Impressions on Bearcats win over Cal State Bakersfield

The Bearcats blew out the roadrunners and sent them crawling back to California like they were supposed to.

But wait isn't this the first week of January? Why is UC playing a team that are in their first year of division one play, three games into conference play?

First and foremost, UC had problems scheduling their last non-conference home game. One because any elite school is sane enough to know they do not want to play UC at the Shoemaker Center, excuse me Fifth Third Arena. Secondly head coach Mick Cronin did not want to schedule another game around Christmas time.

The game actually turned out to be more of positive than I thought it would be. This year's team is the deepest squad since the Bob Huggin's days. With that said, this team is also very young and has a lot to learn. Freshman Cashmere Wright for instance has gotten little playing time this season and probably would have started last year if he hadn't gotten hurt, but that was when he was our only point guard. Freshman Jaquon Parker was supposed to be his back up but has not gotten those minutes because Vaughn played point last year and feels comfortable there now.

Last night was a chance to give these boys minutes in a game at the mid-season point. Parker played 15 minutes and was 3-5 from three. Wright played 23 minutes, the most since Vaughn was moved back to point guard and after only playing 17 minutes in the last three games combined. Fan favorite center Anthony "Biggie" McClain played a season high and an efficient 13 minutes. He was 4-5 from the field with eight points and eight rebounds.

Cronin played a total of 13 players, including the first ever minutes for local boy Alex Eppensteiner from Elder. More importantly it allowed Cronin to rest Vaughn, Stephenson and Gates who all played under 18 minutes. That off the heels of those three players collectively playing 100 minutes against Pitt.

This game will pay off in late February and March when players starting feeling the grind of playing some many minutes. This game was more than just another 29 point win against a small school.