Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Miami Redhawks Basketball

Posted on 11. Dec, 2009 by Corey in All, NCAA Basketball.

For the past decade or so, the University of Cincinnati Men’s Basketball team has moved a regular season home game a few miles down the road to the US Bank Arena, in downtown Cincinnati.  They have had great success there, beating Miami (OH) University Redhawks last night for their 15th straight win at Bank.  The Bearcats have also won two Conference USA Tournament Championships downtown during this run.

The ‘Cats looked sluggish at times, but out fought the Redhawks for a 63-59 victory, led by Freshman Lance Stevenson and his career high 17 points.   This was my first live look at the Stevenson and the Bearcats, and I left quite impressed by Stevenson. He seemed very athletic and has a great sense and knack for the game.

Lots of talk before, during, and after this game was about Brian Kelly and his decision to leave the UC Football team for a similar job at Notre Dame.  It appeared some fans were more interested in this topic then the game in front of them, leading to a very quite and low key atmosphere.

The Bearcats next opponent is crosstown rival Xavier on Sunday night from the Cintas Center.  I am happy to say that my consecutive streak of attending shootouts will continue as my buddy John has hooked me up with tickets for my dad and I to attend.  As well as I can remember, this will be my 16th or so straight time watching UC-XU live.

I have always liked US Bank Arena, and have never lost a game in it, but it need some renovations.  The concourses are dull and the luxury suites are very high.  I would have to dig around to find my old pics, but the locker rooms are nothing special either.  Don’t get me started on parking and the costs!

One of the coolest thing to me at US Bank Arena is the floor that is used for basketball games.  This floor was purchased from the University of Cincinnati and use to be in the Shoemaker Center. I close my eyes and think about the great players from the Kenyon Martin era on and how many wins were accomplished on this floor.

Pictured above are three of my favorite media members.  From right to left is Mo Egger, Dan Hoard, and Chuck Machock, all working for 700 WLW to cover all Bearcat Basketball games.  Can’t say enough about these three, as they have all been there a long time and were great to me during my days at UC.

Always a pleasure to see Charlie Coles on the Miami sideline.   It is still nice to be able to look down at the UC bench and still some good friends leading the ‘Cats.  Standing behind the bench in the white polo shirt is my buddy and manager Bobby Garfield.  A few seats down from him is Mark Berger, who started as a manager with me many years ago and also has several years as a head and assistant college coach.  On the front row of the bench are medical staff members Dave Fluker and Ken Stephens.   Also good friend of mine Chris Goggin is the director of basketball operations, the job I held several years back.  And of course Head Basketball Coach Mic Cronin who was an assistant on the staff with Coach Huggins when I began.