TicketsCINCINNATI -- The time has come for the Cincinnati men's basketball program. The Bearcats begin the 2023-24 season, their first as a Big 12 member, against UIC at 9 p.m. on Monday night.
WATCH/LISTEN LIVE
ESPN+ | 700 WLW | Tickets
THE RUNDOWN
Analyst Terry Nelson makes his return to TV alongside Anthony Mazzini, something he will handle for the non-conference home ESPN+ games. All-time winningest Bearcat and former consensus First-Team All-American Steve Logan makes his radio debut with Dan Hoard, filling in Nelson's role for those.
SERIES HISTORY
Cincinnati has faced UIC three times, but not since 1983. Both meetings in the Queen City came when UC utilized Riverfront Coliseum as its home. The first two came with Ed Badger at the helm, followed by Tony Yates.
WATCH/LISTEN LIVE
ESPN+ | 700 WLW | Tickets
THE RUNDOWN
- UC is looking to build off its NIT Quarterfinals run, the program's first postseason since 2019, in its inaugural Big 12 campaign.
- The three games provided a substantial amount of reps. UC first defeated Virginia Tech, 81-72, in a raucous home environment that featured 13 ties and 11 lead changes, followed by a dominant win at CAA champ Hofstra, 79-65, which had just one home loss all year.
- Cincinnati is 4-0 in home games, by an average of 19.3 ppg, over the last two years that start after 9 PM.
- UC returns 29.5 percent of its scoring from last year, which ranks ninth in the Big 12. The Bearcats are also bringing back just 10.2 percent of its made three-pointers after setting school records for makes and attempts each of Wes Miller's first two seasons.
- Cincinnati boasts eight newcomers (four transfers, two high school, one junior college, one walk-on). Simas Lukosius (11.2 ppg at Butler) and CJ Fredrick (6.1 ppg, 15 starts at Kentucky) lead the way, while bigs Aziz Bandaogo and Jamille Reynolds await their NCAA waiver decisions.
- John Newman III (6.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg in 2021-22) functions as a ninth newcomer after only playing 11 minutes last season. He is arguably the team's top backcourt defender.
- Rayvon Griffith and Jizzle James are two top-60 high-school signees as well.
- Day Day Thomas' lightning-speed provides a different dynamic for the Bearcats at the point guard spot.
- Viktor Lakhin took a mammoth leap last year, averaging 11.6 ppg and 7.1 rpg. He had 46 blocks as well and was second on the team with 39 steals. The 6-foot-11 redshirt-junior, who earned his degree in three years, has also impressed with his three-point shooting ability over the offseason.
- Dan Skillings Jr. was named one of Jon Rothstein's 20 Under-the-Radar breakout players for 2023-24. UC was 4-0 when he scored in double-figures last season, and he posted a career-high 20 against Temple in the AAC Tournament.
- The Bearcats are 28-9 at home under Wes Miller. UC also went 13-8 after switching to a three-guard lineup on Jan. 5 last year.
- Cincinnati was 30th nationally in fewest turnovers after going 28th in 2021-22. It was 267 and 289 the previous two years before Miller's arrival. UC's 77.1 ppg were also its most since 2001-02.
- Miller has won five-straight season openers combining his UC and UNCG tenures, including against Evansville and Chaminade at home for the Bearcats. UC has won four consecutive debuts overall.
Analyst Terry Nelson makes his return to TV alongside Anthony Mazzini, something he will handle for the non-conference home ESPN+ games. All-time winningest Bearcat and former consensus First-Team All-American Steve Logan makes his radio debut with Dan Hoard, filling in Nelson's role for those.
SERIES HISTORY
Cincinnati has faced UIC three times, but not since 1983. Both meetings in the Queen City came when UC utilized Riverfront Coliseum as its home. The first two came with Ed Badger at the helm, followed by Tony Yates.