Released today by UC. The Bearcats have definitely stepped up the scheduling from last season. A few games in here where wins will really help the seeding come March:
Potential contests against nine teams who qualified for postseason play a year ago highlight the 2019-20 University of Cincinnati men’s basketball nonconference schedule announced Thursday by head coach John Brannen.
Among the 2018-19 accomplishments achieved by the 16 possible opponents on UC’s 12-game nonconference schedule: 10 teams won 20 or more games, seven finished first or second in their league, six advanced to the NCAA Tournament and six finished in the top 100 of the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings.
“We put this schedule together to not only challenge us leading into one of the best conferences in the country in The American, but also to put us in position, hopefully, for NCAA Tournament seeding purposes,” Brannen said.
The nonconference schedule features six home games, with matchups against 2018-19 Missouri Valley Conference co-champion Drake (Monday, Nov. 11), Alabama A&M (Thursday, Nov. 14), UNLV (Saturday, Nov. 30), last year’s American East Conference champion Vermont (Tuesday, Dec. 3), last season’s Patriot League co-champion Colgate (Saturday, Dec. 14) and Tennessee (Wednesday, Dec. 18), who advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
“Our philosophy on our one-off games, which are considered buy games, was to play against some of the top mid-major schools in the country,” Brannen said. “Colgate, Drake and Vermont were all league champions and they provide high NET numbers and will be very difficult games for us.”
The slate also includes two true road games – both in the state of Ohio. Cincinnati opens the regular season at Ohio State (Wednesday, Nov. 6), marking the Bearcats’ first game at Ohio State since Dec. 10, 1921. Cincinnati also plays at Xavier (Saturday, Dec. 7) in the annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout.
UC takes part in the 2019 Paradise Jam, Nov. 22-25, in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The Bearcats will battle Illinois State (Friday, Nov. 22) in the opener. A win over the Redbirds sets up a UC contest with the winner of the Bowling Green-Western Kentucky matchup on Sunday, Nov. 24, while a loss to Illinois State will result in the Bearcats playing the loser of the Bowling Green-Western Kentucky matchup on Saturday, Nov. 23. UC will meet either Valparaiso, Grand Canyon, Fordham or Nevada in the finale Monday, Nov. 25.
The Bearcats wrap-up the nonconference season when they face Iowa (Saturday, Dec. 21) in the Chicago Legends event at the United Center.
UC’s preseason exhibition opponent and the American Athletic Conference portion of its 2019-20 schedule will be announced at a later date. Earlier this summer, the league pairings were unveiled for the coming season. The Bearcats are slated to play home games against UCF, UConn, ECU, Houston, Memphis, SMU, Temple, Tulsa and Wichita State and road contests at UCF, UConn, ECU, Houston, Memphis, USF, Temple, Tulane and Wichita State.
A complete list of tip times and TV networks will also be announced at a later date.
Potential contests against nine teams who qualified for postseason play a year ago highlight the 2019-20 University of Cincinnati men’s basketball nonconference schedule announced Thursday by head coach John Brannen.
Among the 2018-19 accomplishments achieved by the 16 possible opponents on UC’s 12-game nonconference schedule: 10 teams won 20 or more games, seven finished first or second in their league, six advanced to the NCAA Tournament and six finished in the top 100 of the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings.
“We put this schedule together to not only challenge us leading into one of the best conferences in the country in The American, but also to put us in position, hopefully, for NCAA Tournament seeding purposes,” Brannen said.
The nonconference schedule features six home games, with matchups against 2018-19 Missouri Valley Conference co-champion Drake (Monday, Nov. 11), Alabama A&M (Thursday, Nov. 14), UNLV (Saturday, Nov. 30), last year’s American East Conference champion Vermont (Tuesday, Dec. 3), last season’s Patriot League co-champion Colgate (Saturday, Dec. 14) and Tennessee (Wednesday, Dec. 18), who advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
“Our philosophy on our one-off games, which are considered buy games, was to play against some of the top mid-major schools in the country,” Brannen said. “Colgate, Drake and Vermont were all league champions and they provide high NET numbers and will be very difficult games for us.”
The slate also includes two true road games – both in the state of Ohio. Cincinnati opens the regular season at Ohio State (Wednesday, Nov. 6), marking the Bearcats’ first game at Ohio State since Dec. 10, 1921. Cincinnati also plays at Xavier (Saturday, Dec. 7) in the annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout.
UC takes part in the 2019 Paradise Jam, Nov. 22-25, in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The Bearcats will battle Illinois State (Friday, Nov. 22) in the opener. A win over the Redbirds sets up a UC contest with the winner of the Bowling Green-Western Kentucky matchup on Sunday, Nov. 24, while a loss to Illinois State will result in the Bearcats playing the loser of the Bowling Green-Western Kentucky matchup on Saturday, Nov. 23. UC will meet either Valparaiso, Grand Canyon, Fordham or Nevada in the finale Monday, Nov. 25.
The Bearcats wrap-up the nonconference season when they face Iowa (Saturday, Dec. 21) in the Chicago Legends event at the United Center.
UC’s preseason exhibition opponent and the American Athletic Conference portion of its 2019-20 schedule will be announced at a later date. Earlier this summer, the league pairings were unveiled for the coming season. The Bearcats are slated to play home games against UCF, UConn, ECU, Houston, Memphis, SMU, Temple, Tulsa and Wichita State and road contests at UCF, UConn, ECU, Houston, Memphis, USF, Temple, Tulane and Wichita State.
A complete list of tip times and TV networks will also be announced at a later date.