TicketsKANSAS CITY -- College basketball pageantry was on full display under the bright lights of Kansas City's T-Mobile Center on Wednesday morning as the Bearcats took center stage at Big 12 Tip-Off, presented by Old Trapper Beef Jerky.
Head coach Wes Miller, as well as graduates Viktor Lakhin, Ody Oguama and John Newman III all took in photo and interview stations from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. before heading back to Clifton for evening practice.
"Taking pictures with that Big 12 ball and jerseys was really cool, with the diamonds, sequins, or rhinestones," Lakhin said. "I actually like this with a lot of people talking with us (at the final open presser breakout) and the cameras flashing. I feel like I'm the President."
The trio had a chance to meet Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark on the floor following rolling radio interviews with Kansas City media and Sirius XM's Big 12 station.
Student-athletes and coaches rotated from there with diverse stations that featured social-media content, interacting with kid reporters and interview pieces for ESPN and CBS. Miller and Lakhin both participated in exclusive interviews on formal sets as well for ESPN+ and ESPNU.Ā
Miller also took to the main press conference stage for 12 minutes, complimenting the first-class event and his early impressions of the new league. Replays of all of those are available on ESPN+.
"This is a league of experienced and mature players. It was important we added those kind of players to our team. You look at Simas Lukosius (Butler) and the couple of years he played in the Big East, in some big-time environments and big-time games. CJ Fredrick, more than anyone, has been on NCAA Tournament teams and some great squads at Iowa and Kentucky. Aziz Bandaogo and Jamille Reynolds have both played a ton of college basketball, and that was really important. Depth is really important."
Miller made sure to not forget those who had been with him from the jump, too.
"We love the returning guys, and you think sometimes at this time of year, you talk so much about the guys coming in because people don't know them yet, but we lose sight of the most important thing: the guys you retain. That's why Ody, Vik and John are here today. The landscape of college basketball makes it tougher to retain guys. We have a number who return, but we have a few who have been with us both years I've been at Cincinnati.Ā
"That has meant a lot to our team. They're really good players who have had success here, and understand not just what we do, but how we do it and the standard at which we do it, and they want to hold others to that standard. There is so much value in the retention piece. We have depth now and talent across the board, and we have a lineup in positional versatility for sure."
The Bearcats begin their season Monday, Nov. 6 against UIC at 9 p.m.
Head coach Wes Miller, as well as graduates Viktor Lakhin, Ody Oguama and John Newman III all took in photo and interview stations from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. before heading back to Clifton for evening practice.
"Taking pictures with that Big 12 ball and jerseys was really cool, with the diamonds, sequins, or rhinestones," Lakhin said. "I actually like this with a lot of people talking with us (at the final open presser breakout) and the cameras flashing. I feel like I'm the President."
The trio had a chance to meet Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark on the floor following rolling radio interviews with Kansas City media and Sirius XM's Big 12 station.
Student-athletes and coaches rotated from there with diverse stations that featured social-media content, interacting with kid reporters and interview pieces for ESPN and CBS. Miller and Lakhin both participated in exclusive interviews on formal sets as well for ESPN+ and ESPNU.Ā
Miller also took to the main press conference stage for 12 minutes, complimenting the first-class event and his early impressions of the new league. Replays of all of those are available on ESPN+.
"This is a league of experienced and mature players. It was important we added those kind of players to our team. You look at Simas Lukosius (Butler) and the couple of years he played in the Big East, in some big-time environments and big-time games. CJ Fredrick, more than anyone, has been on NCAA Tournament teams and some great squads at Iowa and Kentucky. Aziz Bandaogo and Jamille Reynolds have both played a ton of college basketball, and that was really important. Depth is really important."
šļø | @CoachWesMiller meets with the media at #Big12Tipoff in Kansas City pic.twitter.com/3r0wu8MY2k
ā Cincinnati Men's Hoops (@GoBearcatsMBB) October 18, 2023
Miller made sure to not forget those who had been with him from the jump, too.
"We love the returning guys, and you think sometimes at this time of year, you talk so much about the guys coming in because people don't know them yet, but we lose sight of the most important thing: the guys you retain. That's why Ody, Vik and John are here today. The landscape of college basketball makes it tougher to retain guys. We have a number who return, but we have a few who have been with us both years I've been at Cincinnati.Ā
"That has meant a lot to our team. They're really good players who have had success here, and understand not just what we do, but how we do it and the standard at which we do it, and they want to hold others to that standard. There is so much value in the retention piece. We have depth now and talent across the board, and we have a lineup in positional versatility for sure."
The Bearcats begin their season Monday, Nov. 6 against UIC at 9 p.m.
John, Ody, Headband Vik. š„
ā Cincinnati Men's Hoops (@GoBearcatsMBB) October 18, 2023
Bearcats ššš pic.twitter.com/agaGo0IxmH