Ticket orders are being taken at the University of Cincinnati athletic ticket office (556-2287) — and all Conference USA schools — for the 2002 league tournament, which will be March 6-9 at Firstar Center.

        Books covering all 11 games of the tourney cost $160 and $120.

        The top 12 teams in the 14-team C-USA will qualify for the tournament, and those with the best four conference records will earn first-round byes.

        The schedule:

        March 6: Two afternoon, two evening first-round games.

        March 7: Two afternoon, two evening quarterfinal games.

        March 8: Both semifinals in evening.

        March 9: Championship game at 11:45 a.m.

        This will be the second C-USA Tournament held in Cincinnati; the Bearcats won the 1998 championship at Shoemaker Center. The 1994 Great Midwest Conference Tournament also was at Shoemaker and also was won by UC.

        Firstar Center, then known as Riverfront Coliseum, played host to the 1983 Metro Conference Tournament.

UC target of Temple coach's criticism Tickets on sale for C-USA Tournament

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