By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

After watching his University of Cincinnati Bearcats grapple to eke out 61 points against Northern Kentucky in their first exhibition game 10 days ago, coach Bob Huggins scrapped what they were doing offensively.

Huggins began installing the same offense the Bearcats ran in 1992 and 1993 under point guard Nick Van Exel, with lots of movement, back cuts and back screens.

Eventually, Huggins is hoping this year's team will run it with the same efficiency behind new point guard Nick Williams, but don't expect that to happen for a while.

The Bearcats, who trailed NKU by a point at halftime before winning by 13, play the EA Sports All-Stars at 7:30 p.m. today at UC's Fifth Third Arena in their second and final exhibition game. They open the regular season Nov. 22 against Akron.

As Huggins frequently points out, Van Exel didn't hit his stride until January of his first year in 1992. Williams, a 6-4 transfer from Chipola (Fla.) College, is going through the same adjustment period as he becomes accustomed to playing point guard full-time for the first time in his career.

"I'm adjusting to a new system," Williams said Monday. "I'm adjusting to new players and a new coach and it's the same for (center) Rob (Whaley). We expect to play well from the beginning, but we know we're going to play better together as the season goes on."

UC shot just 34 percent from the field against the Norse and made only 2-of-11 3-pointers. Williams scored eight points and had five rebounds, but recorded only one assist and made just 2-of-10 shots.

"Huggins said it wasn't all Williams' fault.

"It's hard because you have to know your spot and everybody else's spot," Huggins said of Williams.

• Sophomore point guard Chadd Moore, who has been trying to play through a sore back, did not play against NKU, but practiced all last week and is expected to try to play.

• Guard Tony Bobbitt, who did not play against NKU, may not play again tonight. Bobbitt was suffering from an eye infection Monday and was limited in practice.

• Mike Pilgrim (stress fracture in his foot) will not play, nor will James White, who's ineligible until Dec. 20. Freshman Asrangue Souleymane probably won't play either because UC is contemplating redshirting him this year.

UC vs. EA Sports All-Stars

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. today, Fifth Third Arena (13,176).

Radio/TV: None.

UC PROBABLE LINEUP

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG*
Ar. Kirkland	So.	6-8	3.4
Jason Maxiell	Jr.	6-7	11.9
Robert Whaley	Jr.	6-10	none
Field Williams	Sr.	6-3	11.6
Nick Williams	Jr.	6-4	none

*Averages are from 2002-03

Coach: Bob Huggins (349-112, 15th; 517-184 overall).

ABOUT EA SPORTS

This is one of five teams under the sponsorship of EA Sports. UC is playing the East team with Duke's Ricky Price, California's Monty Buckley and Michigan State's Mike Chappell. The East team has a 2-5 record on its exhibition tour, with losses to Louisville (90-78), Xavier (100-63), Tennessee (110-83), Western Kentucky (76-67) and Old Dominion (106-62). The wins were over Virginia Tech (86-82) and St. John's (80-74).