By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ANDERSON, S.C. - Junior guard Tony Bobbitt failed to stage a repeat of his 29-point performance against Oregon. Bobbitt missed his first two shots in the University of Cincinnati's 58-51 loss to Clemson on Sunday and was removed from the game by Bearcats coach Bob Huggins after forcing a shot in the lane with 10 minutes to go in the first half.

"When I came to the sideline, Huggs told me to slow down, you're going way too fast," Bobbitt said.

Bobbitt recovered to finish with 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting with five rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes.

WILLIAMS' WOES: UC guard Field Williams' shooting slump was extended Sunday, going 1-for-7.

Williams was 2-for-14 in the season opener against Tennessee Tech and seemed to find his range after that, but now is back where he started.

"He's just not making shots," Huggins said. "I don't think he's getting good loft on his shot."

BARKER HURT: Bearcats point guard Taron Barker said his lower back has been hurting since before the Oregon game. He didn't participate fully in practice Saturday.

"When I move and cut, I feel a real sharp pain," Barker said. "But that don't mean anything to me. I've got to play through that."

Barker fouled out trying to contain Clemson's Edward Scott and finished with only one point in 36 minutes.

"He's hurting," Huggins said. "But I've had a lot of guys hurting who came back and played pretty well."

VACATION TIME: The Bearcats are off until a Christmas night practice at Shoemaker Center.

WHITE TO PRACTICE: James White, a transfer from Florida, is expected to begin practicing with UC when the players return from their brief Christmas break.

After sitting out a year under the NCAA's transfer rules, White will be eligible to play for the Bearcats next December at the end of fall quarter.

HOLLMAN SCORES: Hollman scored the first two points of his UC career in the Bearcats' eighth game of the season with 4:19 left in the first half.

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com