Crucial update on Cincinnati Bearcats basketball future

The last NCAA tournament appearance by a Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team came in March 2019 when Mick Cronin’s final UC team was bounced in the opening round by Iowa in Columbus.

Then, 2020 was the COVID-19 year, leaving everyone incomplete. Since 2021, Wes Miller has been at the helm of Bearcats hoops. The last two years featured seasons that ended in the NIT quarterfinals.

In 2023-24, UC had a 22-15 record and a 7-11 mark in the treacherous Big 12.

“We have the best league,” Miller said. “It’s not a slight toward anybody else’s league. It’s fact.” He emphasized, “You look at the numbers. Look at average NET ranking for the last five years. It’s actually not even close.”

In last year’s NCAA NET rankings, the Big 12 had 13 teams among the top 50, counting newcomers and then-SEC-bound Texas and Oklahoma.

UC carries the preseason No. 20 ranking in both the USA TODAY and Associated Press preseason polls. Kansas is ranked atop both tallies with Houston, Iowa State, Baylor, and Arizona all making the top 10. Among Big 12 coaches, UC was picked to finish sixth in the league.

2024 game-by-game look for Cincinnati Bearcats basketball:

Nov. 4 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (No. 354 KenPom.com)
No Cincinnati Bearcats team should lose to a team that sounds like an air freshener.

Nov. 8 vs. Morehead State (No. 248 KenPom.com)
Former NFL quarterback Phil Simms went there.

Nov. 15 vs. Nicholls (No. 186 KenPom.com)
UC shouldn’t need the week of preparation for this school from Missouri.

Nov. 19 at NKU (No. 157 KenPom.com)
Thank former UC AD Mike Bohn for this return trip to Highland Heights.

Nov. 23 at Georgia Tech (No. 70 KenPom.com)
An even tougher road test especially since UC dismantled Damon Stoudamire’s team 89-54 last season.

Jan. 4 vs. Arizona (No. 8 KenPom.com)
The Bearcats ring in the 2025 portion of the season against more Wildcats.

Jan. 11 vs. Kansas (No. 6 KenPom.com)
UC thumped Kansas in the Big 12 tournament 72-52 when they were down some starters and lost by five at Allen Fieldhouse last year.

Cincinnati Bearcats guard Dan Skillings Jr. (0) drives to the basket as TCU Horned Frogs forward Emanuel Miller (2) defends in the first half.

2024 Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball prediction:
Most are bullish on the Bearcats who barring injury, could have their best season since Mick Cronin’s final year of 28-7 in 2018-19.

For Wes Miller’s men, I see the possibility of an unbeaten first half of the season.

A five-game win streak would then put the Bearcats in Ames vs. Iowa State, a top 10 in-your-shorts defending team that could be an issue.

I have a 24-7 record (13-7 Big 12). The possible losses would be Arizona, Baylor (2), Kansas, BYU, Iowa State, and Houston. A .500 record in the Big 12 would be truly admirable and NCAA tournament-worthy.

2024-25 Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball schedule:

Oct. 18 vs. Ohio State (exhibition) 7 p.m. (W 80-62)
Nov. 4 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7 p.m. ESPN+

March 8 at Oklahoma State 3 p.m. ESPN+

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