Wes Miller's UC Bearcats on display for Big 12 but big transfer waivers denied

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – At Kansas City's T-Mobile Center, the Big 12 held their media event for arguably the most competitive conference in the NCAA. The morning was highlighted by University of Cincinnati coach Wes Miller announcing the waivers for two-time transfers Aziz Bandaogo and Jamille Reynolds had been denied.

Aziz Bandaogo and Jamille Reynolds transfer waivers denied, but Wes Miller expects to win appeal

"They were denied on the first round," Miller said of the NCAA. "We got the news last week. They were denied at the staff level. Now we submit an appeal and it goes to an appeal committee."

Miller said he was discouraged and took umbrage to the recent information.

"There's others out there that were given guidance when they were making life decisions last spring to transfer," Miller said. "They were given guidance and guidelines by the NCAA as a path to play. They felt that they met that they met those guidelines. They made life decisions based on that. At the University of Cincinnati, we feel as strong as we can possibly express they meet the guidelines and standards that were laid out by the NCAA."

Miller went on to say he expects them to be cleared to play. He expressed concern about how such waiver denials would affect young people who made decisions based on the guidelines provided and the mental health ramifications.

Wes Miller on Aziz Bandaogo and Jamille Reynolds

Utah Valley transfer Bandaogo: "An elite shot blocker. Elite rim protection. Elite ability to cover ground defensively. Having coached him all summer, he's even better than I thought. He's more versatile. He can switch out on guards. Offensively, his threat to catch a lob or to put pressure on the front of the rim is as good as I've ever seen on the college basketball court."

Temple transfer Reynolds: "He is as good as a back-to-the-basket player as we have in our game now. The natural ability is there. We know he's way more athletic than people realize. He's lost 40-50 pounds, he's playing with a higher motor now."

How Bandaogo, Reynolds would help Bearcats

Viktor Lakhin, 6-foot-11, expected the waivers to be denied but also expected the new big men to be cleared. If so, it helps him and 6-9 Ody Oguama. Adding the 7-foot Bandaogo and 6-11 Reynolds would free him on occasion from the post.

"They're such huge rim protectors," Lakhin said. "They're lob threats."

Oguama calls them huge additions to the team and is amazed to have them considering he played against both last season. Should they be denied the floor, the grad student says he's ready to take command.

"I think I'm more than ready to step up," Oguama said. "Of course, it would be nice to have a whole team being that we worked over the summer and early fall with them."

Secrets from the 'not so secret' scrimmage

Based on available information Sunday, UC scrimmaged Maryland and lost 74-70. Simas Lukoŝius led the Bearcats with 14 points and Dan Skillings Jr. had 12.

"I'm not going to talk in detail because that's the agreement that I had with the other program that we scrimmaged," Miller said. "But there's some things that were really exciting. Obviously, Jamille and Aziz couldn't play, which was discouraging, but there were some things that were really exciting that we were able to see that give us hope, not just myself but our staff, our players."

Jumpman rules

While the Bearcats were airborne for Kansas City Tuesday night, they revealed their new Jordan Brand Jumpman/Nike uniforms. John Newman III, Ody Oguama and Viktor Lakhin were all photographed backstage at the T-Mobile Center in the popular new threads.

"It's special to me," Miller said of the new garb. "It's special to our fans. It's special to our players. It's special to the kids we're recruiting, not just because let's face it, this is the best brand there is in sports, but there's also some nostalgia, Cincinnati being one of the original Jordan brand schools in college basketball back in the '90s."

The Jordan Brand/Nike gear is something they proudly sport. Newman was more than happy to take off one his Jordan sneakers to display to the media.

Fast-paced basketball

"This team can play with a different kind of pace," Miller said. "We are really playing at a ferocious pace up and down the floor. When you do that, you can play more guys."

That includes Day Day Thomas whose quickness is compared to recent guard Mike Saunders and shooters C.J. Fredrick and Lukoŝius. Skillings and Josh Reed are considered vastly improved and Miller is bullish on his freshmen.

"Bearcat fans are going to love Jizzle James!" Miller said. "He plays so freaking hard and he just keeps coming and Rayvon (Griffith) is very similar. I think Cincinnati fans will really resonate with the way he plays the game. Jizzle James in January will be a heck of lot better than Jizzle James in October."

Hello Newman

John Newman III is back with a medical redshirt as he was injured in the first game a year ago.

"It definitely starts a new fire in you," he said. "Being out that whole year was very tough. I think it made me a better person. It helped me to mature. I'm glad God gave me another chance. I'm playing in the best conference in the country."

Things we learned of the Bearcats

Lakhin is ecstatic to have Butler transfer Simas Lukoŝius as a teammate.

"A European!" he said. "I've waited for one. I was praying we'd get one. He also speaks Russian so that helps. We had both played in Lithuania before so we knew of each other."

UC Senior Associate AD Mike Rehfeldt operates the "Monster Factory" which has helped with the athleticism of the program. Wednesday, the players agreed that Jamille Reynolds is the latest "Monster" at UC with is amazing 40-pound weight drop.

Laughs with Lakhin

UC's junior post says he's interested in stand-up comedy and likes Dave Chappelle. He claims to have 90 subscribers on "Lakhin Entertainment" and there's apparently a video he recorded with former Bearcat Mamoudou Diarra somewhere on the internet.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Wes Miller announces waiver denials at Big 12 Tipoff for big transfers