http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/players/octavius_ellis/178876 Recent articles about Octavius Ellis en-us Freshman forward Octavius Ellis has been dismissed from Cincinnati's basketball team because of an incident at a downtown nightclub over the weekend. The university said it is punishing Ellis even though no charges will be filed. Ellis played in three games last season, when the Bearcats reached the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament. He was one of four Bearcats suspended for a brawl with crosstown rival Xavier in December, getting a four-game punishment. Coach Mick Cronin said he'll help Ellis transfer to another school to continue his basketball career. Although no charges will be filed, Cronin said Ellis failed to meet the standards of conduct he set for players. Fri, 18 May 2012 14:55:39 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/cincinnati_dismisses_f_ellis/10823039 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/cincinnati_dismisses_f_ellis/10823039 Cincinnati dismisses F Ellis http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/cincinnati_dismisses_f_ellis/10823039 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Statement from UC mens basketball:University of Cincinnati mens basketball head coach Mick Cronin announced Friday action he is taking following a reported incident in a downtown Cincinnati nightclub during the past weekend.Mens basketball student-athlete Octavius Ellis has been dismissed from the team. He will have access to academic support services through the end of the academic quarter. However, he is immediately separated from all team activities.Octavius didnt adhere to the standard of conduct I expect from members of our team, said Cronin. I will work to help him find a fresh start at a new program because I do care very much for him as a person. I believe he can benefit from being in a new environment. Thats likely what will help him the best to learn and mature from this.The University has learned that no formal charges will be filed.I regret the mistakes I made this year and I know I need to mature as a person, Ellis said. I want to thank my coaches and teammates for the opportunity I had at UC.UC Fri, 18 May 2012 14:28:42 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/ucs_cronin_dismisses_player/10822931 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/ucs_cronin_dismisses_player/10822931 UC's Cronin dismisses player http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/ucs_cronin_dismisses_player/10822931 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Octavius Ellis had a kind of weird season. The 3 star recruit by both Rivals and Scout came into UC as a player everyone tapped as a redshirt. His 6-9 frame only held 200 lbs as he came into the program. The best solution for him seemed to be to sit out a year, practice and get stronger. But, that's not exactly what happened. Then things took a turn for the worse. Let's not skip the whole story though, because there isn't really a lot of story to tell in this case. Octavius Ellis played in 4 of the 7 games he was a part of the roster for. He played 6.5 minutes a game in those 4. He scored 7 points on 2-5 shooting. He was 3-4 at the free throw line. He pulled in 5 rebounds. That was good for 1.2 a game. 4 of the 5 were defensive rebounds. He had 17.8% of the available defensive rebounds while on the floor. Ellis had a reputation as being a good defender. He showed promise by having 2 steals. He put up a 4.9% steal pct. Ellis blocked 2 shots. Do you think an 8.3% block pct... Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:53:40 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/season_recap_2_octavius_ellis/10543681 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/season_recap_2_octavius_ellis/10543681 Season Recap: #2 Octavius Ellis http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/season_recap_2_octavius_ellis/10543681 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Yancy Gates returned from his six-game suspension with renewed purpose. He rejoined a Bearcats team that is playing some of its best basketball to date, largely due to a guard-oriented approach necessitated by the suspensions of Gates, Cheikh Mbodj, and Octavius Ellis in the wake of the brawl with Xavier. So now the pressure is off Gates to score. He's become more focused on his interior defense, but when he does post-up, UC's perimeter shooting surge has given him more freedom to maneuver. "Every time I touched the ball someone was digging or someone was coming over to double," Gates said. "Now ... they are so worried about the guards driving and making threes that once I do touch it down there, it is a one-on-one. It makes it easier to score." Gates was averaging 12.3 points per game entering the week, but just eight points in the first three games since being reinstated. But it's the 6-foot-9 forward's defensive performance that has drawn raves from head coach Mick Cr Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:09:44 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/gates_focusing_on_defense_since_return/9380477 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/gates_focusing_on_defense_since_return/9380477 Gates focusing on defense since return http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/gates_focusing_on_defense_since_return/9380477 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png     Last month’s 76-53 victory by Xavier over rival Cincinnati was marred by a brawl in the final seconds. You can see it here. When punishments were handed out by both schools a total of eight players were suspended. Cincinnati suspended Yancy Gates, Octavius Ellis and Cheikh Mbodj for six games each and Ge’Lawn [...] Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:23:32 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/xavier_students_at_game_against_cincinnati_must_attend_reflection_session_or_not_be_admitted_to_future_games/9182461 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/xavier_students_at_game_against_cincinnati_must_attend_reflection_session_or_not_be_admitted_to_future_games/9182461 Xavier Students At Game Against Cincinnati Must Attend “Reflection Session” Or Not Be Admitted To Future Games http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/xavier_students_at_game_against_cincinnati_must_attend_reflection_session_or_not_be_admitted_to_future_games/9182461 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Tonight at 7 on ESPN3 and probably some other channels somewhere else, the Cincinnati Bearcats return home for a week long home-stand in Big East play. Things kick off with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The game notes say that the UC game will be on FSN Ohio, but probably on the second half because Xavier is on my listings at playing at 6. Check your local listings. Obviously tv is not the important issue here. The return of the final 3 suspended Bearcats is the important thing. Yancy Gates, Cheikh Mbodj and Octavius Ellis all return for UC. Mick Cronin has talked about redshirting one of Mbodj or Ellis. If UC is sticking with the 4 guard offense, then I think Mbodj should sit out this season. If the twitter rumors are true and UC is going back to the old offense or some kind of blend, Ellis should sit. Ellis will probably be the one sitting anyway. He's got some talent, but he's not very built. He could use a year getting used to the game and learning some offense. I don&#... Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:06:52 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/know_your_opponent_notre_dame_fighting_irish/9129538 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/know_your_opponent_notre_dame_fighting_irish/9129538 Know Your Opponent: Notre Dame Fighting Irish http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/know_your_opponent_notre_dame_fighting_irish/9129538 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The Bearcats went undefeated with Yancy Gates, Cheikh Mbodj, and Octavius Ellis suspended, including victories against Oklahoma and at Pitt in the Big East Conference opener.The trio of big men were suspended six games for their roles in a brawl with crosstown rival Xavier on Dec. 10. UC utilized a four-guard offense during their absences. The question now is how the Bearcats will adapt their approach with Gates back in the starting lineup. Head coach Mick Cronin said he now can give opponents different looks.In the first five games since the new offense was implemented, UC shot 49.2 percent from the field, made 62 three-pointers and averaged 86.2 points. Sunday's win over Pittsburgh extended the Bearcats' winning streak to six games.The Bearcats' guards have thrived in the freewheeling style which has given them the freedom to shoot almost at will. UC was averaging better than 82 points per game and made 73 3-pointers.When the shots weren't falling in wins over Oklahoma and at Pitt, the Bearc Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:04:23 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/bearcats_getting_their_big_men_back/9124294 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/bearcats_getting_their_big_men_back/9124294 Bearcats getting their big men back http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/bearcats_getting_their_big_men_back/9124294 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Cincinnati has played so remarkably well since the suspension of big men Yancy Gates, Cheikh Mbodj and Octavius Ellis that their imminent return from suspension creates an unenviable dilemma for coach Mick Cronin. Does he stick with the four-guard, no-center look that has spearheaded the Bearcats' six-game win streak since last month's brawl with Xavier? Or does he reinsert Gates in the starting lineup and return to the more traditional alignment Cincinnati utilized before? That the end of Gates' six-game suspension raises these questions is a testament to how well the Bearcats have played after inserting Jaquon Parker into the lineup alongside fellow guards Cashmere Wright, Sean Kilpatrick and Dion Dixon. They've reeled off six straight wins, surpassing 100 points against Radford and Arkansas Pine Bluff, handing Oklahoma its second loss and edging Pittsburgh 66-63 on Sunday night. "It's an interesting situation where they lose some guys and they seem to ... Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:33:03 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/surging_cincinnati_faces_dilemma_with_yancy_gates_returning/9073267 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/surging_cincinnati_faces_dilemma_with_yancy_gates_returning/9073267 Surging Cincinnati faces dilemma with Yancy Gates returning http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/surging_cincinnati_faces_dilemma_with_yancy_gates_returning/9073267 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Amid the suspensions and public relations nightmare stemming from the brawl with Xavier, the University of Cincinnati basketball team learned something about itself -- it plays bigger when it's smaller.With post players Yancy Gates, Cheikh Mbodj and Octavius Ellis suspended for six games for their role in the fight with the Musketeers, UC was forced to institute a guard-laden lineup and quicken the pace. Although it's occurring in the softer portion of the schedule, the results are undeniable.During a four-game winning streak since the brawl, the Bearcats scored 100-plus points in two consecutive games and fell just five points short of becoming the first team in school history to score 100 or more in three straight games. The four-guard offense has resulted in a quicker pace that seems to fit well with the current personnel."It's a lot different, playing four guards," said UC guard Sean Kilpatrick. "Shooting is the key, especially from three-point range. Everyone on our team can sh Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:14:55 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/bearcats_hope_adjustments_lead_to_flexibility/8989942 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/bearcats_hope_adjustments_lead_to_flexibility/8989942 Bearcats hope adjustments lead to flexibility http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/bearcats_hope_adjustments_lead_to_flexibility/8989942 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png A couple weeks ago, "The Brawl" happened in Cincinnati. Crosstown rivals Xavier and Cincinnati met, as they do every year, with the Musketeers blowing out the Bearcats. At the end of the very testy game, a brawl broke out that left both teams with suspended players and bad tastes in their mouth.Cincinnati suspended Yancy Gates, Cheikh Mbodj and Octavius Ellis six games each and Ge'Lawn Guyn for one game. Xavier suspended Dez Wells and Landen Amos for four games, Mark Lyons for two and star guard Tu Holloway for one game.Since then, both schools have gone in different directions.Xavier has now lost three straight games. After "The Brawl", the Muskies were a Top Ten team with an 8-0 record. Since then, they've lost to unranked Oral Roberts, Long Beach State and Hawaii. ORU gave Xavier their worst loss in the Cintas Center (22 points) and Long Beach won by ten. They have one more game (against Southern Illinois) before they are done with all of their suspensions. The first game with t Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:37:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/the_brawl_has_led_cincy_xavier_in_two_different_directions/8927965 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/the_brawl_has_led_cincy_xavier_in_two_different_directions/8927965 "The Brawl" Has Led Cincy-Xavier In Two Different Directions http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/the_brawl_has_led_cincy_xavier_in_two_different_directions/8927965 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Following the Cincinnati and Xavier skirmish over the weekend, both universities doled out what it believed to be reasonable suspensions. Six games for Cincinnati senior Yancy Gates, junior Cheik Mbodj and freshman Octavius Ellis; and freshman Ge’ Lawn Guyn received one game. Xavier suspended freshman Dez Wells and walk-on Landen Amos for four games; junior...Read the Rest... Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:57:36 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/cincy_and_xavier_suspensions_excessive/8681713 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/cincy_and_xavier_suspensions_excessive/8681713 Cincy and Xavier Suspensions Excessive http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/cincy_and_xavier_suspensions_excessive/8681713 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The aftermath, of one of the worst moments in college basketball in a long time, began to come down on Sunday. The University of Cincinnati announced on Sunday that Yancy Gates, Octavius Ellis and Cheikh Mbodj will be suspended six games each. Ge’Lawn Guyn will also miss one game. “After reviewing all available video and giving due deliberation to the seriousness of this behavior, we have decided to take these actions,” Cincinnati athletic director Whit Babcock said in the statement. “We want to deal with this in a prompt and direct manner and send the message that we will not tolerate this from those who have the privilege of representing the University of Cincinnati.” This all started when Xavier’s All-American player Tu Holloway and Cincinnati’s Ge’Lawn Guyn where jawing at each other face to face. Then a Xavier player pushed Guyn away then all the players just went crazy. While most of the players where just pushing and shouting at each other. There were two disturb... Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:09:36 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/three_players_from_cincinnati_each_get_6_games_from_the_brawl_thats_not_enough/8664802 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/three_players_from_cincinnati_each_get_6_games_from_the_brawl_thats_not_enough/8664802 Three Players from Cincinnati each get 6 games from the Brawl: That’s not enough http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/three_players_from_cincinnati_each_get_6_games_from_the_brawl_thats_not_enough/8664802 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The University of Cincinnati announced the suspension of 4 basketball players based off the fight that closed the Crosstown Shootout yesterday. Yancy Gates, Cheikh Mbodj and Octavius Ellis get 6 games for their actions. Ge'Lawn Guyn received a 1 game suspension. That means all 4 will miss the Wright State game Wednesday night. The others will miss games against Radford, Arkansas-Pine Bludd, Chicago State, Oklahoma and the Big East opener on New Year's Day at Pittsburgh. The Big East could add on to the suspensions, which are pretty light all things considered. Especially for Gates and Mbodj, in my opinion. Here is the UC statement  "After reviewing all available video and giving due deliberation to the seriousness of this behavior, we have decided to take these actions," said UC athletic director Whit Babcock. "We want to deal with this in a prompt and direct manner and send the message that we will not tolerate this from those who have the privilege of repre... Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:08:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/gates_mbodj_ellis_get_6_game_suspensions_1_game_for_guyn/8663812 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/gates_mbodj_ellis_get_6_game_suspensions_1_game_for_guyn/8663812 Gates, Mbodj, Ellis Get 6 Game Suspensions, 1 game for Guyn http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/gates_mbodj_ellis_get_6_game_suspensions_1_game_for_guyn/8663812 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati today announced the suspension of four men's basketball student-athletes for their participation in a fight that brought a premature end to Saturday's game at Xavier University. Yancy Gates, Octavius Ellis and Cheikh Mbodj will each be suspended for a total of six games and Ge'Lawn Guyn for one game. The suspensions will take effect immediately and will be concurrent with the NCAA-standard one-game mandated suspensions that would be applied to Gates and Mbodj for ejections from the game for fighting. "After reviewing all available video and giving due deliberation to the seriousness of this behavior, we have decided to take these actions," said UC athletic director Whit Babcock. "We want to deal with this in a prompt and direct manner and send the message that we will not tolerate this from those who have the privilege of representing the University of Cincinnati." "We have advised the BIG EAST Conference of our decision and the measures we're taking. I'm thankful for the full support of (UC) President (Gregory H.) Williams and (UC men's basketball head coach) Mick Cronin." "Further, I want to apologize to our students, alumni, faculty and staff, as well as to our fans and community. We hold our student-athletes to a very high standard and take very seriously the role that our entire department plays in reflecting the overall image of this great university. We will continue to work diligently to represent the Bearcat family and the Cincinnati community in a first-class manner. There will be zero tolerance for a repeat of this behavior." Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:53:03 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/bearcats_leveled_with_multi_game_suspensions/8663560 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/bearcats_leveled_with_multi_game_suspensions/8663560 Bearcats leveled with multi-game suspensions http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/bearcats_leveled_with_multi_game_suspensions/8663560 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png CINCINNATI It was supposed to a celebratory moment, and its possible that when the new polls come out Monday Xaviers basketball team will be ranked as high as its ever been. But Saturdays blowout of rival Cincinnati will instead be remembered for the brawl that ended the game with almost 10 seconds left to play and the way Xaviers players seemed to revel in it. There was shame and blame on both sides for a scene that turned ugly quickly, and Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin said he spent much of the second half asking the officials to step in to prevent such an occurrence. By the end of a fight that cleared both benches, Xavier center Kenny Frease lay face first, bleeding, at midcourt and Xavier point guard Tu Holloway was standing on the scorers table inciting the crowd and Cincinnatis players as they were being escorted off the court. TV replays showed Frease was knocked to the ground by a punch by Cincinnatis Yancy Gates. Frease crawled away from the scrum, which started next to Cincinnatis bench, and wal Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:10:58 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/xavier_uc_rivalry_hits_rock_bottom/8649871 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/xavier_uc_rivalry_hits_rock_bottom/8649871 Xavier-UC Rivalry hits rock bottom http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/xavier_uc_rivalry_hits_rock_bottom/8649871 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png