Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball

All right, well, we’ll take the win. It wasn’t pretty, but it never is against the Miami RedHawks of Charlie Coles. 

No. 19 Cincinnati fought through rustiness to hold off the pesky (and, I’m sure if you ask Steve Toyloy, "annoying") Miami RedHawks at US Bank Arena, 63-59. 

While it wasn’t an instant classic, this game was a nice national TV showcase for UC freshman Lance Stephenson. The future lottery pick from Brooklyn laid down 17 smooth points (6-of-11 FG, 5-of-6 FT) and grabbed eight boards to go with three assists and three swipes. 

Lance began with two three-point plays the old-fashioned way, on silky finishes in the paint. He then knocked down two very NBA-written-all-over-them pull-up jumpers to finish with 12 at the break.

In the second half, his final field goal was a nasty one. With Miami threatening to get back into the game, LS had the ball isolated at the top of the key. He then came with a straight "Dwyane Wade" crossover pull-up from 18 feet and stuck it to give UC a 43-35 lead with 11:24 to go. 

I looked over at Kris Volpenhein as we both in unison said, “Jeeee-eeeez!” and immediately grabbed the remote to rewind and replay the cold-blooded J from No. 33.

The game was, as I blindly predicted today in a text to my boy Sean Paddock, the coming-out party for freshman point guard Cashmere Wright. Now, to clarify, when I said “coming-out party,” I meant that he would finally have a solid game—and he did.

Coach Mick Cronin opted to start his other freshman point guard, Jaquon Parker, for the first time this season. If it was a strategy to wake up Cashmere, it worked.

Wright, a sleek 6'0", 175-pound point guard from Savannah, dropped 11 of his career-high 12 points in the second half, including a pull-up bomb to start the half and then three gigantic buckets down the stretch as UC attempted to hold the lead.

The other story in the ball game was the stat line of preseason first-team Big East guard Deonta Vaughn.

Cronin alluded to Miami’s game plan of taking Deonta completely out of the game in his postgame radio interview with Dan Hoard and Chuck Mashock on 700 WLW. The senior only managed to get off two shots in the entire ball game, missing both to finish scoreless for the first time this season. Yet Cincinnati (6-1, 0-0 Big East) won regardless. I’d say that’s a pretty f*****' good sign, wouldn’t you?

So, on a day when the news of Cincinnati’s football coach taking a different job right before the biggest game in school history permeated through its campus, Steve Toyloy and the 19th-ranked Bearcats picked up a win to prevent further loss of sleep for UC fans. 

Next up, UC will face Xavier in the annual Crosstown Shootout on Sunday (ESPNU, 4:00 PM PST). The schools are separated by five miles, and the fans of each school obviously don’t like each other. The shoot-out is in an odd time slot, but it will still be a crazy game. Enjoy. Go ’Cats.

You think Cincinnati guard Deonta Vaughn is happy?  Oh man, you know the kid is downright giddy these days.  Ah, it’s nice to have some help isn’t it, Deonta?

For those of us who have stuck with the Cincinnati Bearcats (5-1, No. 22 AP) through Vaughn’s first three seasons, the difference in UC’s senior guard is obvious.  His demeanor has done a complete 180.  Seems to me that DV has cracked more smiles through the first six games of the 2009-10 season than he mustered the strength for in the past three seasons combined.

Why?  Well, Vaughn is the CEO now.  He’s got secretaries and employees; he doesn’t have to do everything.  He’s living the good life these days. 

In the past, Vaughn had to handle and distribute the ball, take all the big shots, and log nearly 40 minutes a game.  Now, as his protégés Cashmere Wright, Jaquon Parker, and Lance Stephenson run the point, DV can just coast into the frontcourt and begin working without the ball to find a nice, clean look at the bucket.

Deonta Vaughn, Bearcats CEO, can finally relax a little bit.  He recently took a trip to Hawaii—for business and pleasure.  And when he needed to take a “sick day” (two minutes, zero points, and two fouls in the first half vs. Vanderbilt), his employees had his back, as Cincinnati built a 24-8 lead with their boss resting in his chair.  UC would beat No. 24 Vandy and No. 22 Maryland before falling in overtime to Gonzaga in the championship game.  The CEO's tropical excursion was a success, as the company stock rose while college basketball consumers Jay Bilas and Bill Raftery loaded up their portfolios.

Vaughn and owner Mick Cronin hung in there valiantly during the long, hard hours the past three years to build what you have the pleasure of watching today: a top 25 team on the rise. 

Vaughn’s blood, sweat, and heavy minutes caused the Indianapolis native to wear down the past two seasons, as UC struggled mightily down the stretch.  But this season, with a full stock of eager, unselfish (the Bearcats have twice topped 20 team assists this season already) employees who know how to play the game (just about everybody on the roster can shoot and handle the ball), the man who started it all can reap the benefits and stay fresh for the pivotal stretch run. 

If things go according to the business plan, Mick and Deonta will be able to take their company public in the form of an NCAA Tournament bid.  Enjoy the journey.  Next up, vs. Miami (OH) @ 5:30 PST on ESPN2.  Go ‘Cats.

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. 

There isn't enough to be said about the Cincinnati Bearcats. They began their 2009-10 campaign unranked, but with high expectations for a team that failed to make the dance last year.

They are currently playing with a 10 man rotation: three of them are freshman, two are sophomores, three are juniors, and two are seniors.

Cincinnati brings the perfect balance of leadership, experience, and youth. Head coach Mick Cronin has been at the helm since 2006. One thing he hasn't done yet: bring a team to the NCAA Tournament. Cronin had his first winning season with the Bearcats last year.

If its one thing that Cincinnati lacks, it's tournament experience. They've been decent on offense, but not good enough. If the Bearcats wants to make a statement this year, they are going to have to put up more points. On the otherside of the ball, they have been solid. They are a defensive ball team. Combine that with an improved offense and this team can is capable of a Big East championship. 

There is no question that Deonta Vaughn is the leader of this team. The senior led the Bearcats in scoring as freshman, he was first team all Big East as a sophomore, and last year he made all Big East for the third straight year. He provides leadership, experience, and scoring.

Cincinnati is blessed to have a player like this leading their team. Yancy Gates, Rashad Bishop, Lance Stephenson, and Cashmere Wright are the supporting cast. 

Gates, the 6-9 sophomore forward, gives Cincy good size on the block, as well as scoring and rebounding ability. He is a major cause for the buzz around the basketball program.

The 6-6 junior Rashad Bishop, provides a spark on the offensive end and has great size for his position. 

The number one high school basketball player last year, Lance Stephenson, is the key to this teams success. His athleticism and explosiveness on offense gives this team more of what they already have: size, athleticism, and youth. He is one of four starters averaging in double digits.

Cashmere Wright is an emotional leader for this Bearcats team. The red shirt freshman guard is a great athlete. His stats may not say much, but his speed and basketball IQ make him a key to this team. He allows Cincy to move Deonta Vaughn to the two guard, making him even more dangerous. 

6-0, 6-1, 6-5, 6-6, and 6-9. Cincinnati has great size. Although they lack a true center, they make up for it with the NBA style small forward in Lance Stephenson. At times, this team is capable of playing the four guard offense, similar to the 2006 Villanova Wildcats, who reached the Elite Eight. 

This is a very solid basketball team. Cincinnati almost has all the pieces to the puzzle. They lack tournament and winning experience, but after this year, the Bearcats will become a powerhouse in the Big East.

I believe that Cincy will be a contender this year, but I also think that they are a year or two away from making it onto the national map. With that being said, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bearcats earn a top seed (1-4) in the tourney this year. But in years to come, this team could possibly be in national championship talk. That is if Lance Stephenson will stick around.

The 2009-10 schedule gives Cincy plenty of opportunities to prove themselves. They've already won their first two games at the Maui Invite against two ranked opponents, Vanderbilt and Maryland. They are currently leading in the championship game against Gonzaga 45-39. They return home for a challenging game against Miami (OH) on December 10.

Followed by trips to Xavier and UAB, two very solid opponents. They schedule lightens up before their first Big East game against UConn on December 30.

After a date at Rutgers, Cincy will host Pitt on January 4. Three weeks later, they travel to Louisville on January 24.

The tough Big East schedule continues when they play Syracuse and UConn in the same week in February. Cincy concludes its season with three games that could potentially make or break their season.

February 27 at West Virginia, March 2 vs. Villanova, and March 6 at Georgetown. 

This is by no means an easy schedule. Here's a complete schedule .

If Cincy can make it out of the non-conference schedule unscaled, they will be in good shape headed into the rigorous Big East schedule. 

Now it's time to make some predictions:

Cincy will start this season 21-0 before losing to Notre Dame on the road. After their hot start, they will finish up the season 4-4, losing two of their last three to Villanova and Georgetown.

Cincy will be eliminated in the second round of the Big East tournament and earn a four seed to the dance, where the will be ousted in the second round.

This years team simply isn't ready to take their program to the next level, but I strongly believe that within the next few years they will make a sweet 16 or elite eight run. 

After all, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about this team. Keep a close eye on Cincy over the next few years—the program is developing rather fast.

In addition, Cincy has already signed an ESPNU top 100 player. Justin Jackson, rated a 93 on ESPN.com has signed with the Bearcats. The 6-8 power forward will join his teammate at Arlington Country Day School in Florida, Kelvin Gaines, the 19th best center in the nation according to ESPN.com. The 6-10 center is rated a 90 on ESPN.com, and could make an immediate impact upon his arrival at Cincinnati.

Rashad Bishop's 20-point, eight-board, five-assist night led the way for sweet-stroking Cincinnati in a 92-68 rout of the Toledo Rockets at Fifth Third Arena.

The game was much easier to watch than the opener on Monday night, a butt-ugly 69-62 win over Prairie View A&M. 

Freshman sensation Lance Stephenson showed glimpses of smoothness, finishing with 16 points (three dunks, two bombs) and a beautiful dish through Toledo's 2-3 zone to Bishop on the block that caused Kris Volpenhein to swiftly and immediately rewind his DVR to get another look. 

Cincinnati (2-0, 0-0) shot the ball extremely well tonight, finishing 52 percent from the field, thanks to a balanced attack and unselfish play. Two-time all-Big East guard Deonta Vaughn dished out nine assists, while the team finished with 27 assists on its 37 made field goals. 

Toledo (0-2, 0-0) had a couple of creamers of its own. Freshman guards Stephen Albrecht and Jake Barnett combined to knock down 15 of 26 from the field, including eight out of 13 triples.

Sophomore monster Yancy Gates laid down a nice Dr. Dre-type beat tonight. The 6'9" power forward began by nutting two 15-footers, one from the baseline and one from the top of the key. He then scored twice in the post on turnaround jumpers, one over each shoulder.

Larry Davis then found Yancy cutting down the lane in the second half for a giant two-hander plus the foul, as the big man finished with 14 points (6-of-8 FG), three swats, and four assists. 

All in all, you've got to think head coach Mick Cronin is happy with the first two games, in terms of teaching opportunities for his young team. UC struggled against PV A&M in the opener, mainly because of horrendous offense. Too much passing around the perimeter and chucking like George Costanza.

Tonight, the 'Cats got the ball inside, attacked the offensive glass, and shared the ball well. 

Cronin can't, however, be happy with his team's defense. Toledo shot 48 percent from the field tonight, including a ridiculous 11-of-21 from long range. 

That will need to be tightened up in a hurry, as Cronin's crew is now heading into the Maui Invitational next week. UC will take on dangerous Vanderbilt on Monday (2 PST, ESPN2) to begin the Hawaiian excursion. Go 'Cats. 

Box score

Juniors Larry Davis and Rashad Bishop kept colder-than-a-polar bear's-toenails-shooting Cincinnati afloat as the Bearcats clawed their way back from a 15-point deficit to Final Four contender Prairie View A&M, pulling away down the stretch for a less than comfortable 69-62 win at Fifth Third Arena. 

The game had the feel of an 'upset alert' NCAA Tournament game between the No. 2 and No. 15 seeds in the first round.  Through the first 15 minutes of the ballgame Cincinnati couldn't buy a shot (even a wide open dunk on the game's first play bricked off the back of the rim for Yancy Gates). 

Meanwhile, Prairie View A&M (representing the SWAC), was busy draining three-pointers and taking care of the ball.

The game seemed to turn late in the first half when Lance Stephenson, the highly touted freshman from Brooklyn, scored a tough leaner in traffic to cut the lead down to six points.  But, the Panthers banked in a jumper as the first half ended to take an eight-point lead into the locker room.

After a below average start to the second half, Mick finally found the defensive lineup he wanted with Deonta Vaughn, Larry Davis, Dion Dixon, Steve Toyloy, and Rashad Bishop, enabling the bricklaying Bearcats to hold A&M scoreless for over six minutes—until a gigantic, loud, "monstery" dunk-tip by Toyloy's replacement Yancy Gates, gave UC its first lead since 3-0. 

From there, senior Deonta Vaughn (15 pts, third all-time on the UC scoring list) and redshirt freshman Cashmere Wright (12 pts) led the Cats to the seven-point win in the season opener.  

As for Stephenson, it was a so-so college debut.  "Born Ready" did manage a few highlights, but his outside shot was vanquishing paint from the rim.  The freshman finished with just seven points on an icy 2-10 from the field. 

All things considered, we'll take the win.  It wasn't easy to watch, but we'll take it.  Mick Cronin's squad was applying massive pain to the rims and backboards, but UC was able to battle through adversity and a 15-point deficit to grind out a win. 

Mick has said many times that you've got to know how to win when the shots aren't falling if you're going to survive in the Big East.  I'm sure on some level the fiery head coach is glad the game was a close one versus a meaningless blowout, where the defensive stops aren't as critical.  

Game One.  It's early.  Let's get back to it Wednesday at home against Toledo.  The game will be at 7:30 PM EST, 6:30 PM PST, and 4:30 PM PST (or whenever you crack open an ice-cold green Rainier Ale and flip on the DVR) on FSN Cincinnati , the Big East Network , or possibly online.  Go 'Cats.

Box Score

Darnell Wilks and the no-longer-undermanned Cincinnati Bearcats shook off an early second half rut to pull away from Division II Saginaw Valley State, 86-58, in the first exhibition game of the 2009-10 season in front of over 6,000 excited fans at 5th Third Arena.

The game was mostly sloppy, which is not uncommon at the beginning of a season for a team with new faces.  Sophomore Yancy Gates, a 6'9" 260 pound beast, led UC with 16 points, including 6-6 from the foul line and a giant two-handed slam off of a full-court feed from freshman point guard Jaquon Parker. 

The real story was of course the much-anticipated debut of Lance "Born Ready" Stephenson, the all-time leading scorer in the rich history of New York high school hoops.  The media had speculated since Stephenson committed to Cincinnati that he may be subject to a suspension, due to assumed extra benefits received during his recruiting process. 

But, at about 2:20 this afternoon, Bearcat fans across the country were elated at the news that the 6'6" tank-guard would not miss any games.  I will just offer that it took all of my self control not to get up on top of my desk at work and jump up and down and pump my fist and yell.  It's about &$#@in' time, NCAA!

As for Lance's night on the floor, it wasn't the thirty point lightfest many fans expected.  Stephenson finished with nine points on 4-14 shooting, including 1-for-3 from downtown.  But, speaking as the voice of Bearcat fans everywhere, it was just great to see him in a UC uniform, playing basketball with Deonta Vaughn and Steve Toyloy and the rest of the crew.

Also, many of the shots Stephenson missed were right on line but just a touch strong, which means he was possibly a little too jacked up for the game.  Can't fault the kid for that.  All signs point to a big season from the 225-pound guard/forward.

And so, the season is underway.  For the first time in head coach Mick Cronin's four seasons at UC, he has a full thirteen scholarship players.  Included among the stable is redshirt freshman Cashmere Wright, who sat out last season with a torn ACL.  The year off may have cost Cash experience, but the rehab went well, resulting in a twenty pound weight gain and a four-inch increase in his vertical leap (from 33" to 37"!).  It was simply nice to see a true point guard in a Bearcat uniform tonight.  Wright finished with three points, seven assists, and just one turnover.

This looks like it should be an exciting season in Clifton.  And, for patient Bearcat fans everywhere, all of the frustration starting with the NCAA snub in 2006 and running through the past three undermanned, undersized, talent-lacking seasons should make the 2009-10 Cincinnati Bearcat quest that much more enjoyable. 

Let's all enjoy the journey.  May the destination be as follows:  Sit back in your chair, close your eyes, and imagine filling out your 2010 NCAA Tournament bracket.  "How far should I pick the Bearcats to go," you ask yourself. 

2008-2009 Record: 18-14, 8-10 Big East (t-9th)

Key Losses: Mike Williams (9.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Alvin Mitchell (6.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg)

Key Returners: Deonta Vaughn (15.3 ppg, 4.7 apg), Yancy Gates (10.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg), Dion Dixon (7.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg)

Newcomers: Lance Stephenson, Ibrahima Thomas, Cashmere Wright

Mick Cronin's 2009-2010 Bearcat team will be by far the most talented in his four years at Cincinnati.

It starts with senior Deonta Vaughn, a potential first round pick who just may be the best player in the Big East you've never heard of. Vaughn is an explosive scorer (15.7 ppg for his career) whose offense is based around his ability to hit the three.

When he gets hot, going for 30 is not an uncommon occurrence.

But he isn't just a shooter; Vaughn is able to put the ball on the floor and either get to the rim or draw an extra defender and find an open man.

Vaughn's numbers dipped quite a bit during his junior season (17.3 ppg to 15.3 ppg; 40% 3's to 34% 3's; 1.36 pps to 1.22 pps).

Thanks to an injury to Cashmere Wright, a freshman who was expected to start at the point, Vaughn was forced to play out-of-position. (He is much more effective as a scorer when he can play off the ball.)

The other issue was a lack of depth on the perimeter for opponents to fear. Every night, he would face defenses completely geared towards slowing him down.

That will change this year.

Not only is Wright returning from injury, but the Bearcats also added all-world recruit Lance Stephenson to the mix.

I know that Stephenson is a freshman, but already he is as talented a scorer as there is in the country: He's the all-time leader in points scored in the state of New York.

There may not be a more potent "1-2 punch" in the country, let alone in the Big East.

The Bearcats will also have a lot of back court depth, as juniors Larry Davis and Rashad Bishop, sophomore Dion Dixon, and freshman Sean Kilpatrick will compete for minutes.

As ridiculous as it may sound, Wright may be the most valuable of the three starting guards.

There really isn't another point guard on the Bearcat roster.

Sure, Vaughn can slide over and do a serviceable job, but having your senior leader playing out-of-position (especially on a team with this much talent) is less than ideal. Wright was a top 100 recruit before hurting his knee, but he will be entering this season with no college basketball experience after rehabbing a knee for a year.

While he will take a while to get back to his pre-injury form, the Bearcats will not need much more out of Wright than to avoid turnovers and get the ball to Stephenson and Vaughn in places where they can score.

Up front, Cincy will be strong as well.

Yancy Gates, a sophomore who entered Cincinnati with a lot of hype but had an up-and-down first season, could be headed for a breakout year. He is a load to handle on the block and when he goes to the glass hard, but he was incredibly inconsistent finishing in and around the basket.

The biggest issue is that Gates is a bit of a head case, allowing his emotions to get the best of him at times.

They do lose Mike Williams, a workhorse in the paint who decided not to apply for a fifth year of eligibility, but senior Steve Toyloy should be more than ready to fill his shoes.

The x-factors up front will be seven foot junior Anthony McClain and 6'11" transfer Ibrahima Thomas.

Thomas averaged 8.3 ppg and 3.9 rpg in seven games with Oklahoma State last year before deciding to transfer. He will be eligible to play after the fall semester ends, and his ability to hit shots from the perimeter could make him an excellent complement to Gates on the inside.

McClain has all the length in the world, but he has yet to prove he has the strength, coordination, and ability to be a significant factor at this level.

I foresee one major problem: Stephenson and Vaughn are both volume shooters, meaning they take a lot of shots.

Will there be enough shots for both of them?

Will Stephenson be able to defer to the senior Vaughn, or vice-versa if Stephenson turns out to be an All-American at this level?

If Gates continues to develop, will he be able to handle being the third or fourth option?

Outlook

With just Deonta Vaughn and Lance Stephenson on the roster, the Bearcats could probably make a run at the NCAA tournament.

If Cashmere Wright is healthy and effective, and Yancy Gates is a threat in the post, Cincinnati might be the third-best team in the Big East. I don't think a 25-win season and a trip to the Sweet 16 is out of the question if Stephenson and Vaughn are able to co-exist.

But with the number of volatile personalities on this roster, Mick Cronin will have his work cut out for him.

If you like what you read here, check out my blog Ballin' is a Habit or follow me on twitter @ballinisahabit. For the complete list of the BIAH 2009-2010 season preview, click here.

SLATS 78, SuperiorCars.com 77

Incoming UC scoring sensation and soon-to-be media circus, Lance Stevenson was in the building at Woodward High School on Saturday, but remained in street clothes and on the bench. Nonetheless, fans were treated by a scoring outpour from another UC recruit, Sean Kilpatrick,who dropped 40 points in a one-point game against Superior in the semifinal round of the Deveroes Summer League Playoffs.

Kilpatrick caught fire early, racking up 28 first-half points, and kept SLATS in the game despite a cold-shooting first half by point guard Dion Dixon and a generally lethargic first-half effort from the Oak Tree, Yancy Gates.

Superior started five Division I players---Dante Jackson (Xavier), Andre “Biggie” McLean (UC), Vince “Captain” Cook (Miami, OH), Jason Love (Xavier) and Deonta Vaughn (UC)---and looked like the better team for much of the game. But once Dixon settled down, and Gates woke up, SLATS gained the momentum late and edged out a great win.

The last two minutes was an intense, back-and-forth affair that saw Dante Jackson and his magical mustache drive hard for a basket plus the foul that put his team up five with 1:47 left.

With their backs against the wall, SLATS turned to outside shooting but from an unlikely source in center Yancy Gates who knocked down three second-half 3-pointers, including one in crunch-time to put his team up by one.

Superior reserve guard Armon Basset, hit a huge jumper to regain the lead by two points with under a minute to play, but then turned the ball over after a defensive stop on the next possession; a play that proved to seal their fate.

Kilpatrick then took the ball aggressively to the rim for the score and the foul and completed the three-point play, giving SLATS the lead.

Deonta Vaughn got off a good-looking three-point attempt with under five seconds left, but the shot rattled off and bounced out of bounds.

Observations:

Sean Kilpatrick flows with the game and puts up bunches of points naturally instead of dictating the pace and the ball like so many other players in this league. He moves very well without the ball and has a smooth, quick release that doesn't need much space to be effective. He plays solid face-up defense and rebounds well for a guard. Killa averaged 22.1 points for the season and was 20-51 from 3-point land.

Yancy Gates has shot from the outside almost exclusively in the last three games and has actually shown a bit of stroke from 18 feet and farther. It's unlikely Yancy will be encouraged to demonstrate this kind of shot selection during the college season, so he might as well show off his range in the DSL.

Dante Jackson plays some mean defense. Jackson disrupted Dixon in every facet of his game during the first half, and when he switched to Kilpatrick in the second, Killa appeared less deadly. Dante showed more intensity and seriousness than any other player that I've seen in this tournament. His shooting looks sharp and he clearly has the respect of his peers. I would look for Jackson and his Chris-Paul-stache to raise his game this upcoming season for X. Even Deonta Vaughn took a back seat to Jackson within the offense.

SLATS 89, Flessa 80

After watching the first round of the playoffs in the Deveroes Summer League, one thing is certain: winning matters to these guys.

Most of these players have an entire schedule of college basketball awaiting them in the fall. They will practice, play games and watch tape of basketball almost nonstop for the next six months or longer. Most people would be called obsessed if they did the same activity as much as these men play basketball. Yet here they are at Woodward High School on their free-time, balling on each other.

Then there are the local legends; the guys who once played somewhere most people have heard of and now dominate the YMCA league of their choosing. For some of these men, the DSL is their biggest stage, and it becomes their chance to finally shut these young punks up who think they’re better than everybody else.

The point is that when the game-clock ticks down, the intensity turns up. During that time, the lore and reputation of a player can wax and wane. Even though there is no money involved, the extra effort is given for the respect of ones peers—which has an interesting way of motivating people on its own.

On the car ride over, I expressed to a friend how I thought Dion Dixon was very average. Dion seemed to make hasty decisions, not do any one thing particularly well and complain a lot. On the car ride home, my opinion of him had been completely turnaround and I began wondering about him in the NBA. I’m easily impressed.

The initial intrigue of the match-up was the battle of the heavyweight centers. SLATS had the Oak Tree, Yancy Gates and his 18-foot shooting touch, while Flessa had the Human Snow-Cap, Kenny Frease and his crafty glass work. The two giants didn’t disappoint, each providing solid contributions to their team. But at the end of the night, it was Dion Dixon who made the difference.

With seven minutes left and his team down by two, Dixon decided he would take the ball to the rim every time until someone stopped him No one could stop him.

Team Flessa tried putting the tiny, but scrappy, Steve Steward on him and Dion out-muscled him. Flessa went with the scowling and barrel-chested, Paul “Mad Man” McMillan to defend him, and Dion zoomed past him. They tried the long, slender, cartoon-cat-like Darnell Wilkes who was out-muscled and zoomed past.

In that seven minutes, Dixon scored 16 points, including eight on free-throws to help his team win by nine. He showed a combination of strength, athleticism and sheer determination—particularly on defense— that proved I had severely underestimated him. He finished the game with 29 points and was 12-16 from the line. The term is thrown around a lot in the world of sports, but on this night, Dion was truly unstoppable.

SLATS as a team played good defense forcing Flessa into shooting 8-26 from 3-point territory. Explosive scorers Eddie Gray and Paul McMillan each shot poorly. McMillan missed multiple close range shots inside down the stretch and although he finished with 24 points, he seemed too irritated to get into rhythm. Gray bounced around and dazzled with his quickness and his ball-handling skills, but he hoisted three-pointers up from all over the court unable to find a spot he liked. He finished 3-12 from outside.

Aside from feeding Frease in the post, Flessa never worked a team offense into the game plan and relied on one-on-one match-ups for scoring. With Flessa’s veteran gunslingers, that philosophy normally suits them just fine, but sometimes a team needs more than that to beat a young, talented team like SLATS.

SLATS plays SuperiorCars.com in the semi-finals on Saturday,12:30pm, at Woodward High School.


Box Score:

SLATS vs JOHN H. FLESSA LAW OFFICE (07/22/09 at Woodward High School)

Official Basketball Box Score
SLATS vs JOHN H. FLESSA LAW OFFICE
07/22/09 7:30 p.m. at Woodward High School

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VISITORS: SLATS
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
04 STEFANOU, Steve..... f 2-4 1-1 0-0 1 3 4 1 5 3 2 0 0 20
24 GATES, Yancy........ f 10-21 1-2 1-2 6 7 13 2 22 3 0 0 0 32
01 McBRIDE, Anthony.... g 6-12 0-2 2-2 1 4 5 2 14 0 0 0 1 32
03 DIXON, Dion......... g 8-17 1-6 12-16 2 4 6 3 29 4 4 2 1 32
23 KILPATRICK, Sean.... g 8-13 1-5 2-2 3 3 6 0 19 3 3 0 1 32
14 ALUISE, Mike........ 0-2 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 12
TEAM................ 1 3 4 1
Totals.............. 34-69 4-17 17-22 14 25 39 8 89 14 10 2 3 160

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 16-41 39.0% 2nd Half: 18-28 64.3% Game: 49.3% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-11 18.2% 2nd Half: 2-6 33.3% Game: 23.5% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 3-5 60.0% 2nd Half: 14-17 82.4% Game: 77.3% 1


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HOME TEAM: JOHN H. FLESSA LAW OFFICE
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
22 FREASE, Kenny....... f 8-11 0-1 2-2 1 10 11 0 18 2 4 2 0 27
23 WILKES, Darnell..... f 1-2 0-0 0-0 1 3 4 4 2 2 0 1 0 21
24 McMILLAN, Paul...... f 9-19 2-4 4-5 5 4 9 2 24 0 4 0 0 26
05 STEWARD, Steve...... g 3-7 0-0 2-2 1 1 2 3 8 1 0 0 2 24
11 BYRD, DeAndre....... g 5-16 3-9 0-0 3 1 4 2 13 3 4 0 0 30
01 GRAY, Eddie......... 5-15 3-12 0-0 2 2 4 2 13 4 0 0 1 24
04 JACKSON, Joe........ 1-3 0-0 0-0 2 2 4 1 2 1 1 0 0 8
TEAM................ 2 2 4
Totals.............. 32-73 8-26 8-9 17 25 42 14 80 13 13 3 3 160

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 17-36 47.2% 2nd Half: 15-37 40.5% Game: 43.8% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 5-14 35.7% 2nd Half: 3-12 25.0% Game: 30.8% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 5-6 83.3% 2nd Half: 3-3 100 % Game: 88.9% 0


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Officials:
Technical fouls: SLATS-None. JOHN H. FLESSA LAW OFFICE-None.
Attendance:
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
SLATS......................... 37 52 - 89
JOHN H. FLESSA LAW OFFICE..... 44 36 - 80