Kilpatrick growing into Bearcats' leadership

When Sean Kilpatrick buried a 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining to clinch a victory at Connecticut, it earned him plenty of play on the national highlight reels. But during the streak in which the Bearcats won 10 of 11 games, the game-winner at UConn was just one of many big shots for the sophomore guard. Kilpatrick has provided UC with plenty of spark at both ends of the floor. Kilpatrick scored 12 points in Saturday's loss at West Virginia. It was his 18th double-figure scoring game this season and 35th of his career. Since the Xavier brawl, Kilpatrick has averaged 17 points and nine rebounds to spearhead UC's resurgence. He also has 19 assists in that stretch and has hit at least one 3-pointer in each of those games, and in 19 straight contests overall. Head coach Mick Cronin also noted the defensive play of Kilpatrick, who helped shut down Hollis Thompson in the second half of a win at Georgetown. "That's where he's really evolving into an all-around player," Cronin said. "He's scoring on one hand and doing a great job defensively." Add to that the fact that Kilpatrick has been nursing a groin injury. He limped off the court in the final seconds of Saturday's overtime loss at WVU. The severity of the injury was not yet known following the game. One thing's for certain: If the Bearcats are going to continue their run toward a Big East Conference title, Kilpatrick will be at the center of the quest. NOTES, QUOTESSeven-game Big East road winning streak comes to a halt --Cincinnati's loss to West Virginia on Saturday ended its seven-game Big East Conference road winning streak. --Assistant coach George Jackson returned to the bench on Saturday after being on medical leave since Dec. 14. --Yancy Gates, Cheikh Mbodj and Octavius Ellis served six-game suspensions for their roles in a brawl with cross-town rival Xavier on Dec. 10. G Ge'Lawn Guyn was suspended one game for his role in the fight. Gates, Mbodj and Ellis returned for the Jan. 4 win over Notre Dame. QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's very clear who the best team in the country has been all year. But you have to play the games" -- UC head coach Mick Cronin on Monday night's matchup with top-ranked Syracuse at Fifth Third Arena. STRATEGY AND PERSONNELTHIS WEEK'S GAMES:--vs. Syracuse, Jan. 23KEY MATCHUPS: The Bearcats face the Orangemen, coming off their first loss of the season, before a sold out crowd at Fifth Third Arena. Syracuse, coming off a 67-58 loss at Notre Dame, began 20-0 and presents plenty of challenges for the Bearcats. But the Orange will be missing leading rebounder Fab Melo, who did not accompany the team on this road trip for undisclosed reasons. --at Rutgers, Jan. 28KEY MATCHUPS: UC will be looking to win its eighth Big East Conference road game in its past nine attempts, but will face a tough environment at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are led by freshman Eli Carter, who averages 13.7 points per game. Junior F Dane Miller leads Rutgers with 37 blocks. FUTURES MARKET: Junior C Cheikh Mbodj began his career at UC with a lot of hype. But a high ankle sprain and a six-game suspension for his role in the brawl with Xavier has limited the 6-10 junior-college transfer. He's still limited by the injury, but the Bearcats hope that come March, Mbodj's scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking ability will emerge in time for a postseason push. PLAYER NOTES --Freshman G Ge'Lawn Guyn, who left the Jan. 9 win over Georgetown with a head injury, has been cleared to play after missing one game. Freshman G Jeremiah Davis III played additional minutes while Guyn was out. --Junior G Jaquon Parker has been an offensive sparkplug off the bench for the Bearcats, averaging 10.5 points per game in two games last week. --Highly touted four-star recruit Shaq Thomas was ruled ineligible due to alleged academic discrepancies at NIA Prep in New Jersey. Thomas, a 6-7 forward, is practicing with the team.