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Posted: Monday November 15, 1999 12:29 AM

Conference USA overview

Bearcats class of league once again

Quentin Richardson could lead DePaul to its first NCAA tournament in eight years. Jonathan Daniel/Allsport

Order of Finish American 1. Cincinnati 2. DePaul 3. Louisville 4. UNC-Charlotte 5. Marquette 6. Saint Louis National 1. South Florida 2. Southern Mississippi 3. Memphis 4. UAB 5. Houston 6. Tulane

Top storylines

With all four league regular-season titles, Cincinnati owns Conference USA, but the Bearcats haven't advanced past the second round of the NCAA Tournament in three tries. With two McDonald's All-Americans joining four returning starters from last year's 27-6 team, could this be Bob Huggins' year? Young DePaul also has added another strong recruiting class to go with the big three sophs: Quentin Richardson, Bobby Simmons and Lance Williams. Can they jell and get the Blue Demons to their first NCAA Tournament since 1992? And after four years as a Michigan State assistant, 34-year-old Tom Crean gets a crack at rebuilding Marquette, which fired Mike Deane after the sleepy Golden Eagles went 14-15 last season.

How they will spend Selection Sunday
Relaxing	Sweating	Fishing
Cincinnati DePaul Louisville	South Florida UNCC Memphis Southern Mississippi	UAB Saint Louis Houston Marquette Tulane

Players to Watch

Top Three Frontcourt Players

C Kenyon Martin, 6-9, Sr., Cincinnati • Already the league's all-time leader with 185 blocked shots, the intimidating Martin improved his shooting touch this summer playing with the U.S. team in the World University Games. F Pete Mickeal, 6-6, Sr., Cincinnati • A versatile, solid player on both ends of the floor, Mickeal led the Bearcats with 14.9 points and 7.2 rebounds last season. F B.B. Waldon, 6-8, So., South Florida • The rangy Waldon became the first player in Bulls history to lead the team in scoring (16.3 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg) as a freshman.

Top Three Backcourt Players

G Quentin Richardson, 6-6, So., DePaul • With the addition of 7-footer Steve Hunter and the maturation of Bobby Simmons, Richardson should play more shooting guard than he did last season. G Gee Gervin, 6-2, Sr., Houston • A flashy, fearless and sometimes erratic junior college transfer last season, the son of George "Ice" Gervin led Conference USA with 20.6 points per game. G Diego Guevara, 6-1, Jr., UNC-Charlotte • After each of his league-high 80 three-pointers last season, the charismatic Guevara blew a kiss to his bride Patricia.

Top Three Newcomers

G/F DerMarr Johnson, 6-9, Fr. • After averaging 26.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists at Maine Central Institute last season, Johnson was named the Parade National High School Player of the Year. C Steve Hunter, Fr., DePaul • Coach Pat Kennedy likens the 7-foot Hunter to Danny Manning. G Reece Gaines, 6-6, Fr., Louisville • After spurning Maryland, Gaines should become just the 12th freshman to start in Denny Crum's 29 years at Louisville.

Coaches

Hot Coach

Bob Huggins, Cincinnati • Often gruff and always intense, Huggins has compiled a 247-82 (.751) record in 10 seasons at Cincinnati, making him the winningest coach in victories and percentage in school history. This could be the year he returns to the Final Four for the first time since 1992.

Coach on the Hot Seat

Tic Price, Memphis • Price followed a successful debut with a debacle. Last season, he made a disastrous early-season decision to move Omar Sneed from the low post -- which he later corrected -- although it was too late and the Tigers went 13-15.

Schedules

Toughest Schedule

Louisville • Denny Crum always has a top five schedule, and this season's is equally as tough with road trips to Kentucky and Georgetown and home games against Alabama, North Carolina, Utah and Syracuse.

Quickest-Way-to-20-Wins Schedule

Southern Mississippi • The Golden Eagles' non-conference schedule is bereft of quality opponents aside from Auburn. Southern Mississippi faces Alcorn State, Nebraska, New Orleans, South Alabama, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana-Lafayette, Troy State, Jackson State and Centenary.

Mark Your Calendar

Dec. 4, DePaul at Duke • With Duke's departures, DePaul could make a national statement. Dec. 18, Louisville at Kentucky • Rivals Duke-North Carolina as the best rivalry in college basketball Jan. 27, Cincinnati at Louisville • The Cardinals try to snap a five-game losing streak at Cincinnati. March 2, Cincinnati at DePaul • This game could decide the C-USA regular-season champ.

Ashley McGeachy covers Conference USA for the Louisville Courier-Journal. Look for her CNN/SI conference insiders during the season.

 

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