No. 9 Marquette at No. 4 Cincinnati

GAME TIME:	Friday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
LAST MEETING:	Marquette 74, Cincinnati 60 (Feb. 2, 2002)
SERIES:	Cincinnati leads, 19-13

	Marquette's Dwyane Wade poured in 25 points in the Eagles' win.

When these two teams met three weeks ago, Marquette was attempting to prove it was among the elite teams in the nation, and could play its best with the lights on. Point proven.Dwyane Wade scored 25 points, the Golden Eagles limited Steve Logan on the defensive end, and notice was served to those not paying attention that Marquette is a true contender and can compete favorably with the best in the land.

Marquette is a stellar defensive team and allows only 59 points per game on just 39 percent shooting, both marks second in the league to ... Cincinnati. The Golden Eagles outrebound their opponents by six, just behind Cincinnati, and pilfers the ball from opponents just under 10 times per game. Marquette is very advanced offensively, running a multitude of halfcourt sets that have multiple options, including ballscreens, pick and rolls, staggers and doubles.

Wade is the key, because he can break off on his own when things break down, and he is a versatile and productive young star. Wade is very good off the dribble, gets to the rim and can rise up and shoot over. Another reason Marquette has emerged as a top-10 team is the play of point guard Cordell Henry. He is a primary handler that makes shots, and he has raised his level of toughness and leadership. Henry has scored double figures in 9 of his last 10, and was magnificent against Charlotte, scoring 22 points and shutting down Jobey Thomas in the second half.

Up front, Odartay Blankson, Scott Merritt and Olouma Nnamaka are tough, battle tested and play hard together. Early in the season, people talked about what this team could not do, and that Marquette was undersized and overmatched. But look at what these players can do, and what they have accomplished by playing hard and together, and by listening to and believing in their tough minded and talented young coach. Marquette is fun to watch, because it shows what can be accomplished when everyone is in it with both feet.

The Bearcats, meanwhile, are being challenged in their own conference, which has rarely been the case in Conference USA. In fact, Cincinnati has owned Conference USA since its inception.

Cincinnati is the best defensive team in the nation, and has not allowed opponents to run any offense at all. Cincinnati forces foes further out on the floor, makes them accept challenged jumpshots, and limits teams to one shot. Cincinnati leads Conference USA in almost every defensive category, and the Bearcats are now rebounding the ball after a one-year hiatus. Last year, the Bearcats defended very well, but didn't finish defensive possessions by grabbing the defensive rebound. The second shots allowed were high percentage looks, and skewed the Bearcats' percentages. With a renewed commitment to rebounding, Cincinnati looks like a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Cincinnati may lock teams down defensively, but does not score the ball with ease. The focus of the Bearcat offense is Logan, who is legitimate competition for national player of the year honors with Jason Williams and Drew Gooden. Logan has been the most productive and consistent guard in the nation, and his numbers compare favorably with, and in many categories are better than, those of Williams.

Logan is very skilled, and can create space to get his shot off. He has been nearly unstoppable, and he has put up numbers in almost every game. He's not the best athlete, but he may be the best player based upon his skill level.

Leonard Stokes and Immanuel McElroy are athletic wing scorers who can go to the basket and run the floor. If Cincinnati can get more production from its big men, the Bearcats will be a bear to beat in the NCAA Tournament.

Key matchups: Henry and Co. vs. Logan; McElroy vs. Wade

Henry shut down Charlotte's Thomas, and the last time these two teams played, Henry and his teammates shadowed Logan all over the court and didn't help off of him. To win again, Marquette will need a similar defensive job on Logan. Wade scored 25 on Cincinnati in the first meeting, and has been among the leaders in Conference USA in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. McElroy is Cincinnati's best defender, and takes away your easy looks. He fights through screens, moves his feet and is dedicated to his assignment. Look at the box score at the end of the game: the numbers of Logan and Wade could be the difference, but Cordell Henry and Leonard Stokes are the wildcards.

Key Stats: Rebounding and Free Throws.

As always, when these two teams play, there will be a lot of "fifty-fifty" balls, and the team that gets the most will probably win. This game with be physical and hard fought, and the team that gets to the line most often and hits, will have a distinct advantage.

What to watch For: Watch how Logan creates space to get shots off. He uses his body and his skills very effectively to create separation between himself and his defender, and reminds you a bit of Vinnie Johnson. The other day I was asked if Wade should be considered over Logan for Conference USA Player of the Year honors. While Wade has been great, and should garner All-America honors, Logan is the best and most valuable player in the league. The better question is, should Logan be considered over Williams of Duke for national player of the year honors. Williams will win the honor, but the fact that Logan is making us ask the question is tribute to the kind of season he has had, and the kind of player he is.