UC (14-5) still a work in progress
Tom Groeschen, tgroeschen@enquirer.com 9:30 p.m. EST January 25, 2015


UC associate head coach Larry Davis says the Bearcats remain a work in progress. (Photo: The Enquirer/Meg Vogel)

ORLANDO, Fla. – At 14-5 overall and 5-2 in the American Athletic Conference, most University of Cincinnati basketball fans probably would have taken that if someone gave such a preseason projection.

The record may be more impressive considering the unexpected loss of head coach Mick Cronin from the sideline, with Cronin out since Dec. 20 for medical reasons.

UC is 7-3 since associate head coach Larry Davis replaced Cronin. Cronin still hopes to return to the sidelines by March, depending on his recuperation from a non-life threatening vascular condition known as arterial dissection.

"Grow and develop is our focus," Cronin said via text Sunday, after watching UC's 56-46 win at UCF via television. "Just keep learning and working."

Cronin on Sunday's game:

"Good win. Great defense. Average rebounding. Average offense."

STILL SHY: UC still does not have anyone averaging 10 points a game. Team leader Troy Caupain (9.9 ppg) had nine points Sunday.

Next are Octavius Ellis (9.5), Gary Clark (7.8), Farad Cobb (6.8) and Kevin Johnson (6.5).

LOOKING AHEAD: Davis, speaking to reporters after Sunday's game at UCF, was asked where UC stands.

"We're a team in progress, still," Davis said. "We're nowhere near how good we can be. We've still got some inconsistent guys. One night they give you something, one night they don't."

With a young team having only one active senior player, forward Jermaine Sanders, team insiders still wonder about the maturity of the group.

"We're beginning to get more and more consistent guys, but we've got to add to that pile," Davis said. "We've had some success again, three (wins) in a row. Now, how will we handle that? That's the key.

"Will we let it make us soft? Will individual things become more important than team things? Because that's what happens to you when you win … Will that happen, or will we be finally mature enough to say hey, look, all that matters is we're winning."

How to handle that?

"You have to address it. You have to keep talking to them about it."

NCAA WATCH: UC is projected as a No. 9 NCAA tournament seed by CBSSports.com bracketologist Jerry Palm, who had the Bearcats at No. 30 in his daily RPI entering Sunday.

ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi also had UC as a No. 9 NCAA seed in his latest forecast, with UC tied for No. 32 in his RPI.

WELCOME BACK: UC radio analyst Chuck Machock got some scoreboard video time during a break in Sunday's game, along with a PA announcement for UCF fans to welcome back their former coach.

Machock was UCF head coach for two seasons: 1983-84 (15-13) and 1984-85 (10-18). One of Machock's UCF assistants in his first season was a young Bob Huggins. Machock later served as a volunteer assistant during Huggins' early UC seasons.

FAMILIAR FACE: Former Bearcats head coach Tony Yates was in the stands Sunday, with Yates wearing a black UC baseball hat and gray UC sweatshirt.

Yates played on the Bearcats' 1961 and '62 NCAA championship teams, and he was UC coach from the 1983-84 season through 1988-89.

UP NEXT: UC next plays reigning national champ UConn on Thursday (8 p.m., ESPN2) at Fifth Third Arena.

UConn beat the Bearcats 62-56 in their first meeting this season, Jan. 10 in Hartford

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../22329043/