By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Savvis Center, home of the Saint Louis Billikens basketball team, has long been a place where the University of Cincinnati offense has gone to die - or at least to hibernate.
The Bearcats are 5-3 against the Billikens since they moved their home games to the 20,000-seat arena during the 1994-95 season. But only twice in those eight games has UC scored more than 70 points, and the Bearcats have been held to fewer than 60 twice.
It's only natural, then, for UC coach Bob Huggins to expect a nerve-wracking offensive night for his team when UC (9-3, 2-0 Conference USA) faces Saint Louis (6-7, 0-2) at 7 p.m. today at Savvis.
"It's like going to the dentist," Huggins said. "It's not any fun. I haven't had a lot of fun going to St.Louis since the little gray-haired guy who looked like the Billiken mascot was over there stomping his feet."
Huggins was referring to his buddy, Charlie Spoonhour, a former Saint Louis coach who now plies his trade at UNLV. Spoonhour and Huggins used to delight in poking fun at each other, which at least softened the pain of having to play against the defensive-minded Billikens in front of loud, hostile crowds.
Spoonhour has been gone for three years, but he left behind the same irritating philosophy which has defenders stationed close to the basket and forces opponents to score over them - usually from long range.
"They pack it in," Huggins said. "You don't get many transition baskets and they don't let you make many cuts to the basket."
Last year in St.Louis, the Bearcats won 54-50 after trailing by nine in the first half. Two years ago, they lost 71-62 in overtime, and four years ago, they were knocked off 69-57.
For Brad Soderberg, the first-year Saint Louis head coach, it makes sense to continue the same halfcourt, slow-down defensive philosophy.
"No matter who we play, we have to defend well," Soderberg said. "We don't have a lot of potent offensive players on our roster."
Marque Perry, a 6-foot-1 senior guard, averages 15.2 points per game, the only Billikens starter in double figures.
Saint Louis averages 60.5 points per game on 44.3 percent shooting and UC is scoring 67.5 points per game on 41.5 percent shooting, meaning there should be plenty of rebounding opportunities.
The Bearcats lead C-USA and rank fourth nationally in scoring defense at 56.8 points per game. Saint Louis is second in the league in scoring defense, allowing 61.7 points per game.
"To compete against the best people in our league at the present time requires us to keep the game low in possessions," Soderberg said. "We can't race up and down the court with the people in this league or we'll get buried."
Today's Lineups:
| CINCINNATI | Yr. | Ht. | PPG |
| Leonard Stokes | Sr. | 6-6 | 15.0 |
| Jason Maxiell | So. | 6-7 | 12.8 |
| Derek Hollman | Jr. | 6-7 | 1.3 |
| Field Williams | Jr. | 6-3 | 12.2 |
| Taron Barker | Sr. | 6-1 | 6.9 |
Coach: Bob Huggins (341-103, 14th season; 509-175 overall).
| SAINT LOUIS | Yr. | Ht. | PPG |
| Chris Sloan | Jr. | 6-7 | 5.6 |
| Kenny Brown | Sr. | 6-9 | 6.8 |
| Josh Fisher | Jr. | 6-2 | 8.4 |
| Marque Perry | Sr. | 6-1 | 15.2 |
| Anthony Drejaj | Fr. | 6-2 | 8.2 |
Coach: Brad Soderberg (6-7,
first season; 137-80 overall).
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