Way Too Early '24-25

[GoBearcats31]

#22
https://247sports.com/longformarticl...44070/#2426400

Projected starting lineup:

• G Jizzle James
• Wing Dan Skillings
• Wing Simas Lukosius
• F Dillon Mitchell
• C Aziz Bandaogo

Top bench options: G Day Day Thomas, G Connor Hickman, Wing Tyler Betsey, G CJ Frederick, F/C Arrinten Page

The scoop: It's time for Cincinnati to get back to the NCAA Tournament, and this roster has what it takes to do just that. Wes Miller kept the poachers away from most of his top dawgs, and he went into the transfer portal and addressed some of the biggest needs.

Cincinnati needed more shooting and another creator. Bradley transfer Connor Hickman can do that. Cincinnati lost one of its best offensive rebounders (Viktor Lakhin who transferred to Clemson), but Texas transfer Dillon Mitchell should solve that problem. Arrinten Page from USC fills the frontcourt depth void that Cincinnati lost with Jamille Reynolds bouncing for South Florida and Ody Oguama graduating.

As a result, Cincinnati has a little bit of everything.

It has two point guards in Day Day Thomas and Jizzle James (a big breakout candidate). It has multiple big-wing, bucket-getters in Simas Lukosius and Dan Skillings. It has high-level athleticism and loads of roster flexibility. Playing two non-shooters like Aziz Bandaogo and Mitchell together could be a bit clunky, but the athletic pop, rebounding and rim protection is very real. Miller could effortlessly slide Lukosius down to the 4 and insert Hickman to map the floor a bit better.

This is a NCAA Tournament team, but Miller has hopes for something so much more.

[Lobot]

Updated matrix from field of 68.

https://fieldof68.beehiiv.com/p/way-...alipari-portal

[red_n_black_attack]

I love the early season love from the major prognosticators, and believe UC will end the season somewhere in the mid-teens with a 5 or 6 seed (totally depending on how many Big 12 teams get in and the rule to avoid confence matchups early).

[Lobot]

Andy Katz at 23 in his power rankings

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball...try-withdrawal

[leo from jersey]

If the Tim Buckley hire is finalized, Wes has had an impressive offseason. Buckley is a very good coach, and has made his mark improving shooters which is a big plus. Keeping the nucleus together, and the adds along with Buckley was a lot of pipe laid in two months.

shot selection as a norm would be a heck of an upgrade. Moving without the ball and awareness from the passer to hit in stride are coachable things. Coach what put the fire in CWM?

[Lobot]

Goodman at 16. Can't find the link though.

[Longtime Lurker]

The Athletic has us up to 22. (paywall) https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/552...wal-prospects/

[GoBearcats31]

And ESPN's Jeff Borzello bumped the Cats up from 25 to #19
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...2024-25-season

[coach]

If the Tim Buckley hire is finalized, Wes has had an impressive offseason. Buckley is a very good coach, and has made his mark improving shooters which is a big plus. Keeping the nucleus together, and the adds along with Buckley was a lot of pipe laid in two months.

[GoBearcats31]

Rob Dauster (Field of 68) has UC #17

... and Jeff Goodman has UC #16

[bearcatbret]

Thank goodness! "This is the last season of the extra COVID year and it could be one of the most competitive we’ve seen in quite some time. "

[GoBearcats31]

Updated "Power 36" from Andy Katz, post-NBA draft deadline https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball...try-withdrawal

[longtimefan]

Another update https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...2024-25-season

1. Kansas
2. Houston
4. Baylor
5. Iowa State
10. Arizona
25. Cincinnati

Big 12 with 4 of the top 5, 5 of the top 10. The league will be historically good.

[GoBearcats31]

Monday update https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...2024-25-season
1. Kansas
2. Houston
3. Iowa State
5. Baylor
10. Arizona
24. Cincinnati

Another update https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...2024-25-season

1. Kansas
2. Houston
4. Baylor
5. Iowa State
10. Arizona
25. Cincinnati

[GoBearcats31]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...2024-25-season

Houston #1 (up from 7)
Kansas #2 (3)
Iowa State #3 (5)
Baylor #5 (10)
Arizona #9 (8)
Cincinnati #22 (#25)

[XU 23, Ohio State 24]

Cincinnati has won 45 games in two seasons but has yet to reach the NCAA tournament in Wes Miller's three seasons at the helm. That could change in 2024-25, as the Bearcats are bringing back five of their top seven scorers. Miller also welcomes a pair of ESPN 100 prospects and two transfers. The biggest impact could come from Bradley transfer guard Connor Hickman, whose shooting should help the team that ranked dead last in the Big 12 in 3s.

Monday update https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...2024-25-season
1. Kansas
2. Houston
3. Iowa State
5. Baylor
10. Arizona
24. Cincinnati