[White Magic]

This is encouraging... Kind of makes me wish I'd gone down to see this game myself.

At last, a talented UC basketball team

Just got back from the Deveroes Summer League final, where I saw Slats beat John Flessa Law Firm, 101-93. It was a very entertaining game. Anyone there would probably agree that it was the best $3 they will spend all day. Slats, of course, has UC players Deonta Vaughn, Mike Williams, Yancy Gates, Dion Dixon and Cashmere Wright and I would venture to say that even the harshest critic of UC coach Mick Cronin, after watching these guys play, would have to concede that the talent level on this season's UC team will be appreciably higher than anything UC has been able to put on the court since the 2004-05 season. Vaughn is playing with a poise that's obvious even in a summer league. Dixon looks to be a real find. Williams, who was named the MVP today, is a rebounding machine who will make a huge difference on UC's front line. Gates is a strong, physical bundle of talent just waiting to be harnessed, and Wright could be the answer at point guard. The highlight of the afternoon was the battle between Gates and Kenny Frease, XU's incoming freshman center. It took only a few minutes after Frease took the floor to play against Gates for a nearby fan to say that she was already looking forward to this year's Crosstown Shootout. At one point, Frease blocked a Gates shot and as he fell to the floor after the block he pointed at Gates. A few minutes later, Gates returned the favor by rejecting one of Frease's shots. In the end, Gates got the best of the matchup with several thunderous dunks. I'm not foolhardy enough to predict how well UC will do this winter. These guys still have to come together as a team, but I will say that finally, after three years of recovery, this program has a base of legitimate talent to work with. It should be interesting to see what Cronin does with it.