Sabel's Haus

In my opinion Rashad Bishop was a Cancer to the UC basketball team. The guy gets suspended from the team before the Big East Championship, doesn't even get to travel with the team and all the sudden the Cats win two games.

I don't want to take away from the team because they have played, inspired basketball and genuinely look like they're having fun. I would never have guessed it before but I think the junior that averages 8.4 points and four rebounds per game and was considered the most consistent player, may have actually been hurting instead of helping the team.

I don't want to spread any rumors but I will anyway. Through hearsay my guess would be Bishop was suspended for butting heads with head coach Mick Cronin one too many times. I won't speculate any more than that and I've gone on record saying I don't think Mick should be the coach here.

What I will say is, whatever the case may be, I give Mick a ton of credit for suspending Bishop. I've said throughout the year I don't think these players respect Mick but maybe the suspension earned a little bit for him. I've said he doesn't demand the respect like Bob Huggins used to.

But enough of the suspension, the real story is the run these guys are making right now. They beat defending conference champion Louisville last night in a hell of a game. They have dominated the glass against both teams they've played and its been the difference both games.

Rutgers and Louisville shot much better percentages the last two nights but the rebounding margin has been so drastic, it's allowed them to stay in the games.

True freshman Jacquon Parker has done a terrific job playing in place of Bishop and is a sure bright spot for the future. Fellow freshman standout Lance Stephenson has played better than he has all year. Thanks to my man Lance McAlister, Stephenson is averaging 18 points and eight rebounds over the last five games.

At times, UC has used three freshmen on the floor at the same time in this tournament making me think Mick isn't as bad as I originally thought.

I keep waiting for senior Deonta Vaughn to pick it up and play like he did his first three seasons but his struggles continue. He did have a huge strip at the end of the game last night not allowing Louisville to get off a possible game-winning or tying shot. I just can't help but feel great for the guy though because he really hasn't ever had the opportunity to enjoy success at UC so for him to be able to hang in New York with his team playing well at Madison Square Garden is great for him.

It's been brought up but it's still very far away. In my opinion, UC needs to get into the Big East championship game to earn a spot in the NCAA tourney. Some say they need to win the whole tournament to get in. There are two more games they would have to win to get in including facing off with Bob Huggins' West Virginia Mountaineers tonight at 9 p.m.

Mick actually has a great track record against Huggs. He is 3-2 against WVU since coming to UC which is quite good considering how bad UC has been and how good West Virginia has been. Their only other meeting this season was in West Virginia and the Mountaineers won by eight.

The Mountaineers though will come in fresh whereas UC has had to play two games in two days. I can't tell if that will help or hurt UC but we shall see.