What an offseason for the University of Cincinnati. It certainly wasn't boring.

        A quick recap: Assistant coach Mike Cronin, a Cincinnati native, left to be associate head coach at rival Louisville; sophomore point guard Kenny Satterfield left two years early for the NBA, was drafted late in the second round by Dallas, then was traded to Denver; Antwan Jones, unhappy with his role at UC, left for NAIA Georgetown College; Cincinnati announced that Auburn's Mike Wilson had accepted an assistant coaching position, then Wilson said he wasn't coming after all; Andy Kennedy, from UAB, replaced Cronin; Center Donald Little was dismissed from the program, then was reinstated four months later; and center B.J. Grove left the team for personal and family reasons.

        Whew. Got all that?

        All of which leaves plenty of questions:

        How will all the off-the-court activity affect this year's team?

        Satterfield is the big loss. He and Steve Logan rarely turned over the ball and had found a way to work well together. There were two go-to guys who had no problem being cast that way.

        Jones pouted his way through most of last season, and his absence can only help team chemistry. Grove's numbers (4.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg) will not be hard to replace; the disappointment is, he made a lot of progress last season, but failed to build on it. If Little truly has an improved attitude, that can help quite a bit.

        What's the strength of this team?

        Same as last season's, the perimeter play. Logan, Leonard Stokes and Immanuel McElroy provide three experienced and versatile outside players. Then add sophomore Field Williams, who is working hard to become a better defender and more than a spot-up 3-point shooter; junior-college point guard Taron Barker, who will compete to start; and small forward Jimmy Hubbard to the mix.

        Will Barker take over for Satterfield?

        UC recruited Barker with the idea that he would start, and he will have his chance in the first month of practices to win the job. Still, it's the hardest position to learn at this level, and the Bearcats open on the road against Oklahoma State, a top-25 team. UC has the luxury of turning to Logan, who has played a lot of point guard. Logan may end up starting the first game, but Barker may eventually be in the starting lineup.

        Would the change from shooting guard to point affect Logan?

        The senior from Cleveland became the Conference USA Player of the Year as a shooting guard, and the Bearcats coaches would prefer to leave him there. But Logan has repeatedly said he is all about winning, and early on that may mean running the point. There are a couple wild cards: Stokes played some point guard last season, and walk-on Jamaal Lucas from Corpus Christi, Texas, has experience at that position.

        Speaking of walk-ons ...

        Right now, it's Rodney Crawford, Lucas and John Meeker (Troy High School). Alonzo Evans, from Louisville, who was in Cincinnati over the summer and was expected to join the team, has returned to his home town and is not expected to be a Bearcat.

        The team's weakness?

        Rebounding remains a question mark until proven otherwise. Last season's team was the first under Huggins at UC to be outrebounded. Jamaal Davis has to be more aggressive, or his playing time will decrease. The sense of urgency for Derek Hollman to improve his conditioning and be able to help out was increased with Grove's departure. A healthy Crawford or improved sophomore Rod Flowers could help. And then there's freshman Jason Maxiell.

        Well?

        By all accounts, Maxiell will be expected to help right away, and don't be shocked if he starts. He spent all summer in Cincinnati, lifted weights and putting on 15 pounds of muscle. He's athletic and works hard. Little and Grove combined to average 10.2 points and 9.4 re bounds last season; Maxiell may do that himself some games. His presence alone should push Davis and Little to work harder and play more aggressively.

        The cynic says UC knew Grove would be gone when it reinstated Little and wanted to make sure one of the 6-foot-11 guys was around.

        Grove's situation had nothing to do with Little's. When Little was permitted to rejoin the program (Sept.21), there still was some belief that Grove would be on the team.

        “There was no indication that he wouldn't be,” athletic director Bob Goin said. “That's poppycock. Donald Little and B.J. Grove have nothing to do with each other. Anybody who thinks that way doesn't know me, and shame on them for not recognizing I take each case individually.”

        A starting lineup?

        Let's go with Logan, McElroy, Stokes, Maxiell and Little for the opener. Long term: How about Barker, Logan, McElroy, Maxiell and Little, with Stokes and Davis as the top reserves. But much can happen in the next month.

        Intangibles?

The Bearcats need a consistent season from Stokes, and they need McElroy to be more offensive-minded. And, of course, rebounding. All the players appear to be stronger than last season. and that should help.

        Expectations?

        Some publications include Cincinnati in their top 25s based on last season's Sweet 16 finish. Others won't because, when they went to print. Little was not on the team. Memphis will be favored to win Conference USA by most, but the Bearcats remain the favorite in the American Division. Expect this team to have some early bumps in the road, much like last season (UC has its toughest opener since Minnesota in 1989). Another NCAA Tournament bid is likely, and how far the Bearcats can advance depends on how much they improve and the draw they receive.

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