TNR 12.1.10

JAMES SPRAGUE | NEWS Editor

The economy in the Greater Cincinnati area continued on its road to recovery during November, according to a report released Tuesday.

The Cincinnati Report on Business, issued by UC’s Applied Economics Research Institute and the National Association of Purchasing Management, reveals that the local economy is growing.

The report — covering Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana — measures economic growth by a using a Purchasing Management Index (PMI). The index ranges in value from 20 to 80, with 50 representing the break-even point.

Cincinnati’s PMI total for November was 57.5, marking the eleventh consecutive month the city’s index number has been above 50. This has not happened since the affluent era of 2007, according to the report.

November’s index value also indicates “a solid sustained recovery” for the region.

The report also examines employment throughout the Greater Cincinnati region, showing 36 percent of respondents reporting an increase in jobs, compared to only 19 percent in October.

“Last month many businesses shed jobs; this month many were adding jobs,” according to the report.

Dollars spent by regional purchasers also increased for the second consecutive month, as 63 percent of respondents increased their spending from October.

“Analysts believe that increased spending activity will have beneficial ripple effects throughout the economy,” the report stated in regard to local purchasing.

There have also been noticeable price changes to some consumer goods in November, according to the report.

The price of gasoline, cardboard, copper, flour and nickel have increased, while prices for plastic, cheese, steel and natural gas have decreased.

The report also states that alcohol, lemons, garlic and iron ore are among items short in supply.

The economic improvement in Greater Cincinnati coincides with the increase of the national Consumer Confidence Index, which jumped from a value of 49.9 in October to 54.1 in November.

“Consumer confidence is now at its highest level in five months,” said Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board Consumer Research Center, which is responsible for the index. “A welcome sign as we enter the holiday season.”

Consumers’ assessment of the current state of the economy suggests that it is still expanding, — albeit slowly, Franco said.


A recent study led by a professor at the University of Cincinnati reported that helicopter emergency medical services often delay treatment for patients.

The study, led by Dr. Jason McMullan, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at UC, found that, in 2007, the majority of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) — a type of heart attack caused by a sudden and total blockage of a coronary artery — patients transported to a hospital by a helicopter emergency medical service did not receive treatment within a recommended time limit.

The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiologists recommends 30 minutes to open the

artery using drugs and 90 minutes using a stent — a tiny tube placed into an artery to open it.

“The goal of treating patients suffering heart attacks is to open a clogged cardiac artery as soon as possible,” McMullan said.

The study reviewed 179 patients flown by UC Health’s helicopter emergency service from 16 referring hospitals to six area hospitals and found only 3 percent of patients who needed stents received treatment within 90 minutes, while more than half received treatment after two hours.

“Our results suggest that, when inter-hospital transfers are required, significant delays are introduced — even when a helicopter is used,” McMullan said.

The study also revealed that fewer than half of the patients treated with artery-opening drugs were medicated in the 30-minute goal.

Delays in the process of activating a helicopter EMS could contribute to the delayed treatment, according to the study.

“The take-home point of our findings is certainly not that helicopter EMS doesn’t help STEMI heart attack patients; on the contrary, HEMS undoubtedly saves many lives in getting suburban and rural STEMI patients to cardiac catheterization labs for [stents] as rapidly as possible,” said William Hinckley, medical director for UC’s Air

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WEDNESDAY | DEC. 1 | 2010

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Helicopters might inhibit health care

Dispute ends in gunfire

CPD layoffs could affect universityJASON hOFFMAN | Staff rEportEr

Patrols that partner the Cincinnati Police Department with University of Cincinnati Police Division officers could be in jeopardy as the 2011 city budget calls for possible police layoffs.

Facing financial shortfalls, city council has proposed laying off 144 fire fighters and 131 police officers throughout the city. Mayor Mark Mallory delivered the budget proposal to city council Monday. Mallory did not amend City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr.’s plan, which made the proposal for the cuts initially.

Although the number of officers specific districts and other units would lose has not yet been discussed publicly due to the budget’s state as a proposal, Districts Four and Five — which cover UC and the neighborhoods surrounding it — stand to lose approximately 42 officers, said a source within the CPD who requested anonymity because details have not been made public.

The proposed budget would force CPD to cut its spending by $16 million next year. That amounts to a loss of approximately 131 sworn police officers from the department’s current strength of 1,133.

The layoffs might affect the UC campus and its surrounding neighborhood as well.

District Four is responsible for patrols around Corryville and District Five’s jurisdiction includes Clifton Heights, University Heights, Camp Washington, Clifton and Northside.

UCPD and CPD officers from District Five currently run tandem patrols to maintain safety levels around UC’s main campus.

The decrease of police presence could reduce the security posture on the outskirts of the campus where the joint patrols occur.

“Any diminishing of resources would have some effect,” said Gene Ferrara, chief of UCPD.

City council has until the end of the year to finalize the budget. After it is finalized, the police department and the officers’ union, the Fraternal Order of Police, will decide upon any cuts.

SWEEt 16 “SElliNG”

hOPES ClERMONtspotlight | 3sports | 4

2 Classifieds3 Spotlight4 Sports

iNSiDE


A 32-year-old man was arrested Monday night for allegedly firing three shots at his girlfriend on the University of Cincinnati’s Raymond Walters College branch campus in Blue Ash.

James O. Bourrage Jr. of the Cincinnati suburb of North College Hill is accused of attempting to get into the woman’s vehicle and firing three shots toward it as she pulled away.

The woman, who is a student at Raymond Walters College, left campus and reported the incident to a Blue Ash police officer.

The shots missed the woman and did not injure anyone, said Capt. James Schaffer of the Blue Ash police.

Police have charged Bourrage with second-degree felonious assault, firing a weapon into a habitat or school and carrying a weapon illegally.

After he fired the shots, Bourrage fled the scene. Police searched for approximately five hours before Mount Healthy authorities arrested him at approximately 11:15 p.m.

There was some questions as to why the university did not send out an alert as it usually does when crime happens on and around campus. As of press time, no official report of the incident had appeared.

“Emergency Alerts are issued to provide information to the community about actions to be taken to protect itself from the present danger,” said Gene Ferrara, UC Police Division chief.

UC issues crime alerts for two reasons: to warn the community when a criminal act presents an ongoing danger and to request information from anyone who can identify the suspect and where they can be located.

By the time UCPD learned of the situation, Bourrage had been identified, fled the Raymond Walters campus and was no longer a threat to the campus community, Ferrara said.

“There was no longer any danger to take action against,” Ferrara said.

Bourrage was convicted of a separate domestic violence involving the same woman more than a year ago, according to Hamilton County court records.

BUSINESS IS ON UPSWING

GERMAN lOPEz | NEWS Editor

Andrea Lindell, dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Cincinnati, will be leaving her job after 46 years in the nursing profession.

In a letter to students and faculty Monday, Lindell wrote that leaving will help jumpstart President Greg Williams’ UC2019 plan.

“I believe a new nursing leader can bring fresh vision, creativity, goals and innovation,” she wrote.

Her retirement leaves two vacancies at UC’s medical colleges. Provost Santa Ono has already launched a search for a new dean at the College of Medicine.

In addition to acting as a dean, Lindell is the assistant vice president of University Hospital.

She earned her Ph.D. in psychiatric mental health at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

Lindell is also former president of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and worked as a consultant in international programs.

In 2006, Lindell served as a U.S. representative to Jordan who reviewed the country’s nursing programs for quality assurance.

She has written for multiple medical journals, including multiple articles for the Journal of Professional Nursing.

UC nursing dean to retire after 20 years

FilE ARt | THE NEWS RECORD

iN thE ChOPPER A study led by a University of Cincinnati professor shows that helicopter EMS services often delay treatment for heart attacks.

COURtESY OF UC ACADEMiC hEAlth CENtER

hAPPY tRAilS, DEAN The dean of UC’s College of Nursing, Andrea Lindell, is retiring after 46 years in the nursing field.

bOURRAGE

SEE AiRCARE | 2

Any diminishing of resources

would have some effect [on security.]

—gene ferrara chief of ucpd

Local economy slowly recovering

PRiCES ARE UP FOR: Gas, cardboard, resin, copper, toner

PRiCES ARE DOWN FOR: Plastic, cheese, natural gas and steel

iN ShORt SUPPlY: Alcohol, lemons, iron ore and garlic

STATiSTicS pRoVided BY The NApM

CINCINNATI AT A GLANCE

CInCInnaTI On THe rOaD TO reCOVerY

PAt StRANG | SENior photographEr

EFFICIENCIES, 1-BEDROOM, 2-BEDROOM, 3-BEDROOM in HYDE PARK for rent in excellent condition. New appliances including dishwashers, A/C. HEAT and WATER paid. Balcony, pool use, 10 minutes from UC. New kitchens and bathrooms. Laundry, off-street parking/garage. Starting at $545 per month. Contact us at 513-477-2920 or [email protected].

Efficiency $375. Call 513-382-9000.

One bedroom $395. Call 513-382-9000.

One, two, three bedrooms and studios. Walk to UC. Free utilities! Hardwood, laundry, dishwasher, parking. Deposit special with approval. Call 513-651-2339.

Furnished third floor, utilities included. Shared bath/kitchen. Detached garaged. Kennedy Heights. Call 513-226-4082

Large, one bedroom apartment for rent at 301 Warner St. $425/month. Easy walk to campus. On UC shuttle route. Call 513-325-9824 or email [email protected] for more info/pics.

Looking for an apartment? www.ucapartments.com

Three bedroom apartment southeast of campus. $725/month, two person occupancy. Includes utilities, laundry, deck, equipped kitchen, high speed internet. Call 513-281-4855. View photos www.egepropertyrental.com

Clifton, large 4 bedroom house. Walk to UC, hospitals. Driveway, equipped kitchen, carpet and hardwood floors. A/C. Basement, yard, deck, storage shed. New remodeled bath. Available immediately. $1095. Call 513-484-0960 or 513-631-5058. 412 Ada Street.

$650. 2 bedroom. Hardwood floors, 2 blocks from campus. Fully remodeled. Heat included. Cast welcomed free. Laundry and parking. Short term lease available. Call 513-379-5300.

1 bedroom. $450. Heat included, cats welcome- no charge. Laundry and parking. Gaslight District, Brookline. Grad students. Short term ease available. Fully remodeled. Call 513-379-5300.

Kinder Garden School in Blue Ash. Looking for a loving person to care for our children ages 6 weeks to 6 years. Get childcare experience while working with our children. Kindergarten school is a private, college prep pre school. We are family owned and operated. Hours are 2pm-6pm Monday-Friday. Start immediately. Please send resume to Tami at [email protected] or Call 513-791-4300.

Earn $1,000 to $3,200 a month to drive our card ads. www.AdCarDriver.com.

Play it Again Sports needs part time sales clerks, flexible schedule, fun job. Call Mary at 310-3933.

Cleaning, painting $7.50-$9.00. Call 513-221-5555.

Caregiver wanted in Mason for active, physically disabled 52-year-old. No experience, flexible hours. 10+/hour. Call 513-564-6999. Ext 688990.

We are currently looking for part-time reps for business to business phone sales. The position pays an hourly plus commission. Perfect opportunity for college students who may be looking for a flexible work schedule, or a part time summer job. Call Scott or Patrick today to arrange an interview. 513-244-6542.

Bartenders needed. Earn up to $250 per day. No experience required, will train. FT/PT. Call now 877-405-1078 EXT. 3503

Servers and bartenders. Guest driven, great personality, professional image. Experienced. For PM shifts, must possess liquor, wine and craft beer knowledge. AM bussers able to multitask and work with others as a team. Please apply in person between 2-4 at the National Exemplar Restaurant 6880 Wooster Pike, Merrimont, OH 45227.

Babysitters needed for Cincinnati families. For an interview, apply. TheSitterConnection.com.

BARTENDING. $250/DAY POTENTIAL. No experience necessary, training provided. Call 1-800-965-6520 ext. 225.

HYDE PARK WINE & SPIRITS. Part time help wanted, 15-20 hours per week. Flexible schedule. Apply in person at 2719 Madison Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45209.

Local company is seeking class ”A” commercial drivers with tanker and hazmat endorsements, to run out of Cincinnati, OH. Competitive starting pay with a benefit package that includes Medical, 401K, paid holidays and vacations plus bonuses. 2 years driving experience needed, with good driving record. If you would like to join our team, please send me a message at [email protected] or [email protected].

Cincinnati Symphony & Pops seeks tele-fundraisers. If you’re a well spoken lover of the arts and outgoing, this may be your perfect part time job! We need motivated phone reps with upbeat energy and strong communication skills to raise donations for the CSO. Call 513-864-8801. If emailing resume, include a brief cover letter to [email protected]. Complimentary concert tickets.

Local Durable Medical Equipment (DME) company seeking part-time employees for in home patient deliveries. Must have good communication skills, learn quickly and have a clean driving record. Job offers flexible hours and competitive pay ($12-14/hr) depending on skill set and experience. For details call 513-221-0202 or fax resume’s to 513-221-2000 attention Dennis.


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2

Niemer ranks second on UC’s all-time kill list and leads the Big East this season with a conference best 594 kills — stats that garnered six Big East Player of the week awards.

“[Niemer’s] a tough kid and she wants to get better every time she steps out on the court,” Sunahara said.

fROM TOURNEY | 4

Blue Devils repeat as national champions.But who will be this season’s Butler?

As much as I loved watching the Little Bulldogs That Could last season and despite returning Matt howard, Shelvin Mack and cute-as-a-button head coach Brad Stevens, it might not be Butler.

The Bulldogs lost at home Saturday to the Evansville Aces, who this season have lost to the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, who have lost to the Campbell Fighting Camels.

And Butler has a rematch with

No. 1 Duke waiting Saturday. At least after that loss, the Bulldogs will get to rebound against Xavier.

The Musketeers lost in exhibition play to Bellarmine, lost to old Dominion and needed triple overtime to beat wofford by four this season.

Factor in Cincinnati’s strong play of late — including allowing opponents to fewer than 49 points per game — and the tides might finally be changing in the annual Crosstown Shootout.

fROM ANTICS | 4

Care and co-author of the report. “Rather, the point is that calling the helicopter is not like saying, ‘Beam me up, Scotty’ on ‘Star Trek.’ ”

helicopter EMS is fast but not instantaneous, hinckley said.

The study recommends that hospitals consider ways to reduce transfer time by possibly creating a system that would allow for a physician to call for helicopter transport and cardiologist approval with one phone call.

fROM AIRCARE | 1

THE BEST

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just a few days left, UC. Get online and vote for all your favorites.


SPOTLIGHTWednesday

Dec. 1 | 2010

NEWSRECORD.ORG3CLERMONT COLLEGE

ANTHONY OROZCO | STAFF REPORTER

Gregory Sojka sits in the cozy setting of his office at the

University of Cincinnati Clermont College and chats about American literature, riding bikes with his wife of 34 years and the pride he has for being a leader and spokesperson.

That pride helped him land the position of Clermont’s newest dean, appointed by former Senior Vice President and Provost Anthony Perzigian earlier this year.

In Clermont’s student publication, The Lantern, the story, “My dean is cooler than your dean,” tells how he will host sessions during which any and all students can sit and meet with him while enjoying free pizza.

Sojka says he enjoys smaller campuses where he can interact and get in touch with not only the faculty, but the students as well. In fact, the Clermont branch is much smaller than Main Campus, but enrollment numbers topped 4,000 students for the first time this fall.

“I think [students] are the best sort of information, not some guy in a tie,” he says as he points to his chest.

Sojka explains that before the tie and the degrees, his interests were far from working in higher education — let alone studying in it.

He graduated from the State University of New York and then grabbed a doctorate in American Literature from the University of Indiana. He worked in faculty and administration at the University of Wyoming, Lewis-Clark State College and University of Rio Grande in Rio Grande, Ohio, where he was provost and vice president for academic affairs before becoming president.

Aside from working his way up the ladder in academia, Sojka is a team player in other aspects — something he learned playing baseball during his first year of college.

“I thought I was going to be a baseball player, and I wasn’t doing well in school, so actually I needed to focus on [baseball],” he says. “Then I injured one of my knees, but that was a good thing for me — It made me focus. Long term, it was a very fortunate injury.”

He mentions how lucky he was to have a handful of instructors who encouraged and supported him in his pursuit of his bachelor’s degree in English.

“This job is a balancing act,” he says. “I need to be on the campus and as a regional campus — I need to be out in this community.”

Sojka belongs to the Clermont Rotary Club, which will be hosting a Christmas event for under-privileged families in Clermont’s athletic facility.

He is also on the board of directors for the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce. He says in order to truly support the regional college, he must actively participate and be involved in the economy of the area.

“If I’m in this office from eight o’clock to five o’clock every day, I’m probably not doing my job,” he says. “But I enjoy that. I don’t think I’d be a good desk job type of person.”

Meeting with the other deans and provosts, Sojka is confident Clermont is a home to Bearcats as well as a part of the UC family.

Sojka strives to be an advocate for the students he presides over, planning and calling for more prospects for learning and experiential education.

A new facility just east of the Clermont campus, UC East, is a building now used for its allied health, nursing and justice studies.

Sojka thinks that the new building could be brought to its full potential with a health sciences bachelor’s degree, a business program and an environmental studies program.

“One of my challenges — but one of my opportunities — is keeping and building degree opportunities for our students,” he says.

In the corner of his office near the door, an easel cradles a blueprint outlining the 10-year plan recently approved by UC’s Board of Trustees. One of the changes would include retrofitting the dean’s current office as a lab so all the labs will be in one building.

“We’ve been growing 77 percent more students over the last 10 years, so we need to accommodate them,” he said.

He also hopes for a learning commons, which would connect the library, learning center, computer labs and support services for the students.

Clermont will also begin offering its first four-year program in the fall of 2011. This, he hopes, will aid more first-generation Appalachian students to obtain a UC education.

“I hope I am this college’s best salesperson,” he says. “I try to support [Clermont] in every way.”

In supporting Clermont and its students, Sojka is doing what he is supposed to: be a leader in the ever-changing face of higher education and be accountable for the multifaceted, challenging and often ambiguous role he was appointed to.

“My job is to tell the good story of what we do here,” he says. “The story is access, affordability and academics. We are making the difference. The story I am telling is the story of transformation.”

I hope I am this college’s best salesperson. I try to support

[Clermont] in every way.—gregory sojka

clermont college dean

”“New dean advocates transformation

Fun facts about Clermont CollegeBIG BRITCHES: Clermont is located in

the center of Clermont County and serves residents from six different counties.

NAME CHANGE: The original name of UC Clermont was Clermont General and Technical College.

PROGRAM VARIETY: Clermont offers more than 50 degree and certificates programs in a wide range of subjects.

DID YOU KNOW?

EAMON quEENEY | phOTO EDITOR

MAN ON CAMPuS Gregory Sojka, UC Clermont’s new dean, has big plans for the regional campus, including accommodating the students’ studying space to spending quality time with them over a slice of pizza.

SPORTSWednesday

Dec. 1 | 2010

NEWSRECORD.ORG4

Farewell fall, hello hoops

It is getting really cold outside.It’s only a matter of time

before rain and water turn into snow and ice.

The impending temperature drops can bring on the blues, but as Thanksgiving reminds us, there’s plenty to be thankful for.

Among the friends, family, food, fun and leftovers of the long weekend, it hit me — it’s time.

Time to break out the snap-offs and high-tops. Basketball season.

The NBA’s latest chapter will include a regular season like none other. The Heat, Lakers and everybody else are already nearing turn one of the latest campaign.

We’re on the brink of LeBron James’ much-anticipated return to Cleveland. The Prodigal Son’s homecoming will be the most-watched game of the regular season. It might even be a good game — you never know.

While the professionals put on quite a show, the wild world of college basketball is even more fun.

We’re only moments into what will become a four-month marathon of college hoops.

I absolutely love college football season, mind you. But the thing about football is it requires days off to rest and recover between games, so only one day per week rules the sport.

Not so on the hard court.Games span the calendar

like stars in the sky and, until early March, there’s more than likely quality college basketball available for your viewing pleasure.

Boise State usually plays an important season opener on the gridiron, but the vast majority of early-season college football games include at least one school Ohio State President Gordon Gee might call “the Little Sisters of the Poor.”

Such games exist in large numbers as the college basketball season begins too, but there’s no shortage of November marquee matchups.

ESPN makes its fair share of television blunders — NASCAR, “The Decision” and “Stump the Schwab” for example — but one thing the self-proclaimed worldwide leader gets right is the college hoops 24-hour tipoff marathon.

Between early-season tournament appetizers, the meat of regular season conference schedules and a double dipping of dessert with conference and national tournament play, you’ll never be starving for quality college basketball.

Speaking of quality college basketball, this season might not even be worth playing. Just ship Duke the trophy already.

The Blue Devils already handled No. 4 Kansas State this season and a similar fate awaits No. 6 Michigan State Wednesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

As much as I’d hate to see the Blue Devils repeat, they’re stacked with talent. Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith, Mason Plumlee and company — including sharpshooting Seth Curry — shouldn’t have too much trouble remaining among college basketball’s elite.

Which brings me to my next aside: Curry. The Duke sophomore doesn’t start, but he’s adding nine points off the bench through his first six games as a Blue Devil.

Curry connected on nearly 35 percent of his 3-pointers as a freshman at Liberty University two seasons ago and is shooting better than 47 percent from long range this year.

Big brother Stephen Curry left Davidson College after three years of 41-percent shooting beyond the arc.

These siblings are the sons of former NBA veteran Dell Curry — one of the best 3-point shooters in NBA history. After a four-year career at Virginia Tech before the NCAA adoption of a 3-point line, the elder Curry’s 18-year NBA career ranks 28th in made 3-pointers to this day. Bottom line: this guy could shoot.

How did his sons not get recruited to bigger schools than Davidson and Liberty?

The two can clearly play among college basketball’s best. Virginia Tech should have kept better tabs on their alumni and recruited the Curry boys to be Hokies. I’d like to see the thank-you note Seth sent brother Stephen after big brother’s breakout years at Davidson put little bro on the map, leading to his arrival at Duke.

Now his 3-point shooting this season could help the

sam elliott

THE samANTICS

Sam Elliott | sports EDItor

Texas Christian University has accepted an invitation from the Big East Conference to become the league’s 17th member school effective July 2012.

The Fort Worth, Texas, institution has competed in the Mountain West Conference since 2005. Head football coach Gary Patterson has won the past two league titles after back-to-back undefeated regular seasons.

“I think it’s a great addition,” said Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones. “Obviously, you’re bringing into the conference one of the best football programs in the country right now.”

The Horned Frogs — third in current Bowl Championship Series standings — are poised for a second-consecutive BCS appearance this season. After Boise State’s loss to Nevada Friday, TCU is the highest-ranked team from outside the six automatic-qualifying conferences, securing at least a Rose Bowl berth.

“You look at their record over a number of years [and] Gary Patterson’s a great football coach,” Jones said. “The stakes have just become that much higher. The stakes have always been high, but I think it’s a great addition. It’ll be great to start playing them in 2012.”

The transfer to the Big East will move the Horned Frogs’ football team into a conference that automatically sends its champion to the BCS party.

“Having BCS automatic-qualifying status was a priority for our football program and a great reward for the success we’ve had the last decade,” athletic director Chris Del Conte said.

TCU’s announcement is the first since the Big East announced its intent to increase the number of football-playing members from eight to 10 Nov. 2.

“We have great leadership within the Big East Conference,” Jones said. “It’s comforting to know that they have great vision for where they want to take the

conference. We kind of left it in their hands.”

TCU fields teams in 20 varsity sports; The Horned Frogs have found recent success in baseball and women’s basketball in the Mountain West, while the men’s basketball team finished 13-19 last season.

The country’s largest athletic conference’s growth will include America’s fifth-largest television

market. The Big East already boasts nine schools in the nation’s top-35 markets. The Dallas/Fort Worth market ranks fifth and will be the western-most in the Providence, R.I., based Big East.

“From South Florida to Syracuse to Rutgers to UConn, for us it’ll still be a relatively short flight,” Jones said. I don’t see [travel] being any issue at all.”

Sam WEinbErg | sports EDItor

For the third-consecutive season, the No. 22 University of Cincinnati volleyball team advanced to postseason play in the NCAA Championship Tournament.

“It’s a good feeling to always get in,” said UC head coach Reed Sunahara. “Our kids are very excited.”

The Bearcats will meet the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the first round of the 64-team tournament at 5:30 p.m. Friday in Champaign, Ill.

In their regular season meeting, the Bearcats beat the Hilltoppers 4-1 with set scores of 21-25, 25-20, 25-21 and 26-24.

“We can’t take anyone lightly; it’s tournament time now,” Sunahara said. “What happened in the regular season is what happened. Yeah, we beat them, but now it’s tournament time and it’s zero-zero.”

A win could set up a possible second-round rematch with No. 8-seed Illinois, who Cincinnati upset 3-2 in regular season play to crack the American Volleyball Coach’s Association’s top-25 poll.

No. 1-seed Florida, No. 9-seed Texas and No. 16-seed Purdue round out the seeded teams in Cincinnati’s bracket region.

Despite tough competition, Sunahara said the team is not looking past the first round and will deal with future opponents as they present themselves.

“We’re taking it one game at a time, one point at a time,” Sunahara said. “Hopefully we can take care of what we need to on our side of the court and good things will happen.”

In 2008, the Bearcats met an identical first and possible second round match — playing the Hilltoppers in the first round and the Fighting Illini in the second.

The Bearcats beat Western Kentucky 3-2 in the first round before getting swept by Illinois 3-0 in the second round.

In 2009, Cincinnati lost 3-1 in the first round of the tournament against in-state rival The Ohio State University.

“Playing at the championship level is a little different,” Sunahara said. “But [the team] is eager and ready to play.”

With the 2010 Big East regular season title and a 29-5 record — their best record since joining the Big East in 2005 — the Bearcats expect to make a deep run into this season’s tournament.

“We’ve set our goals, they want to get to the Sweet 16 and we got to do everything in our power to get there,” Sunahara said. “We got to make sure we get better every time we step foot in the gym.”

Entering the tournament, the Bearcats are led by senior outside hitter Stephanie Niemer.

Hopping eastHorned Frogs jumping conferences

max FaulknEr | Fort Worth Star-telegram/mCt

lEaPFrogging into bCS texas Christian and head football coach Gary patterson will join the Big East after next season.

UC welcomes Wright State

Pat Strang | Senior photographer

CarEEr nEarS EnD Entering the final tournament of her college carrer, senior stephanie Niemer leads the Bearcats with a Big East-bsst 594 kills.

Bearcats begin NCAA tournament


SWEEt-16 HoPEFul UC has failed to advance past the tournament’s second round since joining the Big East.

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riSE anD FirE rashad Bishop scored 10 points in the first half Saturday against Dayton. The UC senior has started 74 career games and is averaging nine points and 3.6 rebounds per game this season.

Blue Devils repeat as national champions.

But who will be this season’s Butler? As much as I loved watching the Little Bulldogs That Could last season and despite returning Matt Howard, Shelvin Mack and cute-as-a-button head coach Brad Stevens, it might not be Butler.

The Bulldogs lost at home Saturday to the Evansville Aces, who this season have lost to the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, who have lost to the Campbell Fighting Camels.

And Butler has a rematch with No. 1 Duke waiting Saturday. At least after that loss, the Bulldogs will get to rebound against Xavier.

The Musketeers lost in exhibition play to Bellarmine, lost to Old Dominion and needed triple overtime to beat Wofford by four this season.

Factor in Cincinnati’s strong play of late — including allowing opponents to fewer than 49 points per game — and the tides might finally be changing in the annual Crosstown Shootout.

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remember

Sam Elliott | sports EDItor

After dismantling Dayton Saturday, the Cincinnati Bearcats welcome their second in-state opponent in as many games to the Queen City Wednesday, hosting Wright State at Fifth Third Arena.

Cincinnati (5-0) has never lost in the six-game series against the Raiders that dates back to 1973. The teams last met in 2001, with the Bearcats winning 83-54 at home.

The Raiders (3-3) have lost their past two games at home to Richmond and Southern Illinois. Head coach Billy Donlon enter his first season as Wright State head coach, inheriting a veteran-laden team that starts four seniors and a junior.

“I think they’re top-10 in the country in turnover margin,” said UC head coach Mick Cronin. “They really take care of the basketball. They’re pretty deliberate on offense, they’re going to try to keep us on defense and they have three senior guards, which is a major concern.”

Vaughn Duggins leads the Raiders, scoring 16 points per game, while N’Gai Evans and Troy Tabler each average 12 points per contest.

“Those guys are going to play smart and take care of the basketball and run the shot clock down if they make some shots,” Cronin said. “It could be tough on us. They can go small and spread you out.”

After surrendering just 34 points to

the Flyers, Cincinnati enters Wednesday’s game allowing fewer than 49 points per game.

“We do lead the country in fewest points [against] per game,” Cronin said. “I think you’ve got to take pride in that. We didn’t tell our guys that, but we’re going to tell them today. It’s something we need to continue to take pride in.”

Senior forward Rashad Bishop credits the Bearcats’ defensive success to a roster full of experience.

“[Cronin] knows that we’ve all been here for a while and we all understand the defense part and we all know how to play defense,” Bishop said. “Since we all know how to play defense, we just go out there and play harder.”

Cronin called Bishop arguably the best defender in the Big East, but it was Darnell Wilks who was largely responsible for limiting Dayton senior guard Chris Wright to four points and one field goal.

“[Defense has] always been fun,” Wilks said. “But when you really actually get stops, it’s even better.”

Cincinnati used nine steals and seven blocks to force 16 Dayton turnovers while limiting the Flyers to 20-percent shooting.

“I think we just bought into what we’ve got to do to win,” Wilks said. “When the Big East comes around, defense and just outworking the other team is more what we’re bought into now.”

The Bearcats and Wright State tip off at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Fifth Third Arena.

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