22 Preview I NOVEMBER 22, 1996 I THE TULANE HULLABALOO MEN'S TEAM

Expectations for University of Cincinnati award after averaging 14.0 points and scoring Feb. 6 at Cincinnati, Ohio (ESPN) basketball are high. In fact, they are as high as the deciding points in four wins last year, is back 8:30 p.m. they were in 1962- to spark the offense 63, when the with his long- General Information Bearcats had a distance shooting. Location Cincinnati, Ohio veteran core The 6-2 . bomber is Founded 1819 returning from likely to rewrite the Enrollment 36,000 teams which had school's career three- Nickname Bearcats won successive shooting Colors Red, Black national records. Conference Conference USA championships. Other key Home Arena Shoemaker Arena (13, 176) Cincinnati has returnees are 6-9 President Dr. Joseph A. Steger been a consensus junior Jacks{)n Athletic Director Gerald O'Dell top-five pick in the Julson, the veteran pre-season polls, most suited to take Men's Basketball Facts rated as high as No. over the Head Coach Bob Huggins (West Virginia '77) 1. position if he can at Cincinnati 166-63 (7 years) P e r h a p s shake his injury jinx, Overall 334-135 (15 years) remarkable about 6-4 senior Rodrick vs. Tulane 5-1 this hype is the fact Monroe and 6-7 Assistant Coaches: Larry Harrison that UC has only junior Bobby John Loyer two starters Brannen, a pair of 1994-95 Record 28-5 returning from last rugged rebounders, Conference 11-3 (1st-Blue) year's squad, which and 6-4 sophomore Postseason 3-1, NCAA won Conference Melvin Levett, an Letterwinners Returning/Lost 9/3 USA regular season athletic dynamo who and tournament was only beginning titles and advanced to realize his to Elite Eight in potential. NCAA play. Cincinnati has The Bearcats reloaded with a class 1996-97 Schedule boast one of college of newcomers rated basketball's top as high as No. l by Nov. 23 Western Carolina returning players in the recruiting gurus. Nov. 26 Xavier (Ohio) Danny Forston, who As was the case in Nov. 30 Rutgers is on everyone's All- 1991-92, when Dec. 4 vs. Kansas America list. Cincinnati advanced to the Final Four, the (at Chicago, Ill.) Fortson, a 6-7, 260-pound muscular junior Bem·cats dipped into the junior college ranks for Dec. 17 Howard aptly cast as the power forward, was a consen us the crux of a class of newcomers who will make Dec. 19 Eastern Michigan All-America pick last season after posting an immediate impact. Headlining the future Dec. 28 vs. Western Kentucky averages of 20. I points and 9.6 rebounds. He Bearcats arc Ruben Patterson and D' Juan Baker, (at Cleveland, Ohio) became the first sophomore in school history to both of whom were first team junior college All- D. 30-J. 1 San Juan Classic reach the 1,000-point and 500- career American selections last year, with Patterson (first round: vs. SE Missouri State) plateaus. acclaimed as the Junior College Player of the Jan. 5 at Saint Louis Also back are Damon Flint and Darnell Year. Jan. 8 UAB Burton, a pair of senior perimeter performers Patterson, a 6-7 junior, is the head of the new Jan. 10 Miami (Ohio) who have been Jan. 16 vs. Temple mainstays for the Jan. 18 Arkansas Bearcats the past three Jan. 21 at UNC Charlotte seasons. 1996-97 Roster Jan.26 at Southern Cal Flint, who averaged Jan. 30 at Louisville 12.8 points and 3.5 Returning Starters Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG Feb. 1 DePaul assists, is the other Damon Flint G 6-5 201 Sr. 12.8 3.0 Feb.6 Tulane returning starter, though Danny Fortson F 6-7 260 Jr. 20.l 9.6 Feb. 8 Marquette just where he will play Other Returnees Feb. 10 at Washington is to be determined. At Darnell Burton G. 6-2 201 Sr. 14.0 2.6 Feb. 13 Saint Louis 6-5, he started at the Jackson Julson CIF 6-9 246 Jr. 3.4 1.5 Feb. 15 South Carolina shooting guard spot a Rodrick Monroe F 6-4 230 Sr. 3.2 2.9 Feb. 18 Houston year ago, but saw ample Melvin Levett G 6-4 192 So. 2.4 0.7 Feb. 20 at South Florida action a the backup Terrence Davis G 6-2 197 Sr. 2.0 0.7 Feb. 22 at DePaul point guard, a position Bobby Brannen F 6-7 230 Jr. 1.8 2.7 Feb. 25 Southern Miss at which he started as a Ryan Fletcher F 6-8 226 So. 1.2 1.4 Feb. 27 at Marquette freshman. Newcomers March 1 at Memphis Burton, who earned , F/C; D' Juan Baker, G; John Carson, F; Charles March 5-8 C-USA Championship (St. Louis, Mo.) the Conference USA Williams, G; Ruben Patterson, F; Jermaine Thomas, C Sixth Man of the Year l I