Sabel's Haus

For the second straight night UC has beat a ranked team in the Maui Invitational. Tonight it was Maryland going down 69-57 and last night Vandy was the victim. The biggest thing I've noticed with this team is they are starting to play together very well. Lance Stephenson had 11 points and 9 boards in the win and is really starting to gel with Yancy Gates who had 17 points and 13 boards on 7-of-10 shooting.

And what I like most is the depth this team has. Sure Lance and Yancy had big nights but then you have Deonta Vaughn who has led UC in scoring the past three years. That's three very very good players. Deonta had 16.

And the teams the past two nights have pressed UC hard and the Cats have done a tremendous job at breaking it. Having usually up to three guys on the floor at once that can all bring the ball up court is huge. Then Yancy waiting on the other end got UC so many fast break points tonight.

And I love the way Mick Cronin left his starters, for the most part, on the floor for most of the game. He let the guys play tonight and they started, as I said, to play well together. And they have done a tremendous job defensively and of getting the ball down low to Yancy. Maryland shot 44 percent tonight from the field.

Just one week and a day ago this team played its first game of the season and looked terrible. They have done a complete 180 and its going to be very exciting to watch this team grow. Even Mick sounds happy right now and that's saying something.