CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

The Reds sent Homer Bailey to the minors on Wednesday after about five so-so spring training appearances. Its all a matter of control. He gives up more walks than hits.


The Bengals 'Fat Head' star continued to be a fat head. If he hasn't burned the bridge behind him, it is at least on fire.


Bob Huggins has gotten more face time and interview time this week than any other sports figure in the city. He is definitely a polarizing figure.


Miami University sophomore guard James Dews is a Lakota High School grad. The Hurricanes got knocked out of the round of 32 by Texas, 75-72. Davidson senior power forward Tom Sander of Elder High is still going strong. The Wildcats knocked off Georgetown last weekend.


On Thursday night in Phoenix, the Xavier University Musketeers met the West Virginia Mountaineers in an exciting sweet sixteen battle. Xavier dominated the first 10 minutes, hitting on an amazing 6 of their first 8 three-point shots while WVU couldn't make a lay up . Drew Lavender had three of those 3-pointers (his only points of the game). They ran up an 18-point lead and threatened to put the game away. But WVU's Huggins changed defenses and turned the tide as the lead fell to seven by half time. The second half was like a heavy weight boxing match between Josh Duncan, who scored a career-high 26 points, and West Virginia's Joe Alexander. They matched each other shot for shot. The Mountaineers climbed their way to the lead midway through the second half and seemingly had the momentum. Neither team could pull away but Alexander had a chance to put his team up by one with 14 second remaining but he missed a free throw and the game went into overtime. In the overtime, Alexander made the first shot and his team went up by six in the first minute when he fouled out of the game. WVU missed four free throws down the stretch and B. J. Raymond, who hadn't scored at all in regulation, scored eight including two decisive three-pointers in the end to give the X-Men a great 79-75 win.


On Saturday night, in the 'Elite-Eight' round of the NCAA Tournament, Xavier met top seeded UCLA for a chance to go the finals. The Bruins were on top of their game and the Musketeers were not. At no time after the first ten minutes did it seem that Xavier had a chance. They ended the first half nine down and the hope that they could turn it around after half time soon faded. Darren Collison and Kevin Love were almost unstoppable and had 19 each for UCLA. Derrick Brown led the X-Men with 13 points and six rebounds. A good run is done.


The Reds made their final cuts and their line-up is set. At tomorrow's opener, there will be four out of eight regular players who were not on the team at the beginning of last year...three out of five of their starting pitchers were not on the team at all last year...the closer is new, two of four set-up relievers were not on the team last year...the coaching staff is all new...I'm not sure about the bat boy. You can't say this ownership isn't trying. Its a long season. Lets hope they play more than 162 games.