Underrated Cincinnati routs South Florida
The Cincinnati Bearcats would like to say thanks. Thanks to everyone who overlooks them, disregards them and underrates them. It is all the motivation the team needs. "Whoever votes in the coaches poll," coach Mick Cronin said, "Thank you."
By the time this Big East Tournament is over, everyone else in the conference might be telling Cincinnati's doubters "Thanks for nothing."
Cronin's team believes it can beat anyone, a confidence built on 25 wins against seven losses, including an 87-61 rout of South Florida at the Garden Wednesday night. Cincinnati did not leave its motivation back at the hotel, having watched South Florida, the No. 15 seed, knock Villanova out of the tournament Tuesday night.
"That's the Big East Tournament. Anything can happen," said Cincinnati forward Yancy Gates, who contributed his own "anything" by making almost everything. He shot 10-for-11 and had 25 points in a comfortable win that put Cincinnati into a quarterfinal against Notre Dame.
This week, and for however long Cincinnati keeps going this postseason, the opposition stands to become very uncomfortable. It plays better defense than just about any No. 7 seed you'll ever see. On top of that, the Bearcats have been working hard on offense.
"If you watched us practice, you wouldn't believe it," Cronin said. "About 80 percent of it is on offense."
It paid off, not only for Gates, but also for Dion Dixon, who turned the ball over in the final seconds of a heartbreaking loss to eventual champ West Virginia in last year's Big East Tournament. He had 21 points against the overmatched Bulls (10-23), who lost point guard Anthony Crater after he felt something pop late in the first half.
But it might not matter who's in or who's out against Cincinnati. Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun, whose team beat the Bearcats on the road last week, said, "We played really well, but they're good; really, really good."
That is not the sort of thing Cincinnati hears when players watch highlights in their dorms or hotel rooms. "That drives us,'' Gates said. "We beat teams, but we turn on the TV and they talk about the team that we beat.''
Cronin believes that stems from the defense-oriented team's lack of gaudy numbers. Gates is not so sure.
"We're not really trying to figure it out. We trying to go play and prove ourselves," he said, "You don't let it bring you down, you let it build you up."
So tonight's game needs no buildup, thank you very much.
"Our guys want more respect," Cronin said. "You beat Notre Dame, you get it."
