THE GOOD NEWS
Coach Mick Cronin has this team believing it is improving and has a scoring machine in G Deonta Vaughn. If the strong freshman class that arrived this year is able to blend in a pair of transfers, Nick Aldridge from East Carolina and Mike Williams from Texas, along with what's considered a top recruiting class again, UC could move up the ladder in the conference.

THE BAD NEWS
Being in the Big East Conference doesn't make improvement easy, especially for anyone looking for it to happen in a hurry. Cronin has proven himself an able recruiter, but it is going to take time to mesh so much new talent with Vaughn, who has to work with a new point guard.

KEY RETURNEES
G Deonta Vaughn leads the return, but there is a huge influx of talent coming in with Mike Williams, East Carolina transfer Nick Aldridge, 6-foot-10 freshman Yancey Gates, 6-foot-1 G Cashmere Wright and 6-foot-3 G Dion Dixon.

ROSTER REPORT

--Cronin plans to meet after the season with freshman F Alvin Mitchell, who was suspended the last few weeks of the season, to see if he will return next year. "That's going to be solely up to him," Cronin said. "I'm building the program in a certain fashion. I'm building for the long term, where character and academics are important."

--When Deonta Vaughn scored 30 points against defensive-minded Pitt in the Big East Tournament, it was his third 30-point effort of the season.

--Freshman center Anthony McClain underwent surgery to correct a foot problem. He is expected to be fine next year.

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