Cincy a 2 seed in NIT, to face Weber State

Following a strong showing in the Big East tournament, the University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team will continue their postseason after receiving an invitation to the 2010 National Invitation Tournament.

The Bearcats received a No. 2 seed in the 32-team tournament, and will play No. 7 Weber State, the Big Sky regular season champion.

“I don’t really know too much about Weber State right now, I haven’t seen them play this year,” said UC head coach Mick Cronin. “By noon tomorrow we’ll know everything we need to know about Weber State and they’ll know everything to know about Cincinnati.”

Illinois is the top seed in UC’s region, and Illinois State, Stony Brook, Dayton, Tulsa and Kent State round out the region.

The NIT will be a new experience for the Bearcats. Only senior Deonta Vaughn and juniors Rashad Bishop, Larry Davis and Anthony McClain have had any postseason tournament experience, playing in the College Basketball Invitational following the 2007-08 season.

The Bearcats relied on their rebounding to get to the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament, and to go deep into the NIT this year rebounding will again be a key factor for the Bearcats.

“We’re going to go into this tournament with the same mind set as the Big East tournament,” Cronin said. “Our goal is to win this tournament.”

Cincinnati’s last appearance in the NIT came following the 2005-06 season, under interim head coach Andy Kennedy.

As a No. 1 seed, UC made a run to the quarterfinals, but lost to South Carolina, who would go on to win the tournament.

Cincinnati ranks 12th nationally in rebounding margin, but has struggled offensively all season. The Bearcats are shooting just better than 43 percent from the field and just 29 percent from 3-point range.

Freshman guard Lance Stephenson enter the tournament hot following a strong game against West Virginia, where the Big East Rookie of the Year posted 19 points and seven rebounds.

After being suspended for the entirety of the Big East tournament, junior Rashad Bishop will not rejoin the team for the NIT.

“I have no comment on Rashad. His status remains unchanged,” Cronin said.

The Bearcats will play the Wildcats at 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 17, at Fifth Third Arena. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN 2.