TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati men's basketball team gets an early tune-up for the 2018-19 season with a five-day, three-game foreign tour in Canada, Aug. 4-8.
Cincinnati's trip includes contests against the University of Ottawa on Aug. 5 in Montreal, Québec; Carleton University on Aug. 6 in Ottawa, Ontario; and McGill University on Aug. 7 in Montreal, Québec. The game against Ottawa will start at 2 p.m. ET while contests with Carleton and McGill will tip at 7 p.m. ET. The trip is coordinated through JD Sports.
NCAA rules allow for a foreign tour once every four years. In preparation for the trip the Bearcats will be allowed 10 practices.
"It will be great to get the extra practice time this summer and three games in Canada," Cronin said. "Losing Gary (Clark) and Kyle (Washington) will change our strategy in a few ways and this trip will give us a chance to get experience playing without them. I expect us to be much more consistent with our full-court pressure defense this season. Our roster will be the fastest group we've had in years."
The trip is Cincinnati's second to Canada during the Cronin coaching era (since 2006-07). The Bearcats played three games north of the border in August 2010 against McGill, Carleton and Ottawa. The Bearcats also took a six-day trip to the Bahamas in August 2014.
// CANADA FOREIGN TOUR SCHEDULE
Aug. 4 – Depart for Canada
Aug. 5 – vs. Ottawa at Jean de Brébeuf College in Montreal (2 p.m. ET)
Aug. 6 – vs. Carleton at Carleton University in Ottawa (7 p.m. ET)
Aug. 7 – vs. McGill at McGill University in Montreal (7 p.m. ET)
Aug. 8 – Return to Cincinnati
// SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Each of Cincinnati's three opponents are expected to take a Top 10 national ranking into the 2018-19 season.
OTTAWA – The Gee-Gees have been consistently ranked in the Top 10 nationally over the last decade with multiple national championship tournament appearances, advancing to the finals in 2014 and 2015. SERIES NOTE: The Bearcats are 2-0 against Ottawa during the Cronin era. UC claimed a 79-57 win over the Gee-Gees on Sept. 5, 2010, in Ottawa and earned an 81-59 preseason exhibition victory on Nov. 4, 2006, in Cincinnati.
CARLETON – Winners of 13 of the last 16 Canadian university championships, Carleton won 23 consecutive games to start the 2017-18 season before suffering its first loss. The Ravens earned a bronze medal finish by defeating McGill in the national tournament. Carleton won preseason games over Alabama and Vanderbilt (twice) in August 2017. SERIES NOTE: Cincinnati is 4-0 against Carleton during the Cronin era. The Bearcats posted an 87-70 victory over the Ravens on Sept. 4, 2010, during UC's last trip to Canada. UC also has won all three preseason exhibition games against Carleton in Cincinnati: 64-54 on Nov. 1, 2008; 89-57 on Nov. 1, 2010; and 77-63 on Oct. 26, 2013.
McGILL – The Redmen have appeared in each of the last five national tournaments having won six consecutive conference regular-season championships and five consecutive league tournament titles. SERIES NOTE: Cincinnati owns a 2-0 mark against McGill, registering an 89-58 win on Sept. 3, 2010, in Ottawa and a 75-41 preseason exhibition win on Nov. 1, 2011, at Fifth Third Arena.
// ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Cincinnati climbed as high as fifth in the national polls in 2017-18, tying the school record with 31 wins and achieving back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time in program history. The Bearcats won the American Athletic Conference regular-season championship and league tournament crown while making their eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Bearcats hope to retool in 2018-19 after the graduation of 2018 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year Gary Clark and honorable mention all-league performer Kyle Washington. Whatever decision is made by swingman Jacob Evans III, who declared for the NBA Draft on Apr. 1, but did not sign with an agent, the new-look Bearcats will return starting guards Jarron Cumberland (11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and a team-high 60 three-pointers) and Justin Jenifer (4.8 points, 3.79-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio) along with UC's top performing reserve guard Cane Broome (7.9 points, 2.8 assists). Along with eight other returning lettermen and a trio of newcomers, the new squad will gain valuable time developing together during its experience in Canada.
// FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay connected with Cincinnati men's basketball on Facebook (GoBearcatsMBB), Twitter (@GoBearcatsMBB) and Instagram (GoBearcatsMBB).
Cincinnati's trip includes contests against the University of Ottawa on Aug. 5 in Montreal, Québec; Carleton University on Aug. 6 in Ottawa, Ontario; and McGill University on Aug. 7 in Montreal, Québec. The game against Ottawa will start at 2 p.m. ET while contests with Carleton and McGill will tip at 7 p.m. ET. The trip is coordinated through JD Sports.
NCAA rules allow for a foreign tour once every four years. In preparation for the trip the Bearcats will be allowed 10 practices.
"It will be great to get the extra practice time this summer and three games in Canada," Cronin said. "Losing Gary (Clark) and Kyle (Washington) will change our strategy in a few ways and this trip will give us a chance to get experience playing without them. I expect us to be much more consistent with our full-court pressure defense this season. Our roster will be the fastest group we've had in years."
The trip is Cincinnati's second to Canada during the Cronin coaching era (since 2006-07). The Bearcats played three games north of the border in August 2010 against McGill, Carleton and Ottawa. The Bearcats also took a six-day trip to the Bahamas in August 2014.
// CANADA FOREIGN TOUR SCHEDULE
Aug. 4 – Depart for Canada
Aug. 5 – vs. Ottawa at Jean de Brébeuf College in Montreal (2 p.m. ET)
Aug. 6 – vs. Carleton at Carleton University in Ottawa (7 p.m. ET)
Aug. 7 – vs. McGill at McGill University in Montreal (7 p.m. ET)
Aug. 8 – Return to Cincinnati
// SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Each of Cincinnati's three opponents are expected to take a Top 10 national ranking into the 2018-19 season.
OTTAWA – The Gee-Gees have been consistently ranked in the Top 10 nationally over the last decade with multiple national championship tournament appearances, advancing to the finals in 2014 and 2015. SERIES NOTE: The Bearcats are 2-0 against Ottawa during the Cronin era. UC claimed a 79-57 win over the Gee-Gees on Sept. 5, 2010, in Ottawa and earned an 81-59 preseason exhibition victory on Nov. 4, 2006, in Cincinnati.
CARLETON – Winners of 13 of the last 16 Canadian university championships, Carleton won 23 consecutive games to start the 2017-18 season before suffering its first loss. The Ravens earned a bronze medal finish by defeating McGill in the national tournament. Carleton won preseason games over Alabama and Vanderbilt (twice) in August 2017. SERIES NOTE: Cincinnati is 4-0 against Carleton during the Cronin era. The Bearcats posted an 87-70 victory over the Ravens on Sept. 4, 2010, during UC's last trip to Canada. UC also has won all three preseason exhibition games against Carleton in Cincinnati: 64-54 on Nov. 1, 2008; 89-57 on Nov. 1, 2010; and 77-63 on Oct. 26, 2013.
McGILL – The Redmen have appeared in each of the last five national tournaments having won six consecutive conference regular-season championships and five consecutive league tournament titles. SERIES NOTE: Cincinnati owns a 2-0 mark against McGill, registering an 89-58 win on Sept. 3, 2010, in Ottawa and a 75-41 preseason exhibition win on Nov. 1, 2011, at Fifth Third Arena.
// ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Cincinnati climbed as high as fifth in the national polls in 2017-18, tying the school record with 31 wins and achieving back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time in program history. The Bearcats won the American Athletic Conference regular-season championship and league tournament crown while making their eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Bearcats hope to retool in 2018-19 after the graduation of 2018 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year Gary Clark and honorable mention all-league performer Kyle Washington. Whatever decision is made by swingman Jacob Evans III, who declared for the NBA Draft on Apr. 1, but did not sign with an agent, the new-look Bearcats will return starting guards Jarron Cumberland (11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and a team-high 60 three-pointers) and Justin Jenifer (4.8 points, 3.79-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio) along with UC's top performing reserve guard Cane Broome (7.9 points, 2.8 assists). Along with eight other returning lettermen and a trio of newcomers, the new squad will gain valuable time developing together during its experience in Canada.
// FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay connected with Cincinnati men's basketball on Facebook (GoBearcatsMBB), Twitter (@GoBearcatsMBB) and Instagram (GoBearcatsMBB).