Cincinnati-Gonzaga: Bearcats Make Case For Top 25 in Maui

The Cincinnati Bearcats will fly home tonight from Maui on the red-eye without the championship trophy, but with the respect of the college basketball world. 

Head coach Mick Cronin's squad suffocated No. 24 Vanderbilt (27.5 percent FG) and No. 21 Maryland (35.8 percent FG) before suffering a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of traditional sweet 16-caliber Gonzaga, 61-59 in overtime, in the Maui final. 

The Bearcats, led by freshman Lance Stephenson's hard-fought 15 points (7-14 FGM-A), held a 40-30 lead with about eight minutes to go before the wheels fell off. UC had some open looks from deep but the shots weren't falling (8-31 3PM-A), and Gonzaga made just enough "plays" to force the extra session. 

You've got to give the Zags some credit for the comeback, but if you watched the game, you know Mark Few's team got away with murder in the final seconds of regulation.

With five seconds to go, Stephenson tossed a perfect lob pass for big 6'9" Yancy Gates, who jumped up and grabbed the pass—but before he could lay the ball in the basket, 7-footer Robert Sacre blindly flailed his arm behind him, absolutely drilling Gates' left arm, causing the ball to pop out. No call. 

UC (4-1, 0-0) then shot themselves in the foot in overtime, missing 5-of-7 free throw attempts, including the front end of a one-and-one. 

All things considered, it was a successful trip to the Hawaiian Islands for the Bearcats, who received great post play from Gates (two double-doubles) and showed that they have the ability to turn up the defense and hold teams well below their season scoring average. 

If you ask ESPN analysts Jay Bilas and Bill Raftery, I guarantee they will tell you that Mick Cronin sports an NCAA Tournament team this season. 

Cronin and his dynamite staff will have plenty of teaching opportunities this week as UC rests up for a Dec. 1 clash with Texas Southern. My guess is the coaches will focus on:

1. Playing great defense without fouling (UC's opponents made more free throws than the Bearcats shot in all three Maui games).

2. Shot selection.

3. Getting to the free throw line more. 

Now, let's all raise our glasses of Crown Royal to the Cincinnati Bearcats, for a spectacular effort in the Maui Invitational. I personally am excited and confident that UC will be going into the 2009-10 season with this talented group of players.  Cronin has put together a nice blend of multi-dimensional guys who know how to play the game. 

As the season progresses, and the young guys learn what needs to happen to win games down the stretch, this could be a team that nobody wants to f*** with in March.