Cincinnati pads NCAA resume
CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin took the courtside microphone and thanked the crowd for its raucous support on Senior Night and throughout the season.
"We'll see you in New York," Cronin said, referring to the Big East Tournament. "Then in the NCAA Tournament."
With a double-digit win Wednesday night, the Bearcats are a little closer to getting in the field of 68.
JaQuon Parker scored a career-high 28 points in a take-it-to-the-hoop attack that led Cincinnati to a 72-61 win over No. 8 Marquette and improved the Bearcats' NCAA Tournament chances.
The Bearcats (21-9, 11-6) have won six of their last eight, including home victories over then-No. 17 Louisville and Marquette (24-6, 13-4). This was among their best victories of the season, a solid showing from start to finish.
"You couldn't have asked for more," senior power forward Yancy Gates said. "We all played great. Everyone did what they had to do to get a win."
The Golden Eagles had won five straight, including a 95-78 drubbing of Cincinnati in Milwaukee on Feb. 11. The Bearcats were staggered by that one, by far their most lopsided loss of the season.
The rematch was a total reversal.
Cincinnati repeatedly drove through Marquette's defense for layups, with Parker leading the way. Dion Dixon added 21 points for the Bearcats. Cincinnati's front line dominated with nine blocks, including seven by Justin Jackson.
With Marquette clamping down on Cincinnati's 3-point shooters, the Bearcats' guards found plenty of room to drive to the basket.
"They denied the (outside), so it would be just me and my man," said Parker, who scored the most points by a Cincinnati player this season. "That was the game plan. It was going to be one-on-one the whole time, so we were just going to take it to the basket."
Darius Johnson-Odom scored 18 points, and Jae Crowder added 17 points and 12 rebounds for Marquette, which never got the lead under double digits in the second half.
The Golden Eagles get a lot of points in transition, but forced only seven turnovers.
"We never got started on offense or defense," Crowder said. "It was tough to get into a rhythm. For a long time, we couldn't get any defensive stops."
Instead, the Golden Eagles were the ones trying to catch up. Cincinnati scored 19 fast-break points, repeatedly pushing the tempo after a rebound or steal.
"That was the most points we've given up in transition over the last four years," Marquette coach Buzz Williams said. "I thought they were superb in transition."
Cincinnati improved to 5-3 against ranked teams this season. It was Cincinnati's most lopsided win over a top 10 opponent since it beat No. 4 Louisville 101-80 on Feb. 22, 2003.
around the nation
TAR HEELS ROLL -- At Chapel Hill, N.C., Tyler Zeller had 30 points in his final home game to help No. 6 North Carolina (26-4, 13-2 Atlantic Coast) to an 88-64 win over Maryland (16-13, 6-9). John Henson added 19 points for the Tar Heels, who set up a meeting with No. 4 Duke on Saturday to determine the league's regular-season champion.
MIZZOU LOCKS UP NO. 2 SEED -- At Columbia, Mo., Michael Dixon scored 21 points to lead five players in double figures and seventh-ranked Missouri (26-4, 13-4) clinched the No. 2 seed in the Big 12 Tournament with a 78-72 victory over Iowa State. Royce White led the Cyclones (21-9, 11-6) with 20 points and nine assists.
BUCKEYES SURVIVE -- At Evanston, Ill., Jared Sullinger banked in a turnaround shot with 3.1 seconds left, and No. 10 Ohio State (24-6, 12-5 Big Ten) recovered after squandering a 13-point second-half lead to beat Northwestern, 75-73. Sullinger finished with 22 points and 18 rebounds for the Buckeyes, who can tie for the conference title if they win at No. 5 Michigan State on Sunday. Drew Crawford scored 23 points for the Wildcats (17-12, 7-10).
BULLS UPSET LOUISVILLE -- At Louisville, Ky., Jawanza Poland scored 16 points and South Florida (19-11, 12-5 Big East) got the signature win it desperately sought for its NCAA Tournament resume, beating No. 19 Louisville, 58-51. Seniors Kyle Kuric and Chris Smith scored 14 points each for the Cardinals (22-8, 10-7).
OWLS CLINCH TOP SEED IN A-10 -- At Philadelphia, Khalif Wyatt scored 26 points, including the winning layup in the final seconds of overtime, to help No. 23 Temple (23-6, 12-3) clinch the top seed in the Atlantic 10 Tournament with a 90-88 win over Massachusetts (19-10, 8-7).
