Cougars on a mission

Steve Addy

Thursday, March 15, 2001 | 10:28 a.m.

SAN DIEGO -- BYU won't enter the NCAA West Regional tonight begging for Cincinnati's respect.

The 12th-seeded Cougars are happy to leave that overworked theme to the other underdogs.

But BYU could tread that route if desired, because it was evident Wednesday that Cincinnati is not especially worried about playing the lone Mountain West team in the NCAA Tournament, regardless of BYU's 24-8 record.

Most Bearcats were saying all of the right stuff about having to shut down BYU's "big boy" -- referring to center Mekeli Wesley, the MWC player of the year. They were giving BYU appropriate credit for making the 65-team field. Coach Bob Huggins said the Cougars are "very well coached."

But Cincinnati guard Kenny Satterfield clearly believes BYU isn't on the same level as the 23-9 Bearcats, runners-up in the Conference USA tournament and the No. 5 seed in the West.

Though the Cougars have one of the fastest and finest backcourts in the MWC with Terrell Lyday and Trent Whiting, Satterfield said he didn't see much in the scouting video to worry about in tonight's game at Cox Arena.

"I don't think they're as fast as we are," Satterfield said with a confident smile, nodding toward fellow guard Steve Logan. "We've got some pretty fast guards.

"It seems like as far as BYU's guards take them, that's how far they'll go. If we come out and play great perimeter defense and hold their big boy under his average, we'll be fine."

Satterfield said Cincy will impose its desired pace on BYU and not permit the Cougars to dictate a halfcourt game, where Wesley does his best work.

"We really determine the tempo, (Logan) and I," Satterfield said. "If it's a fast-paced game, we know how to play that. If they want to go halfcourt, we're good at that, too. We can play any kind of game we want."

Maybe Satterfield subscribes to the old theory that it's not bragging if you can back it up. Or maybe he believes his NCAA Tournament experience gives him a been-there-done-that edge over the upstart Cougars, who haven't been in the tournament since 1995.

But maybe Satterfield is excusing BYU too easily. The Cougars have won their last five games, all away from home, including three last week to capture the MWC tournament and the automatic NCAA bid.

And Cincinnati probably can't win simply by shutting down one player. Wesley, Lyday and Whiting combined to score 177 of the Cougars' 215 points in the MWC tournament. After Lyday carried the team over Air Force and Wyoming, Wesley took command with 30 points on 11-of-12 shooting in the championship win over New Mexico.

Whiting was steady throughout, averaging 14.3 points and playing 117 out of 120 minutes.

Regardless of Satterfield's claims, Lyday isn't ready to concede anything to Cincinnati.

"Actually, I think we match up pretty good," the MWC first-team selection said. "They like to play a run-and-gun game. We like to play that, too. They've got shooters, we've got shooters. I really don't see any difference besides where we're (seeded)."

Whiting said, "Logan and Satterfield are really good players. They've proven that, and we know we'll have to be very disciplined. But we've played against some good guards all season. I feel we match up well."

The key for the Cougars will be to overcome Cincy's pressure defense on the perimeter. If Lyday and Whiting can get BYU into its offense with regularity, they are confident they'll be able to create scoring opportunities.

"We have to be the aggressor and take the ball to the hole," coach Steve Cleveland said. "If we're trying to run our offense from 30 feet out, it's going to be a long night."

"Cincinnati likes to pressure the ball," Wesley said. "If we can play well in the first five or 10 minutes and get them back on their heels, it will be a huge advantage in terms of backing their pressure off."