2023–24 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team

The 2023–24 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bearcats were led by third-year head coach Wes Miller. The team played their home games at Fifth Third Arena as first-year members of the Big 12 Conference. They finished the season 22–15, 7–11 in Big 12 play to finish in a tie for 11th place. As the No 12 seed in the Big 12 tournament, they defeated West Virginia and Kansas before losing to Baylor in the quarterfinals. They received an at-large bid to the National Invitation Tournament. As a No. 2 seed, they defeated San Francisco and Bradley before losing to Indiana State in the quarterfinals.

2023–24 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball
NIT, Quarterfinals
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Record22–15 (7–11 Big 12)
Head coach
Associate head coachChad Dollar (3rd season)
Assistant coaches
  • Andre Morgan (3rd season)
  • Drew Adams (1st season)
  • Josh Loeffler (1st season)
  • Jake Thelen (1st season)
Home arenaFifth Third Arena
Seasons
2023–24 Big 12 men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No.Houston 15 3   .833 32 5   .865
No. 8 Iowa State 13 5   .722 29 8   .784
No. 16 Baylor 11 7   .611 24 11   .686
Texas Tech 11 7   .611 23 11   .676
BYU 10 8   .556 23 11   .676
No. 19 Kansas 10 8   .556 23 11   .676
Texas 9 9   .500 21 13   .618
TCU 9 9   .500 21 13   .618
Oklahoma 8 10   .444 20 12   .625
Kansas State 8 10   .444 19 15   .559
Cincinnati 7 11   .389 22 15   .595
UCF 7 11   .389 17 16   .515
Oklahoma State 4 14   .222 12 20   .375
West Virginia 4 14   .222 9 23   .281
2024 Big 12 tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The season was the first for the Bearcats in the Big 12 as they had left the American Athletic Conference to join the Big 12 in July 2023.[1]

Previous season

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The Bearcats finished the 2022–23 season 23–13, 11–7 in AAC play to finish in fourth place. They defeated Temple before losing to Houston in the quarterfinals of the AAC tournament.[2] The Bearcats received an at-large bid to the NIT, where they defeated Virginia Tech and Hofstra before falling to Utah Valley in the quarterfinals.[3]

Offseason

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Player departures

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Cincinnati departing players
Name Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason
Kalu Ezikpe F 6' 8" 240 Graduate Student Lawrenceville, GA Completed college eligibility[a]
Landers Nolley II G 6' 7" 208 Graduate Student Atlanta, GA Play professionally[4]
Mika Adams-Woods G 6' 3" 180 Graduate Student Syracuse, NY Transferred to St. Bonaventure[5]
David DeJulius G 6' 0" 200 Graduate Student Detroit, MI Completed college eligibility
Rob Phinisee G 6' 1" 187 Graduate Student Lafayette, IN Completed college eligibility[a]
Jeremiah Davenport G 6' 7" 215 Graduate Student Cincinnati, OH Transferred to Arkansas[6]
Jarrett Hensley F 6' 8" 220 Junior Merriam, KS Transferred to Southern Illinois[7]
  1. ^ a b Ezikpe and Phinese both were graduate transfers in the 2022–23 season, with Ezikpe having graduated from Old Dominion and Phinese from Indiana.

Incoming transfers

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Cincinnati incoming transfers
Name Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Old school Remaining Eligibility
DaVeon Thomas G 6' 0" 190 Junior Columbia, SC Kilgore College Two years[8]
Jamille Reynolds F 6' 10" 285 Senior Saint Petersburg, FL Temple Two years[9]
CJ Fredrick G 6' 3" 185 Graduate Student Cincinnati, OH Kentucky Two years[10]
Simas Lukošius G 6' 8" 225 Junior Kaunas, Lithuania Butler Two years[11]
Aziz Bandaogo F 7' 0" 230 Senior Dakar, Senegal Utah Valley Two years[12]

Class of 2023

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College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Rayvon Griffith
SG
Cincinnati, OH AZ Compass Prep 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 180 lb (82 kg) May 1, 2022[13] 
Star ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 83
Jizzle James
PG
Orlando, FL Olympia High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) October 4, 2022[14] 
Star ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 84
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Cincinnati 2023 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  • "2023 Cincinnati Basketball Commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  • "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  • "Cincinnati 2023 Basketball Commits". 247sports.com. Retrieved October 4, 2022.

Roster

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2023–24 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Daniel Skillings 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) So Roman Catholic High School Philadelphia, PA
G 1 Day Day Thomas 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr Kilgore College Columbia, SC
G 2 Jizzle James 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Olympia High School Orlando, FL
G/F 3 Rayvon Griffith   6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr AZ Compass Prep Cincinnati, OH
G 5 CJ Fredrick 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) GS Kentucky Cincinnati, OH
G 10 Josh Reed 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) So Pace Academy Atlanta, GA
G 11 CJ Anthony (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Putnam Science Academy Columbus, OH
F 13 Jamille Reynolds 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 275 lb (125 kg) Sr Temple Saint Petersburg, FL
G 14 Landon Lang (W) 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) GS Ohio Northern Mason, OH
G/F 15 John Newman III 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) GS Clemson Greensboro, NC
G 21 Chase Kirkwood (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Arkansas Phoenix, MD
F 30 Viktor Lakhin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) RS Jr CSKA–2 Anapa, Russia
F 33 Ody Oguama 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Sr Wake Forest Raleigh, NC
G/F 41 Simas Lukošius 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jr Butler Kaunas, Lithuania
C 44 Sage Tolentino 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 240 lb (109 kg) RS Fr Hamilton High School Kane'ohe, HI
C 55 Aziz Bandaogo 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Sr Utah Valley Dakar, Senegal
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: November 1, 2023

Schedule and results

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Regular Season
November 6, 2023*
9:00 p.m., ESPN+
UIC W 69–58  1–0
 15  Thomas   8  Tied   3  Thomas  Fifth Third Arena (9,936)
Cincinnati, OH
November 10, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Detroit Mercy W 93–61  2–0
 14  Fredrick   12  Reed   5  Lukošius  Fifth Third Arena (4,267)
Cincinnati, OH
November 12, 2023*
12:00 p.m., ESPN+
Eastern Washington W 85–73  3–0
 26  Lahkin   11  Lahkin   5  Thomas  Fifth Third Arena (3,063)
Cincinnati, OH
November 19, 2023*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
Northern Kentucky W 90–66  4–0
 25  Skillings   14  Lahkin   7  Lukošius  Fifth Third Arena (10,018)
Cincinnati, OH
November 22, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Georgia Tech W 89–54  5–0
 15  Lahkin   9  Bandaogo   4  Tied  Fifth Third Arena (11,756)
Cincinnati, OH
November 28, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Howard W 86–81 OT 6–0
 19  Lahkin   6  Tied   4  Thomas  Burr Gymnasium (1,324)
Washington, D.C.
December 3, 2023*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+
Florida Gulf Coast W 99–62  7–0
 19  Tied   12  Skillings   6  Lahkin  Fifth Third Arena (9,812)
Cincinnati, OH
December 9, 2023*
6:30 p.m., FS1
at Xavier
Crosstown Shootout
L 79–84  7–1
 19  James   10  Bandaogo   3  Tied  Cintas Center (10,724)
Cincinnati, OH
December 12, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Bryant W 85–53  8–1
 14  Fredrick   17  Bandaogo   3  James  Fifth Third Arena (9,303)
Cincinnati, OH
December 16, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
vs. Dayton
Hoops Classic
L 68–82  8–2
 14  Lukošius   14  Bandaogo   2  Tied  Heritage Bank Center (12,547)
Cincinnati, OH
December 19, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Merrimack W 65–49  9–2
 18  Lahkin   11  Reynolds   4  Thomas  Fifth Third Arena (9,477)
Cincinnati, OH
December 22, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Stetson W 83–75  10–2
 29  Skillings   10  Skillings   7  Fredrick  Fifth Third Arena (9,762)
Cincinnati, OH
December 29, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Evansville W 76–58  11–2
 16  Newman III   9  Lakhin   7  Thomas  Fifth Third Arena (10,977)
Cincinnati, OH
Big 12 Regular Season
January 6, 2024
10:00 p.m., ESPN2
at No. 12 BYU W 71–60  12–2
(1–0)
 17  Lakhin   10  Bandaogo   3  Lukošius  Marriott Center (16,879)
Provo, UT
January 9, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 25 Texas L 73–74  12–3
(1–1)
 19  Lukošius   6  Newman III   4  Lukošius  Fifth Third Arena (11,014)
Cincinnati, OH
January 13, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPN2
at No. 14 Baylor L 59–62  12–4
(1–2)
 24  Skillings   7  Newman III   5  Lukošius  Foster Pavilion (7,500)
Waco, TX
January 16, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 19 TCU W 81–77 OT 13–4
(2–2)
 21  Thomas   7  Newman III   6  Thomas  Fifth Third Arena (10,314)
Cincinnati, OH
January 20, 2024
1:00 p.m., ESPN+
No. 15 Oklahoma L 65–69  13–5
(2–3)
 17  Lukošius   7  Tied   6  Thomas  Fifth Third Arena (12,406)
Cincinnati, OH
January 22, 2024
9:00 p.m., ESPN
at No. 7 Kansas L 69–74  13–6
(2–4)
 16  Skillings   11  Bandaogo   3  Thomas  Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
January 27, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
UCF W 68–57  14–6
(3–4)
 21  Skillings   7  Tied   6  Lukošius  Fifth Third Arena (12,112)
Cincinnati, OH
January 31, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at West Virginia
rivalry
L 65–69  14–7
(3–5)
 15  Skillings   9  Bandaogo   4  Thomas  WVU Coliseum (10,349)
Morgantown, WV
February 3, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN+
at No. 15 Texas Tech W 75–72  15–7
(4–5)
 16  Lukošius   10  Bandaogo   4  Thomas  United Supermarkets Arena (15,098)
Lubbock, TX
February 10, 2024
4:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 5 Houston L 62–67  15–8
(4–6)
 13  Skillings   10  Newman III   3  Newman III  Fifth Third Arena (12,715)
Cincinnati, OH
February 13, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 10 Iowa State L 59–68  15–9
(4–7)
 16  James   11  Skillings   3  Tied  Fifth Third Arena (11,819)
Cincinnati, OH
February 17, 2024
4:00 p.m., ESPN+
at UCF W 76–74  16–9
(5–7)
 15  Skillings Jr.   9  Reynolds   3  Thomas  Addition Financial Arena (8,624)
Orlando, FL
February 21, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Oklahoma State L 76–80  16–10
(5–8)
 17  Lukošius   10  Skillings Jr.   4  Lukošius  Fifth Third Arena (11,029)
Cincinnati, OH
February 24, 2024
3:00 p.m., ESPN+
at TCU L 57–75  16–11
(5–9)
 13  Thomas   9  Bandaogo   4  Lukošius  Schollmaier Arena (6,090)
Fort Worth, TX
February 27, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN2
at No. 1 Houston L 59–67  16–12
(5–10)
 11  Tied   9  Lakhin   6  Thomas  Fertitta Center (7,352)
Houston, TX
March 2, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
Kansas State W 74–72  17–12
(6–10)
 18  Newman III   8  Bandaogo   5  Thomas  Fifth Third Arena (11,974)
Cincinnati, OH
March 5, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Oklahoma L 71–74 OT 17–13
(6–11)
 16  James   9  Skillings Jr.   3  Thomas  Lloyd Noble Center (6,124)
Norman, OK
March 9, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
West Virginia
rivalry
W 92–56  18–13
(7–11)
 17  Skillings Jr.   7  Bandaogo   7  Thomas  Fifth Third Arena (11,914)
Cincinnati, OH
Big 12 Tournament
March 12, 2024
3:00 p.m., ESPN+
(11) vs. (14) West Virginia
First Round/rivalry
W 90–85  19–13
 31  Lukošius   13  Bandaogo   4  Tied  T-Mobile Center 
Kansas City, MO
March 13, 2024
9:30 p.m., ESPN2
(11) vs. (6) No. 16 Kansas
Second Round
W 72–52  20–13
 25  Skillings Jr.   10  Newman III   3  Lukosius  T-Mobile Center (18,261)
Kansas City, MO
March 14, 2024
9:30 p.m., ESPN2
(11) vs. (3) No. 14 Baylor
Quarterfinals
L 56–68  20–14
 15  Skillings Jr.   6  Newman III   4  Lukosius  T-Mobile Center (19,135)
Kansas City, MO
NIT
March 20, 2024
9:00 p.m., ESPN+
(2) San Francisco
First Round - Indiana State Bracket
W 73–72 OT 21–14
 28  Lukosius   9  Newman III   7  Thomas  Fifth Third Arena (3,899)
Cincinnati, OH
March 23, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
(2) (3) Bradley
Second Round - Indiana State Bracket
W 74–57  22–14
 25  James   9  Newman III   4  Newman III  Fifth Third Arena (4,732)
Cincinnati, OH
March 26, 2024
9:00 p.m., ESPN
(2) at (1) Indiana State
Quarterfinals - Indiana State Bracket
L 81–85  22–15
 26  Lukosius   12  Skillings Jr.   5  James  Hulman Center (8,057)
Terre Haute, IN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Source[15]


References

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  1. ^ "BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, UCF officially join the Big 12 Conference". Yahoo Sports. July 1, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  2. ^ "Cincinnati Falls to No.1 Houston in AAC Semifinals". gobearcats.com. UC Athletics. March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  3. ^ "Bearcats' Postseason Run Ends in Utah". gobearcats.com. UC Athletics. March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  4. ^ Cohen, David (June 23, 2023). "Nolley Signs with New Orleans Pelicans". gobearcats.com. UC Athletics. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  5. ^ "Bonnies Bolster Backcourt With Addition of Grad Transfer Mika Adams-Woods". gobonnies.com. St. Bonaventure. May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  6. ^ Wilkerson, Curtis. "Arkansas lands Cincinnati transfer Jeremiah Davenport". 247sports.com. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  7. ^ @@_jarretthensley (May 12, 2023). "#COMMITTED" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Thomas, DaVeon [@DayDayThomas24] (February 2, 2023). "110% Committed #Bearcats" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ Reynolds, Jamille [@jamillerey4] (April 8, 2023). "Next move my best move‼️ Cincy What's good🖤❤️ @TiptonEdits" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Fredrick, CJ [@cj_fredrick] (April 24, 2023). "Excited for this next step in my journey! I'm all in! Go Bearcats❤️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ Givony, Jonathan; Borzello, Jeff (April 29, 2023). "Butler transfer Simas Lukosius commits to Cincinnati". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  12. ^ Givony, Jonathan (May 20, 2023). "Utah Valley transfer Aziz Bandaogo commits to Cincinnati". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  13. ^ Cobb, David (May 1, 2022). "College basketball recruiting: Four-star SG Rayvon Griffith commits to Cincinnati in 2023 class". CBS Sports. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  14. ^ Boone, Kyle (October 4, 2022). "College basketball recruiting: Jizzle James, son of former NFL star Edgerrin James, commits to Cincinnati". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  15. ^ "2023–24 Men's Basketball Schedule". gobearcats.com. Retrieved March 23, 2023.