Thanks for the loyalty, Butch! ...Butch?...Hello?

The Bearcats outlived the Boilers...

Then the Buffaloes...

All was clear and happy yesterday, Butch belonged to Cincinnati for good.

And with one swift, unexpected twist this morning, he's gone, moving to the SEC to coach the Tennessee Volunteers. 

Jones took this reporter by surprise, as I thought the dust had settled and UC marked up a victory amid the hit of ACC rejection.

I was wrong. Butch is gone. 

Wow.

No three-peat for UC coaching exits

As the holiday season approaches, I bring you tidings of great joy, Cincinnati: Butch Jones is still a Bearcat.

A story that dragged on for days, UC's football coach withdrew his name from consideration for the Colorado job today, after the Denver Post reported Wednesday that he he had accepted the position.

After the Post's announcement, Jones denied the claims, reportedly turning down $13.5 million over five years with the Buffaloes.

According to Cincinnati.com, if Jones had decided to leave, he would have been the third coach in a row to leave UC after three years (Mark Dantonio to Michigan State after 2006 season, then Brian Kelly to Notre Dame after 2009 season).

UC is 23-14 under Jones after three years and is scheduled to play Duke in the Belk Bowl on Dec. 27 in Charlotte.

The UC athletic department is currently in talks with Jones about redoing his contract. Last season, they extended his existing contract through 2017 after he reportedly turned down offers from Illinois, North Carolina, and UCLA, according to Cincinnati.com.

Butch, Bearcats, Boilers, and Buffaloes

Amid the conference-realignment issues for UC, a bright spot for the football program and the university appeared in the Twitter realm today.

This if from Tom Dienhart, @BTNTomDienhart, of Big Ten Network:

Tom Dienhart ‏@BTNTomDienhart

A source close to Butch Jones just told me that the Cincinnati coach is NOT going to #Purdue. Jones also has an offer from Colorado.

Cincinnati, for now, doesn't have to relive the Brian Kelly departure of 2010, accepting the Notre Dame head coaching job after posting a perfect regular season with the Bearcats and earning a BCS bowl bid against Florida in the Sugar Bowl.

However, don't think Jones isn't packing his bags just yet: rumors also are circulating about an offer from Colorado. 

Yahoo! Sports reported today that Jones arrived in Colorado for lengthy talks about becoming the Buffaloes new head coach. Reportedly, Jones received an offer for a five-year, $2.5 million contract with yearly incentives.

Fortunately for the Bearcats, Colorado is not exactly an attractive option for coaches. The school gives relatively little support to athletics, and is quick to pull the plug on a coach if exceptional results are not yielded immediately. This is hardly the climate for a coach to come in and rebuild a program, especially when so beloved in Cincinnati. Also, Jones is a Midwest coach without any known recruiting ties to the Texas/Colorado areas where the Buffaloes draw most of their players. Entering the Pac-12 would be an entirely new challenge as well, raising the question as to why Colorado is so interested in Jones as a serious candidate in the first place.

Jones is expected to announce his decision today. Jones is currently (1 p.m.) participating in a press conference discussing the Belk Bowl matchup against Duke, but Cincinnati.com reports he will not be revealing his final decision in his talk.

Champs all around

UC Bearcats

UC 34, UConn 17

With the win, Cincinnati (9-3) earns a piece of the four-way split league title, along with Louisville, Rutgers, and Syracuse, all which ended the season with 5-2 Big East records. Because the Bearcats' two conference losses came against the Cardinals and Scarlet Knights, they did not earn a BCS berth and today accepted a bid to play Dec. 27 in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. They will face an ACC opponent to be named later. The bigger concerns for UC fans, however, should be the conference-realignment situation that has left UC in the dark, and the courting of coach Butch Jones by Purdue.

Archbishop Moeller Crusaders

Moeller 20, Toledo Whitmer 12

Big Moe won its eighth state championship in school history, returning the Division I title to Cincinnati.  The game was played a the National Football Hall of Fame's Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Moeller (12-3) lost three games in a five game stretch during the season, but rebounded to end the year with a six-game winning streak. Whitmer (14-1) entered the game averaging 43.9 points per game and had outscored its previous four postseason opponents 178-78, according to Cincinnati.com

Newport Central Catholic

NewCath 30, Caldwell County 26

Across the river, Newport Central Catholic hoisted the Class 2A Kentucky State Championship trophy after a last second touchdown lifted them to victory.  NewCath threw a 54-yard pass to gain the necessary field position, then senior quarterback Josh Cain connected with junior receiver Tyler Lyon for a 4-yard touchdown pass with 26 seconds remaining in the game.

Bearcats: ACC or bust?

In the tumultuous landscape that is conference realignment, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats are now in the hunt for a new home.

UC, in an effort to beat fellow Big East members Louisville and UConn, lobbied yesterday for a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference.  The ACC, however, announced that Louisville will replace Maryland in 2014, not Cincinnati.

According to Cincinnati.com, UC athletic director Whit Babcock tried to sell the Bearcats' appeal to the ACC over the Cardinals, pitching the larger television market and the nearly $400 million in research the university attracts every year. Louisville won out, however, with newer facilities like Papa John's Cardinal Stadium for football, the KFC Yum Center for basketball, and the national stage set by Rick Patino and the Cardinals' basketball team.

In the immediate future, the Bearcats are the losers and the Cards then winners. Joining the ACC would  more than triple UC's television revenue in the Big East of about $6.7 million per year, according to Cincinnati.com.

The Cardinals fit the traditional ACC mold--good at basketball, bad at football--but members of their new conference are already finding new homes, such as Maryland. Some critics believe Louisville is leaving a dead conference for a dying one, with the future uncertain for many schools.

The ACC will add a total of four schools in 2013, including Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Notre Dame in all sports except football, fencing, and ice hockey.

For UC, the need to get out of the Big East is obvious. The announcement that Tulane will become a Big East member in 2014 seemed to spell the funeral for the conference's relevancy, along with newly admitted Houston, SMU, Memphis, UCF, and Temple. The Big East also adds the football teams of Boise State, San Diego State, East Carolina, and Navy. Teams that have already begun the exodus from the Big East include Notre Dame, Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse to the ACC, and Rutgers to the Big Ten. UConn, too, is trying to escape the sinking ship of a progressively mid-major conference.

For the UC football team to remain successful, the basketball team to remain relevant, and the university's athletic infrastructure to remain afloat, a move must be made and made quickly before more spots are filled, with the Cardinals' win a prime example. Where UC athletics will find its next home, however, remains a mystery. The ACC would seem the best fit for the school, but an invitation may not come soon or easily. The Big Ten would be a stretch, as Cincinnati does not necessarily fit the mold of many Big Ten powerhouses, such as Indiana, Michigan, or Ohio State--but, then again, neither does Maryland or Rutgers. Wherever the Bearcats move, it is in the best interest of the school not to settle for a mid-major conference like the Atlantic 10, as the revenue levels there are not sufficient enough to allow such a large school to remain competitive nationally.

The No. 1 college sports state is only 20 minutes from downtown Cincy

Very rarely do I overstep the state line in the Queen City Sport Report, but today calls for an exception. The sometimes forgotten third of our Tri-State, Indiana is currently at the top of the sports world.           

           

On Saturday, surrounded by friends and family clad in blue and gold, I threw my hands in the air after the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated USC and secured their place in the BCS National Championship. Ranked first in the nation with a Heisman hopeful in Manti Te’o, the loyal sons marched onward to victory.

            

The following day, as I sat on my couch recovering from post-Thanksgiving turkey coma, I saw senior guard Jordan Hulls honored before a full Assembly Hall, scoring 1,000^th career point as a Hoosier. Hulls then recorded 17 points in the game against Ball State University, leading the Hoosiers to a 101-53 rout of the Cardinals. The preseason Player of the Year, Cody Zeller, posted 15 points and eight rebounds in the win for the number one ranked team in the country.

           

 After watching the number one in college football and the number one in college basketball coast to victories, a realization came over me: I may be living the peak of Indiana athletics. Is this the greatest sports era ever in the state? Could it be? The Hoosiers basketball team and Irish football team have never won a championship in the same season, but that is a high possibility this year. (It should be noted that IU won a title in 1976, followed by a Notre Dame football championship in 1977, and the same thing in 1987 and 1988).

            

Before anyone becomes upset by the claim of Indiana greatness just because the Hoosiers and Irish both sit atop the polls, let me expand on the state’s recent achievements. In the first season without Manning in Indianapolis, the Colts are exceeding the expectations of analysts, fans, and quite possibly, even the players. The men in blue, rallying behind the cry of “CHUCKSTRONG,” are in 7-4 and currently sit in top AFC Wild Card position. If the season ended with last week’s games, Luck and the Colts would be travelling to Denver to challenge the city’s lost hero.

            

Less advertised but more successful than the Colts are the Indiana Fever, the WNBA team that won its first title in October. Tamika Catchings received the Finals MVP award, scoring 25 points in the 87-78 win over the Minnesota Lynx to secure the championship.

            

On another Indianapolis court, the Butler Bulldogs are already showing Cinderella signs, knocking off Marquette and number nine ranked North Carolina in the Maui Invitational. Brad Stevens’ squad fell to Illinois in the tournament’s championship game, but plays like Rotnei Clarke’s buzzer-beating three-pointer grabbed the attention of the nation.

            

Even on the pitch, the Hoosier state is showing that Indiana sports are a force to reckon with. The Notre Dame men’s soccer team entered the NCAA tournament as the number one seed. Unfortunately for the Irish faithful, the side fell 2-1 in the third round on Nov. 25…to the Indiana Hoosiers.

            

Obviously there are exceptions to the Indiana dominance (the Pacers aren’t living up to preseason expectations thus far), but glancing at NCAA Division I rankings in all major sports, there is at least one Indiana school in every Top 25.

            

As football season closes and basketball season begins, I will try to drink in these precious moments, a time where the best teams in the country call Indiana home. As a Hoosier, the year 2013 has the opportunity to bring ultimate glory or brutal heartbreak. Such is the life when you’re on top of the sports world.

Thankful for Cincinnati sports

As we gather around with friends and family this Thanksgiving, football isn't the only sport in Cincinnati to be excited about. Plenty of college basketball games tip off in the Tri-State, with enough holiday cheer to go around.

Miami RedHawks -- Basketball

11/21 @ William & Mary, 7:00 p.m.
11/24 vs. James Madison, 12:00 p.m.

Xavier Musketeers -- Basketball

11/22 vs. Pacific, 11:00 a.m. PT, in Anaheim, Cal. (DirectTV Classic)

UC Bearcats -- Basketball

11/23 vs. Iowa State, 6:30 p.m. in Las Vegas, Nev. (Global Sports Invitational)

11/24 vs. Oregon or UNLV, TBA in Las Vegas, Nev. (Global Sports Invitational)

UC Bearcats -- Football

11/23 vs. South Florida, 7:00 p.m.

Miami RedHawks -- Football

11/23 vs. Ball State, 1:00 p.m.

Cincinnati Bengals

11/25 vs. Oakland Raiders, 1:00 p.m.

Xavier vs. Indiana -- NCAA men's soccer

A team with lesser coverage in the Cincinnati sports market, the Xavier University men’s soccer team did something today no other Musketeer squad has done before it: play in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Xavier fell 4-1 to Indiana today in Bloomington, but the score doesn’t truly reflect the way the game was played.  The Musketeers fought hard the first half to find the back of he net, tying the score at 1-1 with the No. 16 ranked Hoosiers. The tie would finally break with just 10 minutes left in the 90-minute match, with an Indiana goal that deflated any Xavier hope. The next few minutes, mainly garbage time, led to a few extra finishes past the defeated Musketeers.

To even be in this situation, for Xavier and Cincinnati soccer in general, is the more impressive feat.  This is the first time that Xavier represented the Atlantic-10 conference as the champions, with coach Andy Flemming turning the program into something the city can be proud of. The team of young men fields a GPA of over 3.0, impressive in NCAA Division I athletics.

Xavier played the role of little fish in a big pond by making it to the Big Dance, but they did so in a way that the school, the fans, the city, and the sport can be proud.

Weekend preview: 11/16-11/18

Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ UC Bearcats -- Football

Kickoff: 11/17, noon

UC: 7-2 (3-1 Big East), on a two-game winning streak

Rutgers: 8-1 (4-0 Big East), lost first game three weeks ago against Kent State

Game notes: With three Big East games left, Rutgers sits atop the conference and could be dethroned with a Cincinnati upset. The Bearcats currently sit in third place in the Big East behind 4-1 Louisville, who are on bye this week.

Robert Morris Colonials @ Xavier Musketeers -- Basketball

Tip-off: 11/17, 2 p.m.

Xavier: 2-0

Robert Morris: 1-2, big losses to the Rider Broncos on 11/9 and the Lehigh Mountain Hawks on Nov. 12, but defeated Fordham (an Atlantic 10 team, same conference as Xavier) 74-58 on 11/13.

Game notes: After handing it to Butler on Tuesday, most Muskie fans are probably overlooking this game. The Colonials got off to a rocky start, but a win against an A-10 team, even a basement A-10 team, tells Coach Chris Mack and Xavier that Robert Morris is quite capable of the upset.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Kansas City Chiefs

Kickoff: 11/18, 1 p.m.

Cincinnati: 4-5 (1-3 in AFC North, 3rd place)

Kansas City: 1-8 (0-6 in AFC West, last place)

Game notes: If ever there was a should, must, have-to-for-the-sake-of-our-dignity win for Cincinnati, it's against the Chiefs this weekend. Don't get too cocky, though, as the Chiefs almost pulled off the upset against the Steelers at Heinz Field last week, showing they're a team desperate for a win. The Chiefs turn the ball over like crazy, so look for the Bengals' defense to make some big plays with Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel under center.

North Carolina A&T Aggies @ #24 UC Bearcats -- Basketball

Tip-off: 11/18, 2 p.m.

UC: 2-0

North Carolina A&T: 1-1, plays Wright State on 11/16, lost 64-55 to Utah Valley on 11/12

Game notes: Another "tune-up game" for the Bearcats, UC shouldn't struggle much against a team who lost by nine to the mighty Wolverines--the Utah Valley Wolverines, that is.

Miami RedHawks @ #2 Louisville Cardinals -- Basketball

Tip-off: 11/18, 4 p.m.

Miami: 1-1, lost to #6 North Carolina State on 11/9, then defeated Grambling State 80-54 on 11/13.

Game notes: Should be a blowout in the 'Ville, but you never know. May just be worth a watch.

In Todd we trusted

It's gone.

The last hope for Cincinnati, the one silver lining the city has hung on to for over a month, is no longer within grasp.

Todd Frazier, you did what you could.

No World Series. No Cy Young, not even a Gold Glove for Brandon Phillips. But at least there was this, the NL Rookie of the Year. The Reds had a true, likable hero, a rising star who could show the media hype that Cincy had been left in the dark.

With one last swift kick while we're down, the NL Rookie of the Year is gone, landing somewhere between Maryland and Virginia, with a cocky outfielder who's name ESPN sang from day one of the season.

Frazier, we're still proud of you.

And for good reason.

Let's compare the Toddfather's numbers to "The Chosen One," Bryce Harper. First off, Harper recorded 132 more plate appearances than Frazier as a regular starter. In that time, he put 22 over the fence--Frazier hit 19 home runs, again in 132 less at-bats. RBIs? Frazier posted 67 to Harper's 57 in, may I remind you once again, 132 less plate-appearances.

To be fair, Harper recorded 98 runs to Frazier's 55--on a team that drove in runs on a much more consistent basis than the LOB kings in Cincinnati. And, Harper recorded 18 steals to Frazier's three.

Other categories in which Frazier ousted Harper include, but are not limited to: batting average (.273 vs. .270), slugging percentage (.498 vs. .477), BABIP (.316 vs. .310), wOBA (.354 vs. .352), and ISO (.255 vs. .206). Also, let us not forget that Frazier played first, third, and outfield at various times when needed for injury purposes.

Categories where Frazier fell just shy of Harper? On-base percentage (.331 vs. .340), walk percentage (7.7% to 9.4%), strikeout percentage (22.2% vs. 20.1%), and wRC+ (120 vs. 121).

To many, the all-inclusive WAR proved to tip the scales, with Harper securing 4.9 wins for the Nationals to Frazier's 2.8 for the Reds.

Oh, and one more category where Bryce crushed Todd: media attention. This is a rough estimate, my own observation you might say. Harper's name was basically mentioned on ESPN's Baseball Tonight every single day.

Frazier? Frazier who?

Doesn't a 19-year-old phenom make for a better RoY story than a 26-year-old Brooklyn guy?

Unfortunately, it does, whether the stats disagree or not.

But cheer up, Cincinnati. Look at the bright side. Next year, the Reds will have Frazier playing third, and if he wins NL MVP, maybe, just maybe, the nation will recognize his name.

Two-minute drill

Ah, November. College basketball began this week, and football is well under way. Here is the two-minute recap of sports action in the Queen City this weekend.

UC Bearcats -- Football

Cincinnati 34, Temple 10

The Bearcats travelled to Philadelphia and destroy the Owls, with red-shirt senior quarterback Brandon Kay making his first career start. Kay went 13-21 passing with 244 yards and a pair of touchdowns. 

Miami RedHawks -- Football

Kent State 48, Miami 32

Oxford experienced its first home loss of the season, but experienced Zach Dysert's 455-performance moved him to 26th on the NCAA all-time passing yards list.

Xavier Musketeers -- Basketball

Xavier 117, Farleigh Dickinson 75

The Musketeers hosted the Knights in their season opener, with sophomore guard Dee Davis setting career highs in points (22) and assists (15). Seven Xavier players finished with double-digit points.

Miami RedHawks -- Basketball

N.C. State 97, Miami 59

Traveling to Raleigh for the first game of the John Cooper era, the RedHawks fell to #6 N.C. State. Junior guard Allen Roberts led Miami in scoring with 16. 

UC Bearcats -- Basketball

Cincinnati 80, Tennessee-Martin 57

Senior guard Cashmere Wright led the Bearcats in the season opener with 16 points, four rebounds, and three assists.

Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati 31, New York Giants 13

In quite possibly the biggest shock of the Sunday, the Bengals took down the world champion Giants a week after Pittsburgh did the same. Andy Dalton threw four touchdown passes with 199 yards, while Eli Manning threw for no touchdowns and 215 yards. The Bengals are now 4-5 and remain in third place in the AFC North.

Get Wells soon

After being expelled from Xavier University this past summer amid sexual assault charges, Dez Wells has been cleared by the NCAA to play immediately for the Maryland Terrapins.  The charges, brought upon Wells by the Xavier University Conduct Board, were thrown out by the Ohio grand jury upon review.  The grand jury strongly suggested Xavier revisit Wells' fate, calling its investigation procedure "severely flawed," but the university stood by its decision.

Following the expulsion, Wells transferred to the University of Maryland, filing with the NCAA for a waiver that would dismiss him from sitting out a season, a general requirement for most transfers. His first request for the waiver was denied, but the NCAA Division I Legislative Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief overturned the decision on Nov. 8.

It is difficult to believe that the NCAA so willingly overturned their own decision, especially amidst the murky situation Wells left in Cincinnati. But, perhaps the NCAA Subcommittee saw the same thing the Ohio grand jury did; maybe this was enough to provide for the unusual circumstances. There is no way to know exactly what went down in allowing Wells to suit up for the Terps this season, but it is clear that some type of justification, be it pity or the right thing to do, went through the minds of the subcommittee.

Previews in the paint: Miami

It's the dream of every retiring coach to go out on a high note.

For Charlie Coles, the 2011-2012 was more about injuries than wins, a finish no coach dreams of. The RedHawks went a dismal 9-21 in Coles' 16th season as Miami's coach, the school's worst single-season win percentage since 1969-70. 

Despite the brutal record, Coles, 70 years old, still left a winner.  He finished as Miami's all-time leader in wins with 263, as well as the MAC's all-time victory leader with 218, some of that time spent at Central Michigan.

With Coles enjoying retirement, John Cooper will lead the RedHawks after leading a program revival at Tennessee State University, ending the school's streak of 15 straight losing seasons.  Coopers' Tiger squad was the only team to beat Murray State in the regular season and lost by just two points in the Ohio Valley championship game.

Cooper inherits an interesting squad, to say the least.  Last season's All-MAC forward Julian Mavunga, who led the RedHawks in every statistical category except 3-pointers and steals, has graduated.  The second-leading scorer, then freshman guard Brian Sullivan, transferred to Davidson following Cooper's arrival in Oxford.

That leaves an obvious hole in the Miami offense, but some veterans are ready to fill them.  Bill Edwards, who was injured last season, should be good to go.  He started strong last season with a 14 point, 10 rebound game against Dayton and a 21 point, eight rebound game against Xavier.  After seven games though, he underwent season-ending surgery on his wrist.  The RedHawks will rely on his health for their front-court game this season.

Also a 2011-2012 injured player, redshirt junior guard Allen Roberts will return to the RedHawks' lineup.  In his sophomore season, Roberts averaged 7.9 points in 24 minutes per game.

Charlie Coles' influence will remain at Miami in several ways, especially in the scheduling. Loving to prepare for the MAC season with a loaded non-conference schedule, the RedHawks will meet #3 Louisville, #6 NC State, and Dayton. While that may not help a coach in his inaugural season, Miami could prove to be a surprise in the MAC. In the MAC East Division preseason poll, though, the RedHawks are predicted to finish last.

Really?

Coach Lewis,

This week, you took the time to tell the world that,

“We're looking for our quarterback and our middle linebacker to take hold of our football team. I think both guys are such good people, that you got to be a little bit of a dick.”

Really?

Today, the Bengals got beat by a team that is led, not by a d***, but by a hard-working, philanthropic quarterback.

You have the benefit of having a truly nice guy, and a fairly good young quarterback in his second season, in Andy Dalton, and you ask him to be a d***?

What kind of coach asks this of his players, his leaders on the team? What kind of example are you trying to set, not only among your own ranks, but among the youth and high school football leagues of Cincinnati?

I am appalled.

Today, Peyton Manning took care of business, and he did so with class.

I suggest you learn from his composure.

Previews in the paint: Xavier Musketeers

After a season filled with ups (#8 national ranking at one point) and downs (the brawl to end them all in the Crosstown Shootout), the Musketeers are entering what many might call a "rebuilding year," basically a euphemism for "Just don't embarrass us, please."

Coach Mack loses Tu Holloway and Kenny Frease to graduation, Mark Lyons to Arizona, and Dezmine Wells to sexual assault charges. That's 77.5 percent of Xavier's scoring, 69.1 percent of its rebounding, 85.0 percent of its assists, 76.6 percent of its made field goals, and 69.4 percent of the team's total minutes played.

How does a program recover from such a purging?

Coach Mack says that the squad will have to move away from relying on the few and focus more on the unit.

Transfer Isaiah Philmore and freshman Semaj Christon will bring fresh talent to the Musketeers' squad, but three veterans still remain in Cincinnati. Guard Brad Redford (3.3 ppg, 11.4 mpg), forward Jeff Robinson (3.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg), and forward Travis Taylor (4.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg) will have to build the team's core. Redmond is considered one of the best pure shooters in the country, but the former Mr. Basketball in Michigan only played seven scoreless minutes in Xavier's three NCAA tournament games last season.

Taylor showed great play during non-conference matchups last year, but was largely irrelevant in the A-10 season (6.8 ppg and 6 rebounds against non-conference teams, a tough schedule for Xavier, but only 4.2 and 2.9 in the A-10).

Xavier's extreme loss of talent makes Philmore's arrival the brightest spot of the 2012-2013 campaign.  Transferring from Townson University in Maryland, he lead the Tigers in scoring with 15.3 ppg and was second in rebounding (7.0 rpg) as a sophomore.  Standing at six feet, eight inches, Philmore will earn minutes quickly because of his ability to create mismatches.

Semaj Christian is a local player who many feel should step in and run the point, but Mack seems determined that sophomore Dee Davis will control Xavier's backcourt.

Given the rebuilding job ahead, the always tough non-conference schedule (Butler, a non-conference game schedule before the move to the A-10, Cincinnati, Purdue, Wake Forest, and Tennessee, among others this season) is not going to play in the Musketeers' favor.

This is the first season in some time that Xavier fans will not have a star to entrust with the game: no Tu Holloway, no Jordan Crawford, not Derrick Brown, etc. The Atlantic-10 is stronger than ever, and it is likely Xavier will find a home in the middle of the pack. 

Despite all the challenges ahead, it's important to remember that Xavier has found a way into the NCAA Tournament 11 time in the past 12 years.

Previews in the paint: UC Bearcats

Ladies and gentlemen, we are just 10 days away from the silver lining of a Cincinnati winter: college basketball. The Musketeers tip off against Farleigh Dickinson at home on Nov. 9, with Coach Chris Mack attempts to rebuild a program riddled with transfers. The larger hope for the Queen City, for a change, lies with the Bearcats, as UC takes the floor against Tennessee-Martin on Nov. 11 in Fifth-Third Arena.

With a slough of Midwestern teams rounding out the national polls (Indiana, Louisville, Kentucky, Ohio State, and Michigan filling the top five spots in both the AP and the USA Today rankings), it's easy to be excited for the region. Even closer to home, though, the Bearcats have made their national claim in the AP Top 25 with a No. 24 ranking.

ESPN also places UC in the No. 24 slot, likely with recognition of UC's postseason surprise in 2012, a Sweet Sixteen run that ended to with a loss to a fellow Buckeye public school, Ohio State. The Bearcats return three starters from that squad, a trio of guards that can rival almost any D-I program's backcourt. Sean Kilpatrick, Cashmere Wright, and JaQuon Parker all are extremely talented ball-handers who can shoot the lights out (all three averaged over 10 points per game last season--well, 9.4 for Parker, but close enough).

The largest concern for the Bearcats will be the absence of Yancy Gates, who controlled the post extremely well (and dropped Xavier's Kenny Frease in one punch, but that's not necessarily a stat Coach Mick Cronin is trying to replace). Gates averaged 8.9 rebounds and 12.2 points per game last season, a big hole to fill, but Cronin has the option to deploy Cheikh Mbodj, Justin Jackson, and David Nyarsuk in his place. Mbodj and Jackson each had significant playing time last year, while the junior transfer Nyarsuk, from Mountain State, is a "dunking machine," according to ESPN.

Cincinnati should walk over teams their first four games (Tennessee-Martin, Mississippi Valley State, North Carolina A&T, and Campbell) until meeting Iowa State and then #18 UNLV or Oregon in the Global Sports Invitational.

The Bearcats were selected in the Big East preseason coaches' poll to finish fourth (1. Louisville, 2. Syracuse, 3. Notre Dame), Cincinnati's highest preseason conference ranking ever. Many feel the Bearcats are severely underestimated, though, and see them as the dark horse who could spoil it all.

Is it November yet?

0-for-October in Cincinnati is finally over. 

The Reds couldn't advance.

Then Bengals failed to win a game, going 0-3 over the month.

The Bearcats had a shot to beat a ranked team on Friday night, but fell a field goal short in overtime against Louisville. And that came a week after spoiling a perfect record to the Toledo Rockets, no less.

For Cincy, October has been rough.

Today, though there will be no despair. The Queen City Sport Report guarantees to you, the reader, the fan, that a loss will not be had. 

The Bengals, we promise, will not disappoint today.

Marvin Lewis, Andy Dalton, and the talented A.J. Green will not lose. Not again.

The Bengals are on bye today.

Enjoy a Sunday outside the loss column, Cincinnati.

Building supply brawls

With the Bengals on bye this week, the Queen City will turn to the collegiate landscape to get its football fix. A pair of rivalry games should make things interesting.

Cincinnati Bearcats @ #16 Louisville Cardinals

In the 52nd Battle of the Keg of Nails (although I'm not sure why anyone would want a keg of nails), the Big East standings could finally get some clarification. The Cardinals (2-0 in Big East play) are currently in second place behind #15 Rutgers (4-0 Big East record), while Cincinnati (1-0 Big East record) rounds out the third spot. UC leads the all-time series between the schools 29-21-1, with the Bearcats winning the last four meetings. Cincinnati also holds a 13-9-1 advantage in games played at Louisville and has a two-game winning streak at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

At times, the Cincinnati offense has been of quality caliber, with running back George Winn averaging 101 yards per game, and quarterback Munchie Leguax averaging 283 total offensive yards. The defense has allowed only 16.8 points per game, along with racking up the tackles for loss. The front of their schedule is loaded with cupcake teams (Delaware State, Fordham), and their only big win has been on opening night against Pittsburgh. To be fair, though, the 'Cats showed up when their Big East record was on the line.

The Cardinals have stumbled over an easy non-conference schedule, looking much more unimpressive than their ranking and 7-0 overall record would suggest. Quarterback Terry Bridgewater has lived up to expectations with a 73 percent completion rate and 11 touchdowns, but the rest of the team has been average to above average at everything. That's what happens when you beat UNC, South Florida, Florida International, and Southern Mississippi by a combined 18 points.

As you can see, both teams are largely untested in big games, and the winner of this matchup will likely contest Rutgers for the conference title.

#24 Ohio Bobcats @ Miami RedHawks

The Battle of the Bricks (seriously, what's up with fighting over construction supplies?) finds itself in Oxford on Saturday as the Bobcats travel to Yager Stadium.

Ohio hit the national spotlight in Week 1 with a win over Penn State, but haven't faced any real competition since that game. Their 3-0 conference record puts them at second in the MAC-East division, but those three wins came against UMass, Akron and Buffalo--arguably the three worst MAC teams. The RedHawks, too, have posted wins against UMass and Akron, but fell to Bowling Green and third place in the MAC-East standings. Miami (2-1 MAC record) could lock a spot in the conference championship game by winning their five remaining MAC games.

The biggest statistical story to watch during this game is that of RedHawk quarterback Zac Dysert, a member of the NCAA's exclusive 10.00 yard club. Dysert currently is in 61st place with 10,444 career passing yards. A 17th career passing effort could move Dysert past Boston College's Dough Flutie (1,579), USC's Matt Leinart (10,693) and Marshall's Chad Pennington (10,698).

And so the questions begin...

Let's imagine a hitter batting .213 over the entire season with a .277 on-base percentage and an OPS of .610.

166 strikeouts over 544 plate-appearcnces.

WAR? -.02

Eighth hitter in the lineup? Prospect off the the bench?

The said player is in fact a regular starter in the Cincinnati Reds lineup, and for a better part of his career, has held the leadoff position.

But for how long will the madness that is Drew Stubbs' career continue under Dusty Baker in the Queen City.

Thanks to Billy Hamilton, it doesn't look like long.

Hamilton has reportedly been learning to play centerfield in the Arizona Fall League. Under the tutorage of former Reds great Eric Davis, Hamilton, normally a shortstop, has been practicing his reads on the ball off the bat from the outfield, learning to recognize each hitter's tendencies, and to cover the large area of ground.

Obviously learning to play an entirely unfamiliar position at the professional level is never the hope of an organization, but Hamilton, with 155 steals this year (the most ever in professional baseball), is the exception.

Baker has fiddled with the leadoff spot in Cincy for the past few seasons, occupied at times by Stubbs, Brandon Phillips, and recently, Zach Cozart. Phillips has proved the most dangerous, but his power beckons him to move runners over and drive runs in. Cozart is quick and developing as a hitter, but hasn't arrived at the level of leading off for a championship-caliber club.

Hamilton, untested in the Majors, could fill the long-time void for the Reds. The speedster posted a .311 average last season in the leadoff spot with a .410 OBP over 132 games. He also scored 112 runs to Stubbs 75 (very different levels of play, yes...but still).

The question is, will Hamilton be ready for the show in time for the Reds to make use of him. It's unlikely he will begin the season in Cincinnati, but there is a good chance he could make an appearance before the All-Star break. Stubbs' stellar defense has kept him on the field, the fastest player currently on the Reds' roster, but the offense/defense imbalance has grown to alarming levels. With Hamilton waiting in line, the time is now to find a better option at the top of the order.

Hypothetical reality: the BCS and UC

Today, we're going to speak in hypothetical terms. IF Romney beats Obama next month, IF Bronson Arroyo cuts his hair, IF the Ohio River floods again...then what? All big, hypothetical "if"s, but today we are going to tackle such an enigma that some of America's greatest sports minds cannot even explain its processes: the BCS selection committee.

The hypothetical question? What IF the University of Cincinnati Bearcats finish the 2012 football season undefeated?

Then what?

First, let's look at recent history. In 2009, the Bearcats accomplished this goal, running the table 12-0 and winning the Big East automatic bid outright. Cincy finished the regular season ranked third in the BCS standings and fourth in the AP Top 25. Alabama and Texas finished at No. 1 and 2, both undefeated as well and having won their conference championship games, a game not hosted in the Big East at the time.

UC literally did everything in their power in 2009 to reach a BCS championship. They beat every team, some games close, but most pretty handily. No championship shot, though. The Sugar Bowl is in fact a big deal, of course, but it wasn't for it all. Tim Tebow instituted his final farewell with a 54-21 victory over the Bearcats, but many were still upset that perfect was not good enough.

Obviously, the BCS isn't going to be fixed this year. The four-team playoff bracket would have likely lent Cincinnati at least the opportunity to reach the championship game, but this new provision won't take place until 2014. 

In 2009, UC defeated three ranked BCS teams: No. 21 South Florida, No. 25 West Virginia, and No. 15 Pittsburgh. This season, with seven weeks remaining, no ranked teams have been faced and only No. 16 Louisville and No. 15 Rutgers lie ahead. 

Alabama defeated five ranked teams in 2009: No. 7 Virginia Tech, No. 20 Ole Miss, No. 22 South Carolina, No. 9 LSU, and No. 1 Florida. This season, the Crimson Tide have already defeated No. 8 Michigan and have No. 12 Mississippi State, No. 6 LSU, and No. 18 Texas A&M in upcoming weeks. If they can successfully drop all these teams, they will again reign No. 1. 

IF Cincinnati were to go 12-0, then yes, they would be guaranteed a spot in one of the five BCS Bowl games. But the championship? For all the marbles? The grand-daddy of them all? Forget about it.

What am I saying? Cincinnati is perfect five games in and is only No. 21 in the BCS rankings. Nine undefeated teams are ahead of them, while 10 with a single loss and even Stanford with a pair of "L"s also find themselves above the Bearcats.

Fair?

Considering strength of schedule, conference, maybe. But only just maybe. 

What is it to strive to perfection if such an achievement is not rewarded? What if perfect is not good enough? 

The sad truth is, under the current format, UC will likely never see a shot of the championship, no matter how many seasons they remain undefeated. Look at Boise State and its struggles, now joining the Big East in 2013 to fight for the chance at it all. 

Good luck, Broncos. The Bearcats have been playing that same tune for seasons now.

This is all hypothetical, of course. One loss on the UC schedule, and the black mark will keep them playing in some Car-Parts-Chips-Insurance-Sporting-Apparel Bowl with the stadium half full.

That, is not hypothetical. That is reality. The BCS reality. And without a true Division-I playoff system, it will remain the sad truth for those in select few in the red and black that achieve perfection.