UC basketball program still living on the edge

Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin calls a play in the second half of a college basketball game against Xavier, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 67-57.

(AP Photo/Al Behrman) Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin calls a play in the second half of a college basketball game against Xavier, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 67-57.

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By Sean McClelland, Staff Writer Updated 12:15 AM Saturday, July 4, 2009

This week’s gem from the college-coaches-say-the-darndest-things file comes to us from University of Cincinnati men’s basketball kingpin Mick Cronin.

“I’m interested in two things in every recruit we bring in: Does he play hard and does he want to win?” Cronin reportedly said. “The answer with Lance Stephenson is a huge yes and a huge yes.”

Important traits of course, but Stephenson, a prolific scorer from New York who has signed a financial aid agreement with UC, also might face a trial later this month on a misdemeanor sexual abuse charge. He and a high school teammate are accused of groping a 17-year-old female.

Also apparently at issue, at least in terms of eligibility, is whether Stephenson or his family took money for appearing in a reality series. The NCAA is curious.

Guess the days of UC basketball living on the edge did not end with the ouster of Bob Huggins after all. As coaches across the country deleted Stephenson’s number from their cell phones in droves, Cronin soldiered forward in pursuit of a player with more red flags than a Russian patriot.

Worse, certainly, is Cronin’s cavalier attitude toward the question of Stephenson’s innocence or guilt. It takes little reading between the lines of the aforementioned quote to get the feeling that character still counts for less than it should at UC.

The Bearcats were mediocre (18-14) last season, Cronin’s third. Winning in the Big East perhaps requires a few rolls of the dice, but where does one draw the line? Looks like UC has another coach who’s making up the rules as he goes along.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408 or smcclelland@DaytonDailyNews.com.

How to go

When: Sunday | Where: Welcome Stadium

Session 1: Grades 3-7 (registration from 8 to 9 a.m., camp from 9 a.m. to noon).

Session 2: Grades 8-12 (registration from 1 to 2 p.m., camp from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.).

Camp includes: NFL player instruction, an autograph session, free lunch and T-shirt for each participant. Turf appropriate shoes or sneakers are requested to be worn. However, no football pads or equipment is needed.

Informational pamphlets: Available at Dayton area Cricket Communications stores, Smokey Bones restaurants, BW3 restaurants, Footlocker, McDonald’s and Welcome Stadium.

Note: A parent or guardian signature is required for participation; parents and spectators are welcome to watch the event.

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