By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Desperation is such an extreme word. It usually implies a life-or-death situation, and in that case a basketball game hardly qualifies.

So maybe it's incorrect to say the University of Cincinnati is desperate for a win.

Let's just say the Bearcats really, really need to win soon if they hope to play in their 12th straight NCAA Tournament.

Having lost five of their last six - five straight in conference play - the Bearcats (14-8, 6-5 Conference USA) find themselves in a position they haven't faced since the start of the Bob Huggins coaching era, when they went to the National Invitation Tournament two years in a row before beginning their current string of NCAA Tournament appearances.

Even though their current No. 27 ranking in the Ratings Percentage Index keeps them within striking distance of the tournament, the Bearcats know that won't last if they don't snap out of this soon.

"If we go 6-6 in the league," Huggins said, "that's not very good. We need to win some games."

It would be helpful if UC could count on an easy game today and build a little confidence. Instead, the Bearcats face fourth-ranked Louisville (19-3, 9-2) at 4:05 p.m. today at Shoemaker Center.

And to make the challenge a little more daunting, the Cardinals are looking to reverse a skid of their own. Louisville has lost two of its last three games.

"We've got our own problems," said Mick Cronin, Louisville's associate head coach and a former UC assistant. "It's tough to win in February no matter who you play. If you don't show up, you're getting beat."

While Louisville hopes to recover in time to salvage a possible No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, UC is simply trying to put an end to its current misery.

The Bearcats, who have never lost two straight games at Shoemaker Center, have closed ranks since Tuesday's loss to Saint Louis at home, with Huggins declaring his players off limits to the media before and after practice.

"They haven't handled things very well," Huggins said Friday. "They need to concentrate on getting together as a team and practicing hard every day."

The UC coach said Friday's practice was the best of the season. What that translates into today remains to be seen.

There are no easy solutions to the Bearcats' offensive problems, but Huggins isn't asking for much. A mediocre 40 percent shooting performance is usually enough to secure a victory. In fact, except for losses to Dayton and Charlotte, the Bearcats have won every time they've exceeded the 40 percent mark.

But getting past 40 percent has been like scaling Mount Everest. UC is below that mark in four of its last six games and has lost every one. Against Saint Louis, the Bearcats failed to reach 30 percent.

Ironically, shooting was one area Huggins believed he had covered this season. But without center Donald Little, everyone knows the Bearcats are suspect inside.

With Field Williams at shooting guard and junior-college hot shot Tony Bobbitt and senior forward Leonard Stokes roaming the perimeter, the Bearcats hoped they could shoot their way back to the top of C-USA.

It hasn't worked. Williams is shooting 36.1 percent for the season, Bobbitt 35.8. Against Saint Louis, they were a combined 4-for-20.

"I thought we had great looks in the Saint Louis game," Huggins said. "We threw the ball where we wanted to throw it and got the shots we wanted to get.

"We make shots in practice. You put those guys (Williams and Bobbitt) in a shooting contest and they win most of them."

Louisville beat the Bearcats 77-71 on Feb. 5 at Freedom Hall behind 24 points on eight 3-pointers from Francisco Garcia, exactly the kind of shooting performance Huggins is looking for from his men.

But the Cardinals still revolve around C-USA Player of the Year candidate Reece Gaines, who averages 18.6 points game.

"He creates shots for the other players," Huggins said.

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com

No. 4 Louisville at Cincinnati

Tipoff: 4:05 p.m. today, Shoemaker Center (13,176).

Records: Louisville 19-3 (9-2 Conference USA), Cincinnati 14-8 (6-5).

Radio: WLW-AM (700).

TV: Ch. 12.

Series: Louisville leads 46-34.

Line: Louisville by 2‡.

LOUISVILLE

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Ellis Myles	Jr.	6-8	7.7
Francisco Garcia	Fr.	6-7	10.2
Marvin Stone	Sr.	6-10	11.6
Taquan Dean	Fr.	6-2	8.6
Reece Gaines	Sr.	6-6	18.6

Coach: Rick Pitino (38-16, second season; 390-140 overall).

CINCINNATI

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Leonard Stokes	Sr.	6-6	16.0
Jason Maxiell	So.	6-7	12.3
Kareem Johnson	Jr.	6-7	2.3
Field Williams	Jr.	6-3	12.6
Taron Barker	Sr.	6-1	6.8

Coach: Bob Huggins (346-108, 14th season; 514-180 overall).