CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

On Wednesday night, the UC Bearcats played their second game of three in six days. They traveled by bus to Morgantown, WV to meet the Mountaineers coached by Bob Huggins. West Virgina had not lost a game at home all year until they got ripped on a missed goaltending call last weekend against highly rated Georgetown and went down by one point. This night the strangest things happened. First, Huggins came out dressed in a gawdy mustard suit over black shirt with mustard shoes - proof that in some respects he still lacks good judgement. Second, Cincinnati kicked the livin' shit out of their Big East foes, 62-39. UC was a 15 point underdog. WVU shot a school record low 20% from the field making only 10 baskets in the whole game. Deonta Vaughn had 18 points for the Cats.

In prep basketball, Fenwick is now 2-15, McNicholas is 7-11, Hamilton is 4-14, Mariemont is 8-10 and Wilmington is 14-4. Cincinnati has one of the top high school basketball players in the country again. Chane Behanan of Aiken High is someone you will be hearing about in the next few years. He is only a freshman and is averaging over 20 points per game for the weak Aiken team.

The Bengals signed Carson Palmer's younger brother Jordan to a two year contract. We may have a Palmer backing up a Palmer if Jordan makes the squad.

Bengal linebacker Dhani Jones is in England playing rugby in the off-season. I knew I liked that guy. On the other hand, Chad Johnson is spending his off-season telling everyone who will listen that he wont play for Cincinnati next year.

The Bearcats came back at noon on Saturday against 16th ranked Marquette at FifthThird arena and just didn't have it. They started the game like a ball of fire and built a nine point lead in the middle of the first half. From that point, they played like they were tired and lost 75-60. Deonta Vaughn had 23 for the Cats.

Saturday evening saw the Musketeers host the La Salle Explorers at Cintas Center. Xavier struggled to pull away from their 8-12 opponents but had enough to claim their 18th win, 75-62. C.J. Anderson had 16 points and 7 rebounds to lead the Muskies.

Back-up tight end Michael Mathews of Sycamore High School played for the Super Bowl Champ New York Giants last night. That hulking figure with the low number on their sideline was Northern Kentucky's own Jared Lorenzen, the back-up quarterback.

In Ada, Ohio, not too far north of Cincinnati, all of the footballs used in the Super Bowl were made again this year. The Wilson factory has to wait until they know who is playing because each team's name is on every ball. Let's hope they can make one with Cincinnati Bengals emblazened on it real soon.