By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Bob Huggins has spent most of the preseason proclaiming that his 14th edition of the University of Cincinnati basketball team isn't up to the standards fans have come to expect.

Tonight, UC's coach begins the process of trying to prove himself wrong when the 23rd-ranked Bearcats play their regular-season opener against defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Tennessee Tech at Shoemaker Center.

The Bearcats, who have won 36 straight home openers, begin the season with no true center, no proven point guard and most of all, not enough experienced players to enable Huggins and his coaching staff to make the game adjustments they're accustomed to making.

And yet those apparent shortcomings have done nothing to dissuade Conference USA coaches from picking UC to win its eighth straight league title.

Because UC is the only school in the country to have won 25 games seven years in a row, there's a sense that somehow Huggins and the Bearcats will win 25 again because it seems as if they always do.

"I don't think everyone expects us to win 25," Huggins said. "But I think there's a few fools who do."

Producing 25 victories could be a reach because UC plays fewer games than it has in recent seasons. The Bearcats aren't participating in any exempt tournaments such as the Preseason NIT, so they have only 27 games on their schedule, not counting the conference tournament.

What concerns Huggins more than anything, though, is the lack of experience on a roster with six newcomers.

"It's hard to make adjustments when they have no idea what you're talking about," Huggins said. "Our guys have been really good about understanding and knowing things. These guys just don't know anything. It's not their fault."

When UC fans hear such talk, they snicker knowingly. It was just last year that the Bearcats began the season unranked, only to win a school-record 31 games and receive their first No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

To fans, it doesn't matter that Steve Logan, a two-time C-USA player of the year and 2002 first-team All-American, is no longer around to take over games down the stretch. That task simply will be transferred to senior forward Leonard Stokes, the veteran of this group and the only returning double-figure scorer from last year.

But even Stokes knows this team is a long way from matching last season's.

"Last year at this time, we had pretty good chemistry," Stokes said. "Everyone knew what was going on. I've been here and I've seen the teams we've had in the past. We've got a long way to go or it's going to be a long year."

That's not to say that the Bearcats don't have talent.

Sophomore forward Jason Maxiell is an offensive force around the basket. Junior forward Field Williams is a devastating long-range shooter, and newcomers Tony Bobbitt, Eric Hicks and Armein Kirkland figure to contribute significantly once they understand what Huggins wants and in Hicks' case, once his surgically-repaired knee fully heals.

By February, Huggins could find he has a more balanced team than last season's, with enough scoring threats to prevent opposing defenses from focusing on one player.

"I see a team with a lot of potential," Bobbitt said. "We've got guys that can do things other teams might not be able to do."

For this team to exceed Huggins' modest expectations, senior Taron Barker will have to emerge as a reliable point guard, and someone from the trio of Derek Hollman, Kareem Johnson and Rod Flowers will have to step forward at center.

And if forward Eugene Land, who is attempting a comeback after missing two seasons and having reconstructive knee surgery, can contribute meaningful minutes, UC might be able to excel after all.

"I don't want to be part of the first team that doesn't win a conference championship in eight years," Stokes said. "That motivates guys to the fullest. I can't even picture that happening."

Tennessee Tech at UC

Tipoff: 6:05 p.m. today,

Shoemaker Center (13,176).

Records (last season): UC 31-4, Tennessee Tech 27-7.

Radio: WLW-AM (700).

TV: WXIX-TV (Channel 19).

Tickets: At gate.

Series: First meeting.

Tennessee Tech

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Jason Harrell	Jr.	6-8	10.0
Damien Kinloch	Sr.	6-8	16.1
Greg Morgan	Sr.	6-8	6.8
Cameron Crisp	Jr.	6-4	12.3
Kenyon Boyd	Fr.	6-3	18.7

Coach: Mike Sutton (first year).

Cincinnati

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Leonard Stokes	Sr.	6-6	12.7
Jason Maxiell	So.	6-7	8.1
Derek Hollman	Jr.	6-8	12.0
Field Williams	Jr.	6-3	6.5
Taron Barker	Sr.	6-1	2.5

Coach: Bob Huggins (332-100, 14th year; 500-172 overall).

*Statistics and team records are from last season.