During the first half of the Louisville game, Donald Little felt himself take a step backward.

        University of Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins pulled Little out of the Jan.9 game. The 6-foot-11 junior came to the bench frustrated, making faces and trying to argue with Huggins.

        “He said I did something wrong,” Little said. “I didn't think so. I tried to express my opinion, and he didn't want to hear it. We're both emotional people.”

        It would not have been an unusual scene last season, but for the new-attitude Donald Little of this season, it was a rarity.

        “I regretted it the next day,” Little said. “Since then, I've been playing like (crap). When he takes me out, I'm letting it get to me and I'm getting frustrated.”

        The No.4 Bearcats, who play at Marquette on Saturday, have gotten little from Little since his double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) at Houston on Jan.12.

        Over the past five games, the UC center has averaged 3.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 turnovers and shot 43.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from the foul line.

        In the previous five games (Dec.22 to Jan.12), he averaged 11 points, 10 rebounds and 3.6 turnovers and shot 44.1 percent from the field and 73.5 percent from the foul line.

        “Let's just say he needs to get back to being consistent in his effort, consistent in his concentration, consistent in dealing with adversity,” assistant coach Dan Peters said.

        Added Huggins: “His attention to detail hasn't been as good.”

        Little has started every game and averages a team-high 7.5 rebounds to go with 7.4 ppg.

        “It's all about concentration, really,” Little said. “I've probably been slipping. I can feel it coming back. Now I want to practice. It's all about a positive attitude.”

        He came into the season vowing to listen closely and keep quiet. Most of his statistics are improved over last season. He has fouled out of only two games.

        Assistant coach Andy Kennedy tries to keep Little calm when he gets upset.

        “Emotion is a huge part of his game,” Kennedy said. “I just try to get him to use his emotion in a positive way, to help him with his alertness and his awareness. He loses his focus.

        “When Donald is playing like he's capable of playing, especially defensively, that's when our team takes that next stage. That makes us capable of going into Xavier and winning by 20 or playing Mississippi State and winning by 34.”

        The play of freshman reserve Jason Maxiell has offset Little's struggles to some degree.

        Despite going scoreless in just 13 minutes against East Carolina on Tuesday night, Maxiell has averaged 9.6 points on 58.9 percent shooting with 8.3 rebounds over the past nine games.

        Huggins has a nice three-man rotation in the post. Maxiell can come off the bench for Little or power forward Jamaal Davis.

        Having all three playing well at the same time certainly would help the Bearcats on their three-game road trip, which begins Saturday.

        Little, Huggins said, needs to play “in a stance” to stay on the floor.

        “He's standing up,” Huggins said. “He's got to play in a stance at both ends. Defensively, he's all right. Offensively, he hasn't been in a stance.

        “If Donald wants the ball, he's going to have to sit down and do what he's supposed to do. If he doesn't, they're instructed not to throw him the ball. We're not going to throw it to him and have him turn it over.”

        Cincinnati could also use some consistency during the next three games -- at Marquette, at Charlotte and at Wake Forest -- from junior Leonard Stokes, the team's No. 2 scorer (12.5 ppg).

        Stokes is averaging 15.7 points and shooting 55.2 percent from the field at home, but just 9.0 points and 40 percent on the road. He is only 4-of-22 (.182) from 3-point range away from Shoemaker Center.

        “We've kind of hit a lull because we've had some inconsistent performances from key guys,” Peters said. “If I was going to say one thing about our team, it would be how are we going to handle the success that we've had? Are we going to continue to improve and grow? Are we going to continue to keep being hungry and doing the hunting? Or are we fat cats?”

Little feels stuck as UC rolls

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