Grand Kenyon

Will he and the Bearcats repeat last year's fall? Don't count on it, for three reasons:
?A new, improved K-Mart. Chastened by experience, Martin has rid himself of the chronic foul trouble that caused him to disappear down the stretch a year ago. (He had four DQs in the final 11 games but has only one this season.) Certainly Martin's most revealing stat in Cincinnati's easy win at Louisville last Thursday wasn't his 14 points, seven rebounds or five blocks, but his zero fouls in 37 minutes.
?A Broadway-quality 'Cats cast. Cincinnati is solid—and getting even better—at every position, which keeps opponents from double-teaming Martin. Pete Mickeal, a rugged senior forward, is the Bearcats' best defender and a resourceful scorer. At point guard, freshman Kenny Satterfield leads Conference USA with 5.3 assists a game, good enough for him finally to crack Huggins's starting lineup last week. Yet the Bearcat to watch over the next two months may well be DerMarr Johnson, a 6' 9" freshman guard who had a breakout game against Louisville, scoring 21 points in the first half—thanks to the five three-pointers he made.

?A more huggable Huggs. Can it be? The same coach who made the Bearcats run 24 suicides the day after a 28-point win over Oakland last season, the guy who threatened to make his players run in front of their home crowd if the team allowed Mississippi Valley State to score 50 points earlier this season, has mellowed in recent weeks. During his gut-busting three-hour practices, Huggins has cut down on running-as-punishment in favor of gathering the team for pep talks. Likewise, those practices have been regularly concluded before the three-hour mark. "Going that long this late in the season really wears our legs out," says Fletcher, "and when we've lost in March, it's been because our legs are tired and we haven't made shots."

It always comes back to March, doesn't it? "Until we win the big one, we're never going to be seen as a different Cincinnati team," says Mickeal. "Look, there are no misconceptions around the nation that we're not the best team. The only way we'll lose is if we beat ourselves. If we don't win it all this year, everyone will say we're underachievers."

Maybe so, but whatever outcome awaits these Bearcats, it would be terribly unfair not to recognize Martin's already remarkable season. Whether he would have deserved another tongue-lashing from Conley last Saturday night was another matter. Earlier in the evening, during Cincinnati's 89-72 win over South Florida, Martin had gotten so excited that he'd pulled his jersey over (stop!), revealing his bulging right pec (don't do it!) and exposing BAD ASS YELLOW BOY to the masses. Reminded of his transgression later, Martin put on a look of mock horror. "I don't know what she's going to say," he cracked.

Here's our advice, Fatimah. Give your man a break. As the Bearcats' victims will tell you, the tattoo's correct, after all.