UC Bearcats coach Wes Miller, Baba Miller, Kerr Kriisa on Lipscomb win
UC Bearcats coach Wes Miller, Baba Miller, Kerr Kriisa on Lipscomb win Dec. 29
After a convincing win to end their non-conference slate at 8-5, the Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball team finds itself with a winning record, but a record that is tied for last among their Big 12 colleagues with Utah.
Technically, before Big 12 play begins, everyone is tied at 0-0. But, it appears to be an uphill climb when four Big 12 teams are in the Top 10, two more are in the Top 25 and three more have received at least one vote in the polls.
Arizona is No. 1 in the Associated Press and No. 2 is the US LBM Coaches poll. Iowa State is No. 3, UC’s next opponent, Houston, is No. 8 and BYU is No. 10. Texas Tech and Kansas are No. 15 and No. 17, respectively in AP and No. 16 and No. 17 according to coaches.
The AP poll gave votes to Arizona State, UCF and Oklahoma State.
Dilemma for Cincinnati Bearcats
To reach last year’s mark of 17 wins in the regular season, the Bearcats are going to have to go 9-9 in the Big 12, something they’ve yet to do. The 2023 team was 7-13 and last year’s squad was 7-11. The league is rated so high that a winning record might be enough to get you in the NCAA tournament.
On the other hand, a few miscues and you’re NIT or Crown-bound. A few more and you’re on the outside looking in with a fan base that hasn’t sniffed the NCAA tournament since a first-round loss to Iowa in March 2019 in Columbus.
NCAA tournament droughts
Currently, the absence from “The Dance” is going on six years. After the departure of Bob Huggins after the 2005 season it was six seasons before Mick Cronin made his first NCAA tournament with the Bearcats in 2011. An even longer dry spell was from Gale Catlett’s 1977 appearance until the Huggins Final Four Team.
After five consecutive Final Fours and two NCAA titles from 1958-1963 under George Smith and Ed Jucker, Tay Baker’s lone appearance came in 1966 and UC didn’t make it back until 1975 under Catlett.
The bottom line is the Bearcats have played 13 and have 18 left to change their fortunes. If your glass is half-full, there’s a great opportunity. If you’re the pessimistic type, you might be treading water as your glass floats away from the pack.
Big 12 leaders based on non-conference records
Arizona Wildcats – They are 13-0 with wins over No. 2 Florida Nov. 3, No. 15 UCLA Nov. 14, No. 20 Auburn Dec. 6 and No. 12 Alabama (96-75) Dec. 13. They begin the season at 8-5 Utah Jan. 3. UC visits Tucson Jan. 21.
Note: UC got down 13 at halftime vs. Arizona last year and wound up losing by five, 72-67 at Fifth Third Arena.
Iowa State Cyclones – Also 13-0 with wins over No. 14 St. John’s 83-82 Nov. 24 and No. 1 Purdue 81-58 Dec. 6. They host West Virginia Jan. 2 and come to Fifth Third Arena Jan. 17 to play the Bearcats.
Note: UC and No. 10 Iowa State were tied at 39 at halftime last Feb. 15, but the Cyclones pulled away to win in Ames, 81-70.
BYU – The Cougars are 12-1 with the one loss to No. 3 Connecticut Nov. 15. They have beaten No. 23 Wisconsin 98-70 Nov. 21 and the Dayton Flyers 83-79 on Nov. 28.
Note: BYU beat Clemson 67-64 Dec. 9. UC lost to Clemson 68-65 in Greenville, South Carolina after spotting them a 27-point lead, coming back to make it a one-possession game.
Houston – Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars are also 12-1 with a win over No. 22 Auburn Nov. 20, a loss to No. 17 Tennessee Nov. 25 and a win over No. 14 Arkansas Dec. 20.
Note: The Bearcats have lost 12 straight to Houston. The pair meet Jan. 3 at Fifth Third Arena, then again in Houston Jan. 31.
Oklahoma State – The Cowboys are 12-1 after a 17-18 season in 2024-25. No. 15 Texas Tech will be the first ranked team they play on Jan. 3.
Note: UC split with the Cowboys last season, losing in Stillwater March 8, then winning three days later in the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, 87-68.
UCF – The Knights are 11-1 with the loss coming Nov. 8 to Vanderbilt, 105-93. They begin with Kansas in Orlando Jan. 3. UC visits UCF Jan. 11 and the Knights come to Fifth Third Arena Feb. 8.
Note: With UCF’s center from last season, Moustapha Thiam, on the Bearcats, both games should draw interest.
Baylor – The Bears are 10-2 with a loss to No. 14 St. John’s Nov. 25 and another against Memphis Dec. 6. They’re at TCU Jan. 3 and come to Fifth Third Arena on Jan. 28.
Note: In addition to recently signing a player who had been selected in the NBA Draft, former Bearcat Dan Skillings Jr. will make his return to Cincinnati in the late January game.
Colorado – The Buffaloes are 10-3 and have already won more games than Coach Prime’s football team did this fall. They were just 14-21 in 2024-25. They open with Arizona State Jan. 3 and will be at Fifth Third Arena on Jan. 14.
Note: Both Colorado and UC have played Alabama State. Colorado won 94-66 on Nov. 17 and UC won 88-51 on Dec. 17.
Kansas – The Jayhawks are 10-3 with a loss to No. 25 North Carolina, a loss to No. 5 Duke and a loss to No. 5 Connecticut on their non-conference résumé. Bill Self and crew start at UCF Jan. 3. UC makes its return to Phog Allen Fieldhouse Feb. 21.
Note: UC led Kansas 25-24 at halftime last season at Fifth Third Arena, then scored just 15 points as the Jayhawks on 54-40.
TCU – The Horned Frogs are 10-3 with a loss to No. 6 Michigan 67-63 Nov. 14 and a win over No. 10 Florida Nov. 27, 84-80. They host Baylor Jan. 3. The Bearcats finish the regular season in Fort Worth March 7 against TCU.
Note: UC and TCU played just once last season on Feb. 22, with the Bearcats winning 75-63.
Texas Tech – The Red Raiders stand at 10-3 with a loss to No. 14 Illinois 81-77 Nov. 11, a loss to No. 1 Purdue 86-56 Nov. 21 and a loss to No. 17 Arkansas Dec. 13, 93-86. Their biggest win was Dec. 20 over No. 3 Duke in Durham, 82-81. They host Oklahoma State Jan. 3 and UC will be in Lubbock Feb. 24 for a game.
Note: In UC”s first Big 12 season, they went to Lubbock and beat the No. 15 Red Raiders, 75-72. Current Bearcats Day Day Thomas and Jizzle James both played in that game.
Arizona State – Bobby Hurley’s team is 9-4 with a loss to No. 19 Gonzaga Nov. 14. The Sun Devils host Colorado Jan. 3. UC will be in Tempe Jan. 24.
Note: The Bearcats won their lone meeting last Jan. 18, 67-60.
Kansas State – It’s a 9-4 start for the Wildcats, which includes a Nov. 25 loss to No. 25 Indiana 86-69. Kansas State hosts BYU Jan. 3. UC visits on Feb. 11.
Note: The Bearcats dropped both games against Jerome Tang’s bunch last season.
West Virginia – The Mountaineers are off to a 9-4 start, which includes a 78-68 loss to Xavier on Nov. 23 and a double overtime defeat in Cleveland vs. Ohio State 89-88. WVU travels to Iowa State Jan. 2, then hosts the Bearcats Jan. 6. They return to Cincinnati Feb. 5.
Note: Both WVU and UC have lost to Xavier and Clemson this season. The Tigers beat UC by three and beat the Mountaineers by three on Nov. 21.
Utah – The Utes are tied with UC non-conference wise at 8-5. They have not played any ranked teams but will jump into the fire Jan. 3 when No. 1 Arizona comes to Salt Lake City. Utah will come to Fifth Third Arena Feb. 15 for a single meeting with the Bearcats.
Note: The Bearcats and Utes split last year’s series, with each team winning their home game.
