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A peek at Cincinnati Bearcat basketball's upcoming Big 12 challenges

scott springer, cincinnati enquirer
·6 min read

The non-conference portion for the 11-2 University of Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team has passed as 2023 ended with the 2024 portion about to begin. It is UC's first go-round in the Big 12 which brings on a tremendous challenge.

UC a year ago finished 50th in the KenPom.com ratings which would have put them ahead of only Oklahoma (51) and Texas Tech (60) among Big 12 teams. Their 70th ranking in the NCAA NET would have been behind all of the Big 12.

By their current numbers, UC would be the third-best team in their old league, the American Athletic Conference. In the Big 12, heading into their upcoming Big 12 menu, UC is rated behind Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Baylor and Oklahoma and ahead of TCU, Texas Tech, Texas, UCF, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and West Virginia.

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Of course, all of this is subject to change based on how the Bearcats fare in the coming months. Before they step on the floor in Provo, Utah vs. No. 14 BYU Saturday, here's a look at the Big 12 teams looming ahead.

Cincinnati Bearcats forward Viktor Lakhin (30) was UC's top scorer during the non-conference portion of their schedule.
Cincinnati Bearcats forward Viktor Lakhin (30) was UC's top scorer during the non-conference portion of their schedule.

BYU

Game: Jan. 6 in Provo, Utah at 10 p.m. Eastern

Record: 12-1

Last season's record: 19-15

NCAA NET: No. 2

KenPom: No. 3

Coach: Mark Pope

BYU guard Jaxson Robinson (2) shoots as Evansville guard Cameron Haffner (3) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
BYU guard Jaxson Robinson (2) shoots as Evansville guard Cameron Haffner (3) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Best Player: 6-foot-7 guard Jaxson Robinson averaging 16 points per game.

Last meeting: UC beat BYU in the first round of the NCAA tournament in San Diego 84-59 on March 15, 2001.

Notable: BYU played a common opponent this season, defeating Evansville 96-55.

Texas

Game: Jan. 9 at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m. Eastern

Record: 11-2

Last season's record: 29-9

NCAA NET: No.48

KenPom: No. 31

Coach: Rodney Terry

Nov 30, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Max Abmas (3) reacts after scoring a three point basket during the second half against the Texas State Bobcats at Moody Center.
Nov 30, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Max Abmas (3) reacts after scoring a three point basket during the second half against the Texas State Bobcats at Moody Center.

Best Player: Max Abmas, a 6-foot guard averaging 17.1 points per game, a transfer from Oral Roberts.

Last meeting: UC won in the NCAA tournament 65-59 on March 16, 2012.

Baylor

Game: Jan. 13 in Waco, Texas at 8 p.m. Eastern

Record: 10-2 (plays Cornell Tuesday, Jan. 2)

Last season's record: 23-11

NCAA NET: No. 19

KenPom: No. 15

Coach: Scott Drew

Baylor's Ja'Kobe Walter (4) defends against Duke Dec. 20 at Madison Square Garden.
Baylor's Ja'Kobe Walter (4) defends against Duke Dec. 20 at Madison Square Garden.

Best Player: 6-foot-5 guard Ja'Kobe Walter averages 15.3 points per game.

TCU

Games: Jan. 16 at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m. Eastern and Feb. 24 in Fort Worth, Texas at 3 p.m. Eastern.

Record: 11-2

Last season's record: 22-13

NCAA NET: No. 45

KenPom: No. 33

Coach: Jamie Dixon

TCU forward Emanuel Miller (2) dunks after getting past Arizona State forward Alonzo Gaffney (8), while TCU's Micah Peavy (0) watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.
TCU forward Emanuel Miller (2) dunks after getting past Arizona State forward Alonzo Gaffney (8), while TCU's Micah Peavy (0) watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.

Best player: 6-foot-7 forward Emanuel Miller averages 16 points and six rebounds per game.

Last meeting: UC won 89-74 on Feb. 26, 2005.

Oklahoma

Games: Jan. 20 at Fifth Third Arena at 1 p.m. and March 5 in Norman, Oklahoma at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Record: 12-1

Last season's record: 15-17

NCAA NET: No. 28

KenPom: No. 27

Coach: Porter Moser

Oklahoma guard Otega Oweh (3) lays up the ball past Central Arkansas forward UbongAbasi Etim (0) in the second half during an NCAA game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Central Arknasaw Bears at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023.
Oklahoma guard Otega Oweh (3) lays up the ball past Central Arkansas forward UbongAbasi Etim (0) in the second half during an NCAA game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Central Arknasaw Bears at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023.

Best Player: 6-foot-5, 215-pound guard Otega Oweh averages 15.7 points per game.

Last meeting: UC won 56-55 on Dec. 29, 2011.

Kansas

Game: Jan. 22 in Lawrence, Kansas at 9 p.m. Eastern

Record: 12-1

Last season's record: 28-8

NCAA NET: No. 11

KenPom: No. 13

Coach: Bill Self

Kansas senior center Hunter Dickinson (1) shoots under the basket in the first half against Yale inside Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas senior center Hunter Dickinson (1) shoots under the basket in the first half against Yale inside Allen Fieldhouse.

Best players: 6-foot-7 guard Kevin McCullar averages 20.4 points per game and 6.9 rebounds, while 7-foot-2 center Hunter Dickinson averages 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. Dickinson is a transfer from Michigan.

Last meeting: Kansas, then coached by Roy Williams, beat UC 72-65 in a Great Eight event in Chicago Dec. 6, 1996.

UCF

Games: Jan. 27 at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m. and Feb. 17 in Orlando, Florida at 4 p.m. Eastern.

Record: 9-3

Last season's record: 19-15

NCAA NET: No. 69

KenPom: No. 75

Coach: Johnny Dawkins

Jaylin Sellers led all scorers with 23 points in his UCF debut, helping the Knights to an 85-62 win over Florida International.
Jaylin Sellers led all scorers with 23 points in his UCF debut, helping the Knights to an 85-62 win over Florida International.

Best Player: Jaylin Sellers is a 6-foot-4 guard averaging 18.6 points per game.

Last meeting: UC won 73-71 last Feb. 18, 2023 in Orlando.

Notable: As for a common opponent, UCF lost to Stetson Nov. 26 at home, 85-82.

West Virginia

Games: Jan. 31 in Morgantown, West Virginia at 7 p.m. Eastern and March 9 at Fifth Third Arena at 2 p.m.

Record: 5-8

Last season's record: 19-15

NCAA NET: No. 172

KenPom: No. 125

Coach: Josh Eliert (interim)

Best player: Montana State transfer 6-foot-5 guard RaeQuan Battle scored 29 points in his opening two games after becoming eligible and is at 27.3 after three games.

Last meeting: West Virginia won in overtime 77-74 in Morgantown on Jan. 21, 2012.

Texas Tech

Game: Feb. 3 in Lubbock, Texas at 6 p.m. Eastern.

Record: 11-2

Last season's record: 16-16

NCAA NET: No. 58

KenPom: No. 37

Coach: Grant McCasland

Best Player: Sophomore guard Pop Isaaces averages 15.8 points per game.

Last meeting: UC won in the NCAA tournament 78-55 on March 17, 1961.

Pop Isaacs #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots a free throw as his teammates watch during the first half of the game against the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions at United Supermarkets Arena on November 08, 2023 in Lubbock, Texas.
Pop Isaacs #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots a free throw as his teammates watch during the first half of the game against the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions at United Supermarkets Arena on November 08, 2023 in Lubbock, Texas.

Houston

Games: Feb. 10 at Fifth Third Arena at 4 p.m. and Feb. 27 in Houston, Texas at 7 p.m.

Record: 13-0

Last season's record: 33-4

NCAA NET: No. 1

KenPom: No. 1

Coach: Kelvin Sampson

Best Player: L.J. Cryer, a 6-foot-1 Baylor transfer, averages 17 points per game.

Last meeting: Houston beat UC in the AAC quarterfinals 69-48 on March 11, 2023.

Notable: Houston has played three opponents UC has battled. The Cougars beat Stetson 79-48 on Nov. 13; Dayton 69-55 on Nov. 19 and won at Xavier 66-60 on Dec. 11.

Iowa State

Game: Feb. 13 at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m.

Record: 10-2

Last season's record: 19-14

NCAA NET: No. 7

KenPom: No. 16

Coach: T.J. Otzelberger

Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) lays up the ball around Eastern Illinois Panthers forward Kooper Jacobi (40) and forward Lazar Grbovic (17) during the second half of a NCAA college basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, in Ames, Iowa.
Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) lays up the ball around Eastern Illinois Panthers forward Kooper Jacobi (40) and forward Lazar Grbovic (17) during the second half of a NCAA college basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, in Ames, Iowa.

Best Player: 6-foot-1 guard Tamin Lipsey averages 15.5 points per game and six rebounds.

Last meeting: UC won 55-54 on Dec. 1, 2016

Oklahoma State

Game: Feb. 21 at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m.

Record: 7-5

Last season's record: 20-16

NCAA NET: No. 136

KenPom: No. 97

Coach: Mike Boynton

Dec 20, 2023; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Javon Small (12) looks to get around Wofford Terriers guard Dillon Bailey (2) during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2023; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Javon Small (12) looks to get around Wofford Terriers guard Dillon Bailey (2) during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

Best Player: Javon Small, a 6-foot-3 East Carolina transfer, averages 15.8 points per game.

Last meeting: UC won 61-50 on Feb. 9, 2003.

Kansas State

Game: March 2 at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m.

Record: 9-3

Last season's record: 26-10

NCAA NET: No. 88

KenPom: No. 67

Coach: Jerome Tang

Dec 21, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas State Wildcats guard Cam Carter (5) shoots against Wichita State Shockers center Quincy Ballard (15) during the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas State Wildcats guard Cam Carter (5) shoots against Wichita State Shockers center Quincy Ballard (15) during the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Best players: 6-foot-3 guard Cam Carter averages 16,3 points per game and 5-foot-11 guard Tylor Perry averages 15. 8 points per game.

Last meeting: UC won 75-61 in the NCAA tournament on March 17, 2017.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats basketball about to embark on 1st Big 12 schedule