UC men's basketball schedule features Big 12 home opener vs. Texas, season opener Nov. 6
Wait no longer, the University of Cincinnati men's basketball schedule is out with the regular season beginning Nov. 6 and running through March 9.
The home opener will be against Illinois-Chicago on Monday, Nov. 6 at 9 p.m. and before the end of the year the Bearcats will play 10 games at Fifth Third Arena plus the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout at Xavier Saturday, Dec. 9 and the Hoops Classic presented by altafiber at Heritage Bank Arena vs. Dayton Saturday, Dec. 16. UC will also have a home rematch with NKU Sunday, Nov. 19.
Big 12 slate
UC opens play in the Big 12 on Saturday, Jan. 6 at BYU. Their first home Big 12 encounter will be with the Texas Longhorns on Tuesday, Jan. 9. Other notable dates include a trip to Baylor on Saturday, Jan. 13 and the Phog Allen Fieldhouse for Kansas on Monday, Jan. 22.
UC will reunite with former Big East conference mates West Virginia in Morgantown on Wednesday, Jan. 31 with the return game at Fifth Third Arena on March 9. UC will also play TCU, Oklahoma, UCF, and Houston twice.
The Phillips 66 Big 12 Championships are in Kansas City from March 12-16.
On the menu but with an asterisk
Three UC games will not be part of season ticket packages.
Electing not to travel to an MTE (Multi-Team Event), UC will instead conduct one at home loosely based on how their NIT first-round set-up was last March against Virginia Tech. Coach Wes Miller's Bearcats debut against Detroit Mercy on Friday, Nov. 10, then return Sunday, Nov. 12 vs. Eastern Washington. The games are part of Walton Sports and Entertainment.
In between UC football will be at Houston on Saturday, Nov. 11.
Presale for season ticket holders for the MTE will be Tuesday, Oct. 3 with general public sales starting Thursday, Oct. 5. Courtside seats will be $42.50, Champions Club $35, lower bowl $17.50, upper bowl $10 and parking will be $10.
The game vs. Dayton at Heritage Bank Arena is also a separate event.
2023-24 UC Bearcat men's basketball schedule
Nov. 6 vs. Illinois-Chicago at Fifth Third Arena at 9 p.m.
Nov. 10 vs. Detroit Mercy at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m. *
Nov. 12 vs. Eastern Washington at Fifth Third Arena at 12 p.m. *
Nov. 19 vs. Northern Kentucky at Fifth Third Arena at 2 p.m.
Nov. 22 vs. Georgia Tech at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m.
Nov. 28 at Howard in Washington, D.C. at 7 p.m.
Dec. 3 vs. Florida Gulf Coast at Fifth Third Arena at 1 p.m.
Dec. 9 at Xavier in Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout at Cintas Center TBA
Dec. 12 vs. Bryant at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m.
Dec. 16 vs. Dayton at Hoops Classic at Heritage Bank Center TBA *
Dec. 19 vs. Merrimack at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m.
Dec. 22 vs. Stetson at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m.
Dec. 29 vs. Evansville at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m.
Jan. 6, 2024, at BYU in Provo, Utah at 10 p.m. on ESPN2/ESPNU
Jan. 9, 2024, vs. Texas at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m. on ESPN+
Jan. 13, 2024, at Baylor in Waco, Texas at 8 p.m. on ESPN2
Jan. 16, 2024, vs. TCU at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m. vs. ESPN+
Jan. 20, 2024, vs. Oklahoma at Fifth Third Arena at 1 p.m. on ESPN+
Jan. 22, 2024, at Kansas in Lawrence at 9 p.m. on ESPN
Jan. 27, 2024, vs. UCF at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m. on ESPN+
Jan. 31, 2024, at West Virginia in Morgantown at 7 p.m. on ESPN+
Feb. 3, 2024, at Texas Tech in Lubbock at 6 p.m. on ESPN+
Feb. 10, 2024, vs. Houston at Fifth Third Arena at 4 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN2
Feb. 13, 2024, vs. Iowa State at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m. on ESPN2/ESPNU
Feb. 17, 2024, at UCF in Orlando at 4 p.m. on ESPN+
Feb. 21, 2024, vs. Oklahoma State at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m. on ESPN+
Feb. 24, 2024, at TCU in Fort Worth at 3 p.m. on ESPN+
Feb. 27, 2024, at Houston at 7 p.m. on ESPN2/ESPNU
March 2, 2024, vs. Kansas State at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m. on ESPN+
March 5, 2024, at Oklahoma in Norman at 8 p.m. on ESPN+
March 9, 2024, vs. West Virginia at Fifth Third Arena at 2 p.m. on ESPN+
March 12-16, 2024, is the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championships in Kansas City
(All times listed are Eastern and subject to change. Further tip times and broadcast information will be announced when available)
*= not part of season ticket package
NET rankings
The best NET ranking from last season of the non-conference foes is Xavier at No. 18. Evansville checks in at No. 352. Of the 13 non-conference games, the average NET of the opponents for the remainder of 2023 is 187.
Among the Big 12 teams, Houston topped last year's NET (in the AAC) at No. 1. BYU is at the other end at No. 84. Of the 13 league teams UC will face in the 2024 portion, the average NET is 35. Last year's Bearcat squad finished at No. 63.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC men's hoops starts Big 12 slate Jan. 6 at BYU, vs. Texas Jan. 9
