The player UC will turn to:
Tony Bobbitt has been the fuel that has driven this team. Not only can he ignite a struggling offense with his 3-pointers off the bench, he makes key shots in crucial situations, leads the team in steals and enthusiasm, and knows how to take a punch.

The Bearcat who must be playing well:
Field Williams was struggling with his shot when the Bearcats lost four of six games in late January and February. When he scores in double figures, UC is 17-2. When he doesn't, the Bearcats are 7-4. But the key to UC's success in the Tournament might be Armein Kirkland. At 6-8, Kirkland can handle the ball against pressure, attack the basket, create mismatches inside and score from the perimeter.

The team UC doesn't want to face:
Duke. The Blue Devils don't have the consensus All-American they've had in the past, but the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season champs and No. 1 seed in the Atlanta Regional are still extremely talented with point guard Chris Duhon, shooter J.J. Redick and freshman forward Luol Deng. They also have the best coach in the business, in Mike Krzyzewski, and versatility.

What gives UC its best shot at San Antonio?
Defense. Huggins complained about his team's defense for a good portion of the season, but the Bearcats have been more effective since they abandoned the press. Early in the season, they took pride in forcing turnovers. Now they take pride in locking up opponents in the half-court. They're limiting their opponents to 38.6 percent shooting and 62.9 points a game. It was their defense more than any other factor that earned them the Conference USA Tournament championship.

What could get UC bounced in the first round?
East Tennessee State point guard Tim Smith can control a game with his quickness. If UC lets him do his thing, the Bearcats' stay in Columbus could be brief. Memphis point guard Antonio Burks, who plays a style similar to Smith's, scored 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting against UC.

Where is UC now, compared to November?
In November, the Bearcats were expecting great things from center Robert Whaley. They relied on their depth, using 10 or 11 players, and they generated a lot of their offense in transition from turnovers their press forced. But Whaley hasn't been much of a factor, and the press has been ditched. The Bearcats have become a half-court, perimeter-oriented team with basically an eight-man playing rotation.

- Bill Koch