Fighting Irish, who have one of the nation's top players in Troy Murphy, are ranked 16th, one spot ahead of UC in the Associated Press poll. This game is part of the John Wooden Tradition and begins a stretch of three very tough games over 2 1/4 weeks (see below).

        • Dayton (Nov. 29): UD Arena is a tough place to play, and the Flyers compete like a top-25 team there almost every game.

        • Xavier (Dec. 14): The annual Crosstown Shootout at The Shoe. No need to explain why this is listed.

        • Memphis (Feb. 15, at Memphis): Huggins vs. former NBA coach John Calipari. It's going to be rockin' at the Pyramid.

       — Michael Perry

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