There will be the inevitable skepticism about UC's 65-57 win over #25 Georgetown, Wednesday night. Granted, they aren't the same Hoyas who ascended to the AP top 10 earlier this season. But they are not chopped liver.
Three straight losses coming in would seem to have been enough incentive for them to mount a furious effort to continue their domination over Cincinnati, a team that had never beaten them in four previous tries.
John Thompson, Jr.'s team played with passion if not precision, trying to halt the free fall that dropped them to 25th in this weeks' AP poll.
But the Bearcats were resilient and then some. They turned the ball over 10 times in the first half but still clung to a 1 point lead at halftime.
Then came the "stand up and be counted" second half. Which is more and more becoming known as Deonta Vaughn time. He had eight points and four turnovers in the first half. He finished with 20 points and only one additional bobble.
Mick Cronin pointed to nearly 79 percent free throw shooting in the second half as the difference.
Others would cite 10 Bearcat steals, another indication of their rededication to defense. A defense that held the Hoyas to 40 percent shooting for the game.
Whatever the reasons, the bottom line was an 8 point Cincinnati win. A landmark considering it was their first ever against one of college basketball's more illustrious programs.
