Keeping Dwayne Wade in check is Cincy's first priority.

No. 16 Marquette at Cincinnati

GAME TIME:	Saturday, 4 p.m. ET (ESPN)
LAST MEETING:	Cincinnati 77, Marquette 63 (March 9, 2002)
SERIES:	Cincinnati leads, 21-13

How many years in a row now have the Bearcats owned Conference USA's regular season? Since the conference was created, that's how long.

With all of the reasons Cincinnati could have a drop off this season, the Bearcats will not relent in their quest to get the first shutout in college basketball history. Defense has Cincinnati near the top of C-USA's American Division. And that defense is why the Bearcats (13-4, 6-1) can win the regular-season title for a eighth time in the eight-year history of C-USA.

Marquette, meanwhile, has quietly become an outstanding basketball program under Tom Crean, and is maturing into a true contender once again this season. The Golden Eagles (14-3, 6-1) could easily have only one loss, on the road at Notre Dame, and have become a balanced team that is proficient on both ends.

With a win at Cincinnati, Marquette can put the Bearcats in the rear view mirror in the Conference USA standings, but more importantly, stay on track toward its goal of playing its best basketball in March and April.

Marquette has won three of the last five against Cincinnati, but the Bearcats have taken the last two -- including last year's C-USA conference tournament final. These players had better lace 'em up tight for this one, because there are no boys allowed. This game is for men only.

Marquette Breakdown: Marquette has good balance and is clearly more than just Dwyane Wade. The Golden Eagles are able to score from all five positions on the floor, and as a result, are averaging just under 80 points per game. Combined with Marquette's strong defensive mind set, its scoring ability makes Marquette a tough team to beat.

Marquette's offensive efficiency is impressive. The Golden Eagles shoot 50 percent from the field and over 75 percent from the line -- the best shooting marks in Conference USA. Marquette shoots 37 percent from 3-point distance, second in the league, and out-rebounds opponents by over five boards a game. Marquette is also a good passing team, and averages over 17 assists per game, which ranks right up there with the most unselfish teams in the country.

Marquette may have good balance, but the key performer remains Wade, who is such a complete player and competitor that he has been almost impossible to shut down. Wade is a bona fide national player of the year candidate who plays all out on both ends. Wade can break off on his own when the Marquette offense breaks down, allowing his versatility to make him incredibly productive. Wade is very good off the dribble, gets to the rim and can rise up and shoot over. He leads Conference USA in scoring at just over 23 points a game on 54-percent shooting, and he adds almost four assists and two steals per game.

Balancing Wade on the inside is Robert Jackson, who averages 15 points, almost eight rebounds and shoots over 59 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the line. Jackson is aggressive, has a great touch, is a very good finisher and a solid offensive rebounder.

The primary handler is Travis Diener, a reliable point guard who has yet to shoot the ball as well as he is capable. But his shooting is just a bonus, because Diener is tough as nails, protects the ball, and is fearless in stepping up to make plays. He averages 10 points, 6.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and sports a 3-to-1 assist/turnover ratio. Scott Merritt has been very good all season, averaging over 10 points and seven rebounds on 50-percent shooting. Todd Townsend and Steve Novak are both capable 3-point shooters, with Novak showing good range on his shot.

Marquette runs a number of intricate and well-designed halfcourt sets that have multiple options. Look for ballscreens, pick and rolls, staggers and doubles. Crean is one of the most prepared coaches in the country, and devises game plans that will take advantage of specific weaknesses in opposing defenses, or pick on weak defenders. Crean is also good out of time outs. His teams are fun to watch execute because they are well drilled and well taught.

While a very good defensive team, Marquette does not force many turnovers, but instead takes away penetrating passes and moves, trying to protect the lane at the elbow and block areas, limiting opponents to one shot.

Cincinnati Breakdown: Cincinnati is again among the best defensive teams in the country and has the ability to take teams completely out of what they like to do. The Bearcats will not allow opponents to run any offense at all, forces offenses further out on the floor, and forces challenged jump shots in a "one-and-out" scenario.

Cincinnati leads Conference USA in field goal percentage defense, allowing only 38-percent shooting, and the Bearcats force 15 turnovers per game. Cincinnati is a good, but not a great rebounding team. Cincinnati beats up teams defensively, but does not score the ball consistently, which puts a lot of pressure on its defense to repeatedly get stops. But nobody in the nation outworks Cincinnati.

One of the only ways to score efficiently against the Bearcats is to manufacture second-shot opportunities. Second shots are usually high-percentage looks and could be the different in this matchup of C-USA contenders.

Leonard Stokes is the Bearcats' top scorer, averaging almost 17 points, and he is good in transition and from mid-range. Stokes is not a great jump-shooter, but can drive the ball and get to the line. He is at his best in penetrate-and-pitch situations, and is a streaky scorer capable of big numbers.

Jason Maxiell is a 6-8, long athlete who finishes around the basket. He has big hands, rebounds well, and can block shots. Field Williams is the best long-range shooter on the Cincinnati roster and is crafty with deep range. Williams does not pass with great acuity. Taron Barker is a good catch-and-shoot guard who can deliver the ball. Tony Bobbitt is an outstanding athlete and scorer who is really quick and can jump over defenders. Bobbitt has been streaky and inconsistent, but capable of big nights.

Key Matchup: Dwyane Wade vs. Leonard Stokes
Wade Marquette	Stokes is a very good defender and will likely draw the Wade assignment. Wade has been getting great help from his teammates, and is hardly a one-man team by any stretch, but when Wade plays well, Marquette usually wins. Stokes, when he is truly challenged, usually responds with a good effort. Wade will challenge him. Also watch the battle between Robert Jackson and Jason Maxiell down low.	Stokes Cincinnati

Key Stat
Rebounding and Free Throws
When two outstanding defensive teams get together, rebounds are at a premium. The team that gets the ball of the glass, and corrals the "fifty-fifty" balls will be in the best position to win. Marquette is a very good shooting team from the line, and must hit free throws to win at the Shoemaker Center.

What to Watch For
Marquette's Screen-And-Roll
Watch how the screen and rolls are run by Marquette and guarded by Cincinnati, and what Tom Crean does out of time-outs. Crean is very innovative and a fine strategist, and does a great job of exploiting matchups, especially after a break. Crean is one of the brightest young coaches in the game, and he is going against one of the game's best in Huggins.