By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

In two years, John Meeker has never started a game for the University of Cincinnati. He has never played more than four minutes in a game and has never scored more than six points.

But Meeker, a 6-foot-1 junior guard from Troy, Ohio, has no regrets about walking on to the UC basketball team.

"It's the opportunity of a lifetime," Meeker said. "I think anybody given this chance would do the same thing. I may be able to play at other places, but just to be part of this team and this atmosphere, I wouldn't trade it for the world."

Meeker, who is cheered every time he enters a game at UC, is known for playing all out every minute he's on the floor, whether it's in a game or in practice. Despite his efforts, it's unlikely he will play more than a cameo role again this season.

"Hopefully my chance will come some day," Meeker said. "I don't think I'll never get to play. If it's just the last couple minutes of the game or in the middle of the fight, every chance I get I've got to play hard."

Meeker's biggest problem is his size. He weighs only 165 pounds and has trouble holding his own physically against bigger and stronger guards.

Gaining weight has always been a problem for him. He's gotten as heavy as 171, but once the season starts and the running picks up, his weight drops.

"I came in my freshman year at like 147," he said, "so I've put on a good 20 pounds since I've been here. I'd like to be 175, but then again I'd like to be 6-4."

He appreciates the cheers.

"That makes me feel like all the hard work's paying off," he said. "It's not like I'm here for nothing. They like that I go out there and play hard and give everything I've got."

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: After UC beat the EA Sports All-Stars by 17 points in an exhibition game Tuesday night, Mazz Trakh, the coach of the EA Sports team, was asked to compare UC to Xavier, which beat the same team, 100-63, and to Louisville, which won by 12.

"Xavier is a little different than Cincinnati," Trakh said. "They play more up-tempo, but when they play, you can flip a coin. I can't tell you who was better.

"Louisville doesn't have the inside presence of Cincinnati. Louisville is a perimeter team. Cincinnati is a team that can beat you from the 3-point line or in the paint. They're going to be very difficult to defend."

WAITING FOR HICKS: Sophomore forward Eric Hicks played only six minutes Tuesday night after playing 12 minutes in UC's first exhibition game against Northern Kentucky. In two games, he has eight points with six rebounds. Huggins thinks he can do better.

"Eric's a big, strong, athletic guy who needs to learn how to play hard," Huggins said. "He's got to play with the same kind of passion and commitment that an Erik Martin played with or a Terry Nelson played with. To this point, he hasn't done that. He's a talented guy, but there's a whole lot of talented guys who don't get things done."

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E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com