By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Are the University of Cincinnati Bearcats good enough to make a run to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16?

That seems highly unlikely in light of their 67-48 loss to No. 24 Memphis Saturday night, but UC coach Bob Huggins, undaunted in the face of another devastating loss, says it can happen.

"We're a good enough team to be in the Sweet 16," Huggins said.

Huggins made his pronouncement late Saturday night, about an hour after his team had absorbed its most lopsided defeat since joining Conference USA in 1995.

The Bearcats (16-9 overall, 8-6 in the league) shot a season-low 24.6 percent against the Tigers. They made only four field goals in the second half, none in the final 10:18.

The margin of defeat was the largest for a UC team since an 88-68 loss to Xavier in 1997.

Saturday's game was as difficult as it gets on a basketball court for the UC coach. Not only had his team been soundly beaten, he lost to his friend, Memphis coach John Calipari, for the first time and was heckled unmercifully by the fans.

After completing his post-game radio show, he walked across the court at The Pyramid and this time was actually applauded. He paused to sign a few autographs and to have his picture taken with a fan.

Then he slowly made his way back toward the UC locker room, pausing in the hall to do a TV interview.

He looked at the one remaining reporter and asked, "Do you mind if we go in here and sit down? My knee is killing me."

Huggins sat down slowly and sighed.

"I'm getting old," he said.

It appeared as if this mediocre season, along with the aftermath of his September heart attack and his mother's battle with cancer, had left Huggins drained.

"Will you be glad when this season is over?" he was asked.

That's when he talked about the Bearcats' prospects for the Sweet 16.

"I know this is hard for you to understand," he said. "But we're still very much alive in the NCAA Tournament. Who knows? We could win our first-round game and play somebody pretty good and if we shoot the ball, we could beat them and be in the Sweet 16.

"It depends on matchups, it depends on if we make shots."

Of course, to make it to the Sweet 16, the Bearcats first have to be invited to the NCAA Tournament, and that's not a sure thing.

UC's RPI remains a solid No. 25, with two regular-season games remaining - at home against UAB on Wednesday and at 10th-ranked Marquette on Saturday.

Despite their glowing RPI, it seems unlikely that the Bearcats could make it to the NCAA Tournament without winning at least 18 games.

Assuming they lose at Marquette, they would have to beat UAB and win at least one game in the C-USA conference tournament.

"We need to win a game or two more," Huggins said. "But we should win a game or two more."

UC has now lost six of its last nine games, but the players say they aren't ready to concede anything.

"We're still going to stick together," said junior guard Tony Bobbitt.

Said senior forward Leonard Stokes"We've got to keep working. We've got to get ready for UAB. We can't do anything about those past games."

Barely-Cats

UC is suffering through its most difficult season since joining C-USA in 1995-96. The Bearcats are 16-9, 8-6 and in third place in the American division. A closer look:

1995-96: 11-3, regular season and tournament champion (28-5 overall);

1996-97: 12-2, regular season champion (26-8);

1997-98: 14-2, regular season and tournament champion (27-6);

1998-99: 12-4, regular season champion (27-6);

1999-00: 16-0, regular season champion (29-4);

2000-01: 11-5, regular season champion

(25-10);

2001-02: 14-2, regular season and tournament champion (31-4);

Total: 90-18 (.833), seven straight regular-season titles; three tournament titles.

The road ahead

Wednesday: vs. UAB (16-9, 8-6 C-USA)

Saturday: at Marquette (22-4, 13-2 C-USA)

March 12-15: C-USA tournament at Louisville

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E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com