By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Tony Bobbitt was looking for an edge as he warmed up before the Louisville game Saturday afternoon, and he knew where to go to find it.He walked over to former University of Cincinnati great Oscar Robertson and asked, "What can I do tonight just to have a decent game?"Robertson was happy to offer some advice.

"He said, `You know the biggest problem with you is when you're not hitting jump shots you don't believe in doing other things,' " Bobbitt said. "His exact words were: `T, do you understand why I was one of the top players? When my jump shot wasn't falling, I rebounded. When I couldn't rebound, I set a screen or I took a charge.'  "

Bobbitt took Robertson's words to heart. He missed his first three shots but kept playing hard, trying to help his team in other ways. Then the shots began to fall.

By the end of the game, Bobbitt had scored 25 points and UC upset No. 4 Lousville, 101-80.

But Bobbitt has had big games before. He scored 29 in UC's Dec. 17 win over Oregon only to slip back into his old habits. That's why he's eager for tonight's game against East Carolina.

"I can get in here and tell you guys everything you want to hear," Bobbitt told reporters Tuesday. "But I just have to show you now."

UC (15-8 overall, 7-5 Conference USA) is tied with UAB for the fourth first-round bye in the March 12-15 C-USA Tournament at Louisville. East Carolina (12-12, 3-10) has lost 10 of its last 12 games and is in a battle with Southern Miss and TCU for the 12th and final spot in the league tournament.

Bobbitt, a 6-4 junior from Daytona Beach, Fla., has been a changed player since returning to the team Feb. 6 after briefly walking away just before the Feb. 5 Louisville game.

"His concentration is a lot better," said UC coach Bob Huggins. "He's trying to figure out what he needs to do. He's spent more time on the sidelines before talking than he did playing. Now he's staying with things better."

He also has learned to listen better, especially when the person talking is Robertson, who has become one of Bobbitt's heroes.

Bobbitt is so taken with Robertson and what he accomplished at UC in the late 1950s that he has tapes of the Big O in his room, compliments of his dad.

"My dad used to tell me, you couldn't guard Oscar," Bobbitt said. "Oscar would run circles around you. I used to tell him, `Dad, Oscar Robertson is not better than Michael Jordan.' But I've seen tapes of Oscar and I couldn't believe it. Now I know.

"Now I say Oscar Robertson is better than Michael Jordan. It's not because of the statue out here (outside Shoemaker Center) or because he was the best player at UC. He was the man."

Robertson, whose jersey hangs on the south wall of Shoemaker along with Kenyon Martin's and Jack Twyman's, laughed when he was told about Bobbitt's reverence for him.

The man who still ranks far and away as UC's career scoring and rebounding leader has helped many UC player over the years. On this team alone, he has befriended Leonard Stokes, helped Jason Maxiell with his inside game and now has helped Bobbitt.

He shows up at practice occasionally and attends almost every game, sitting in the same seats on the floor just down from press row.

"It's just basketball talk," Robertson said. "It's not earth shattering. They ask me questions about certain things. I've been involved in basketball my whole life. I'm glad to help them."

Even without the advice, Bobbitt says, just having Robertson around benefits the UC players.

Today's lineups:

EAST CAROLINA	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Derrick Wiley	Jr.	6-4	13.3
Erroyl Bing	Jr.	6-6	8.3
Gabriel Makulas	Jr.	6-8	11.5
Belton Rivers	Fr.	6-3	8.4
Travis Holcomb-Faye	Sr.	6-1	10.4

Coach: Bill Herrion (48-62, fourth season; 215-133 overall.)

CINCINNATI	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Leonard Stokes	Sr.	6-6	16.6
Jason Maxiell	So.	6-7	12.0
Kareem Johnson	Jr.	6-7	2.7
Field Williams	Jr.	6-3	12.5
Taron Barker	Sr.	6-1	6.8

Coach: Bob Huggins (347-108, 14th season; 515-180 overall).

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com