UC Wrap-up

In a must win game, the UC Bearcats did just that 78-70 over the South Florida Bulls. I'm still not thrilled with it because it is a team they should have blown out by at least double digits, and had multiple times throughout the game where they could have buried the Bulls.
Deonta Vaugh led the Cats with a season high 20 pts. And getting his first start of the year, Jaquon Parker scored a career-high 15 pts. Yancy Gates played only ten minutes and scored eight points, while fellow big man Steve Toyloy was in foul trouble as well and scored nine points.
I give the Cats credit here because they played without freshmen stud Lance "Born Ready" Stephenson, who twisted an ankle in practice yesterday. He should be ready for Sunday's game at Louisville (which I will be covering for the News Record). If you think about it, they basically played without Stephenson, Gates, Cashmere Wright (only played 4 min), and Ibrahima Thomas (9 min). Four guys who are, or were thought to be, important to this teams success.

The Cats have 11 games remaining in the regular season, all against Big East opponents. This is what I think they need to do to be one of the lucky 65 teams to get into March Madness: Their next three games are all winnable. They play Louisville, tough game but U of L is in a down year; Providence, who is getting better but again we have more talent then they do without question; and Notre Dame, who we took down just a few days ago. Out of those three games they need two wins, if not three. After that is Syracuse, Uconn and South Florida. They must win one of those games, which should be South Florida but if they could get two wins they would be in prime position. Next is Marquette, Depaul and Bob Huggins. They have to beat Marquette and Depaul. Their last two are against Villanova and Georgetown, two very tough games. One win here would be crucial. If this is the path they choose, the Cats will be 20-10, 11-7 in the Big East and would be in the tournament without question. A 19-11, 10-8 record could do it, but I don't want to be nervous on selection Sunday.