CHICAGO -- Bob Huggins had worn the tux for a University of Cincinnati function. He kept it on the next day for the Conference USA media day last because he wanted to get his money worth for the weekend rental.

But the real reason might have been his desire to out-dress his colleagues.

This is, and was still his show, until someone takes it away from him ... or he leaves on his own accord (say to alma mater West Virginia whenever Gale Catlett retires).

	Bob Huggins may have competition this season in C-USA -- both as the best-dressed coach and coach of the best team.

Forget about Memphis' John Calipari or Louisville's Rick Pitino getting all the publicity once the season starts. They've still got to beat Huggins. And that means beating reigning conference champions Cincinnati.

You remember the Bearcats, right?

"Bob Huggins is still the standard in this league," South Florida coach Seth Greenberg said. "Hey, check out the tuxedo, he was obviously making a statement. Rick Pitino and John Calipari bring a sexiness and charisma to the conference. But the bottom line is Cincinnati is the standard for Conference USA. They're the new Louisville when Bob Huggins took the torch from Denny Crum. He has it until someone dethrones him."

It won't be easy. Sure, Memphis has more talent and star power this season and Louisville will likely be in the race within a few seasons. But the Bearcats still have the preseason player of the year candidate in guard Steve Logan. They're still intimidating at home, and for that matter on the road, and have the history of winning the conference or postseason tournament and getting into NCAA Tournament.

They were even ranked No. 1 in the country two seasons ago, and had a legit shot to win the national title had player of the year Kenyon Martin not broken his leg in the C-USA tournament.

"If anyone is shifting attention away from Bob and Cincinnati then they're making a mistake," said Charlotte coach Bobby Lutz, whose program has provided the Bearcats with their toughest rival in the league the past four seasons. "They're just fueling the fire for Bob. He has won the regular season every year the history of Conference USA. He takes any shots like that personally. Rick Pitino and John Calipari are a positive for the league, but if anyone thinks Cincinnati is going to take a backseat then they're making a mistake."

Huggins was in a good mood at the media day. He has been like that throughout the preseason. He wasn't amused when assistant Mick Cronin bolted to be with Louisville and ultimately recruit against his old boss. But he seems to be relishing in this new challenge, a threat to take him on within his league.

"He loves this pressure," Logan said. "There's something about him that makes him win. You better believe he's ready to show people that they're going to have to beat him first. Memphis is very talented, and they've got Dajuan Wagner and a great coach in Calipari, but they've still got to go through Cincinnati."

Huggins, Calipari and Pitino have no reason to talk about the pending competition. But his colleagues like Greenberg, Lutz, Marquette's Tom Crean and DePaul's Pat Kennedy aren't about to shift the attention from Huggins.

"Bob isn't slowing down," Crean said. "Bob continues to be tough and his team responds to that. Last year, he struggled early and then at the end he was still hoisting the trophy. He continues to do it over the long haul."

Added Kennedy, "Conference USA goes through Cincinnati and Hugs wouldn't have it any other way. It doesn't matter that he loses guys to the NBA or not, he's still the most consistent team in the league."

But Huggins and the rest of the league needs Pitino and Calipari to elevate Louisville and Memphis into top 25 programs. Cincinnati can't afford to be the kingpin in a small-time conference that gets one or two bids to the NCAA Tournament. Beating Cincinnati twice didn't do much for Marquette. The Eagles were 9-7 in Conference USA (although 15-14 overall), but a slightly above average record in the league doesn't pull power points. Neither did South Florida's 9-7 record or its 18-13 mark overall. The Bulls didn't even get an NIT bid.

"We need this to be a five-bid conference, especially with 14 teams," Greenberg said after only Cincinnati and Charlotte earned bids in 2001. "If only two or three continue to go then a lot of coaches will lose their jobs. South Florida with 18 wins doesn't sound as good as Louisville with 18 wins. We need to beat teams out of conference and have those teams be better within the conference."

"We're not there yet as a league to earmark five teams to the NCAAs," Kennedy said. "But talent-wise, we're as strong here as we've ever been in this league."

Memphis gets a lot of the credit this season for raising the bar talent-wise, but Cincinnati continues to be the standard bearer like it was in the Great Midwest before Conference USA formed. The Bearcats lost guard Kenny Satterfield to the NBA early last spring. Center B.J. Grove bolted and replacement Derek Hollman is out for the season with shoulder problems. But the Bearcats still have the deepest backcourt in the league and perhaps the most productive -- next to, or ahead of Memphis -- with Logan (17.6 ppg), Immanuel McElroy (7.0 ppg), JC transfer Taron Barker, Fred Williams (3.2 ppg) and Leonard Stokes (10.1 ppg).

"Steve Logan beats you in so many different ways," Crean said. "He can beat you off the dribble and he has range, hitting a 3-pointer three or four feet behind the line. He can go left, right and drop his shoulder down and drive on you. He's an old-school player who knows how to win and make plays."

He's perfect for Huggins. And if Cincinnati can get some inside production from the oft-troubled Donald Little and unproven Rod Flowers, Jason Maxiell and Jimmy Hubbard then the Bearcats will continue to be the team to beat in the league.

"We've got a nice chemistry going right now," Logan said. "The league still goes through us and, believe me, all this (attention on Pitino and Calipari) fuels coach (Huggins) quite a bit."

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.