TicketsJune 24, 2010
CINCINNATI - The BIG EAST Conference announced today the University of Cincinnati's conference opponents and game sites for the upcoming 2010-11 season.
In 2010-11, the BIG EAST will play an 18-game conference schedule, allowing teams to face 12 opponents once and three opponents twice. It will mark the fourth year of the 18-game schedule, which began in the 2007-08 season. All 144 regular-season conference games will again be televised, either by CBS Sports, the ESPN family of networks or ESPN Regional Television.
This season, UC will face DePaul University, Georgetown University, and St. John's University in home-and-home series.
Besides Georgetown, the Bearcats will host two additional 2010 NCAA Tournament participants - Louisville and West Virginia - at Fifth Third Arena. The Mountaineers, the 2010 BIG EAST Conference Tournament Champions, finished last year with a loss to Duke in the NCAA National Semifinals.
"The BIG EAST Conference is the ultimate challenge in college basketball and this year is no different," said fifth-year head coach Mick Cronin . "Our team showed great chemistry and determination down the stretch last season as we won twice in the BIG EAST Tournament and made it into the National Invitation Tournament. I am excited about continuing our progress and getting UC back to its rightful place among the nation's elite."
The Bearcats' road schedule is as tough as ever as they travel to BIG EAST regular-season champion Syracuse and visit Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Providence, and Villanova.
Cincinnati enters the 2010-11 season with three starters and 11 letterwinners from last year's squad that finished 19-16 and made its first appearance in the NIT under Cronin. The Bearcats top returning scorer and rebounder is junior forward Yancy Gates (10.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg), a 2008-09 BIG EAST All-Rookie Team selection. Fellow returning starters include senior center Ibrahima Thomas (5.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and sophomore guard Jaquon Parker (4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg). The Bearcats will add depth to the front court with the additions of 6-foot-8 freshman forward Justin Jackson and 6-foot-10 freshman center Kelvin Gaines.
Bearcats fans interested in season tickets for the 2010-11 men's basketball campaign may place a deposit by calling 1-877-CATS-TIX or online at www.CATSTIX.com.
2010-11 BIG EAST Conference Opponents
Home Games
Connecticut
DePaul *
Georgetown *
Louisville
Rutgers
St. John's *
Seton Hall
USF
West Virginia
Away Games
DePaul *
Georgetown *
Marquette
Notre Dame
Pittsburgh
Providence
St. John's *
Syracuse
Villanova
* - Home-and-home series. All dates are to be determined.