Cincinnati Basketball Mount Rushmore: Oscar Robertson, Kenyon Martin, Nick Van Exel, Bob Huggins
Oscar Robertson
Any conversation about the best players in Cincinnati Bearcats history has to start and end with Oscar Robertson.
As good as “Mr. Triple Double” was in the NBA, Robertson was even more dominant for the Bearcats. He averaged at least 32.6 points and 14.1 rebounds per game in his three collegiate seasons, finishing his career averaging 33.8 points, 15.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game.
He carried Cincinnati to the Sweet 16 in each of his three seasons with the program, including their first two Final Four appearances in 1959 and 1960. That started a run of five consecutive Final Four appearances for the program.
Kenyon Martin
Kenyon Martin might be one of the biggest “what-ifs” in college basketball history. A solid player throughout his entire career, Martin really emerged as a star as a senior, when he averaged 18.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game and won National Player of the Year.
Cincinnati was ranked No. 1 in the country for most of that season (1999-2000) and were one of the favorites to win the national championship before Martin broke his leg in the Conference USA Tournament. The Bearcats couldn’t recover, losing in the second round.
Martin remains the school’s career leader in blocks (292) and field goal percentage (.586) and had his No. 4 jersey retired by the school. He also holds the distinction of being the last college senior that was selected with the top overall pick in the NBA Draft.
Nick Van Exel
Nick Van Exel spent two successful seasons at Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to their last Final Four in 1992 and the Elite Eight in 1993. He averaged 18.3 points and 4.5 assists per game as a senior in 1992-93 (he started his career at Trinity Valley Community College) to earn Third-Team All-American honors.
The 6-1 point guard went on to have a long and successful 13-year NBA career, including an All-Star appearance in 1998.
Bob Huggins
Bob Huggins has spent the last 12 seasons in charge of West Virginia, his alma mater, but he remains one of the most successful coaches – and certainly the most notable – in program history.
He spent 16 seasons in charge of the Bearcats and reached one Final Four and two more Elite Eights to go along with eight C-USA titles (in 10 seasons). His 398 wins are the most in program history, as are his 10 conference regular season titles and eight conference tournament titles.