2025-26 Roster

[GoBearcats31]

Meet the Newcomers: @_bmillxr_ (Baba Miller)
https://x.com/GoBearcatsMBB/status/1937571690000625996

Meet the Newcomers: @celestine_jalen
https://x.com/GoBearcatsMBB/status/1938296444181528904

(hear the correct pronunciation straight from the source)

[GoBearcats31]

Meet the Newcomers: @kerrkriisa
https://x.com/GoBearcatsMBB/status/1936122101829664881

Meet the Newcomers: @_bmillxr_ (Baba Miller)
https://x.com/GoBearcatsMBB/status/1937571690000625996

[GoBearcats31]

Meet the Newcomers: @kerrkriisa
https://x.com/GoBearcatsMBB/status/1936122101829664881

[swilsonsp4]

Jersey Numbers
1 - Day Day Thomas
2 - Jizzle James
3 - Jalen Haynes
5 - Sencire Harris
7 - Keyshuan Tillery
10 - Shon Abaev
11 - Kerr Kriisa
18 - Baba Miller
24 - Tyler McKinley
32 - Jalen Celestine
52 - Moustapha Thiam
65 - Halvine Dzellat

https://gobearcats.com/sports/mens-b...roster/2024-25

New roster showing:
- Tyler McKinley and Halvine Dzellat up 15 lbs. each
- Sencire Harris up 1 lb. from his WVU bio
- Jalen Haynes down 10 lbs. from his George Mason bio
- Jalen Celestine up 10 lbs. from his Baylor bio
- Shon Abaev listed at 6'8 (he was 6'7 per various recruiting sites)
- Addition of Grant Darbyshire (#13), a former Kentucky walk on via Sycamore High School

They really need to add a couple more practice bodies for scout squad purposes. That would bring the Cats back to 15 roster members.

[GoBearcats31]

Jersey Numbers
1 - Day Day Thomas
2 - Jizzle James
3 - Jalen Haynes
5 - Sencire Harris
7 - Keyshuan Tillery
10 - Shon Abaev
11 - Kerr Kriisa
18 - Baba Miller
24 - Tyler McKinley
32 - Jalen Celestine
52 - Moustapha Thiam
65 - Halvine Dzellat

https://gobearcats.com/sports/mens-b...roster/2024-25

New roster showing:
- Tyler McKinley and Halvine Dzellat up 15 lbs. each
- Sencire Harris up 1 lb. from his WVU bio
- Jalen Haynes down 10 lbs. from his George Mason bio
- Jalen Celestine up 10 lbs. from his Baylor bio
- Shon Abaev listed at 6'8 (he was 6'7 per various recruiting sites)
- Addition of Grant Darbyshire (#13), a former Kentucky walk on via Sycamore High School

[GoBearcats31]

Photos went up on social media yesterday from UC's summer workouts

Exciting to see, but also funny trying to figure out who some of the new guys are

[swilsonsp4]

YES I know he did with Thiam . I was referring to the Big Miller who came after N'Daiye was on board. Did he have any influence on that signing. Will he have any effect on other bigs by being here and ex NBA.

Don't know at this point. There apparently was a lot of wheeling-and-dealing going on at the last minute to sway Miller UC's way. Money certainly was a big part of it, but no one has hinted whether N'Daiye played a major role or not. We may never know, as these matters are handled as discreetly as possible.

[leo from jersey]

N'Daiye certainly had a major role in getting Thiam here. That was the staff's primary focus in hiring N'Daiye. The fact that he can coach bigs is a bonus.

YES I know he did with Thiam . I was referring to the Big Miller who came after N'Daiye was on board. Did he have any influence on that signing. Will he have any effect on other bigs by being here and ex NBA.

[GoBearcats31]

Summer workouts may begin as early today

[swilsonsp4]

I asked what part, if any, did N'Dikave have in the recruitment of Miller. Nobody answered.

N'Daiye certainly had a major role in getting Thiam here. That was the staff's primary focus in hiring N'Daiye. The fact that he can coach bigs is a bonus.

[leeraymond]

I am really pumped about the front line for next season. I have been following UC basketball for a very long time. When UC has been at its best, it typically had a very productive front line. Think (Blount, Nelson, Jones), (Blount, Nelson, Martin), (Fortson and Long), (Martin, Tate, Mickeal, Brannen, and Patterson), (Gates and Thomas), (Jackson and Rubles), and (Clark and Washington). Lahkin was also a good big man for UC. Remember that Blount, Fortson, Long, Martin, Mickeal, Patterson, and Clark all played in the NBA. Hopefully, about time that Thiam, Miller, Haynes, and McKinley no longer play for UC, we can also list them as one of UC's best front lines.

This might not be the best place to put this comment. However, other than to discuss Coach N'Diaye in terms of how he ended up at UC, nobody has mentioned anything concerning how effective he might be as a coach. Coach N'Diaye is in place to coach the big men. Since I have been following UC basketball, I cannot remember UC having a coach that had professional playing experience. Coach N'Diaye comes in with 10 years of D1 coaching experience, 5 years of NBA playing experience, and 6 years of international professional playing experience. He brings a lot of know-how to the party. The UC big men could really learn a lot from him.

One last comment that has nothing to do with basketball. The UC baseball team made it to the NCAA Baseball Tournament this year. UC won its first game, beating Wake Forest 11-6. Go UC baseball.

Oops! I forgot about Hicks and Maxiell. Perhaps one of the three or four best UC front lines since 1991-92. Maxiell was a first round draft pick by the Detroit Pistons. Also, let me not forget Donald Little, Jamaal Davis, and Immanuel McElroy. That was a very good defensive front line. Opposing teams scored 60.4 points a game and shot 37%. This team also included Steve Logan, who hit for 22 points a game. This was Bob Huggins' last Sweet 16 team at Cincinnati.

The University of Cincinnati basketball program has had some really good front lines since 1990. UC is at its best when it has good front line play. Take a look at all the good front line players that have come through the program.

[leo from jersey]

I am really pumped about the front line for next season. I have been following UC basketball for a very long time. When UC has been at its best, it typically had a very productive front line. Think (Blount, Nelson, Jones), (Blount, Nelson, Martin), (Fortson and Long), (Martin, Tate, Mickeal, Brannen, and Patterson), (Gates and Thomas), (Jackson and Rubles), and (Clark and Washington). Lahkin was also a good big man for UC. Remember that Blount, Fortson, Long, Martin, Mickeal, Patterson, and Clark all played in the NBA. Hopefully, about time that Thiam, Miller, Haynes, and McKinley no longer play for UC, we can also list them as one of UC's best front lines.

This might not be the best place to put this comment. However, other than to discuss Coach N'Diaye in terms of how he ended up at UC, nobody has mentioned anything concerning how effective he might be as a coach. Coach N'Diaye is in place to coach the big men. Since I have been following UC basketball, I cannot remember UC having a coach that had professional playing experience. Coach N'Diaye comes in with 10 years of D1 coaching experience, 5 years of NBA playing experience, and 6 years of international professional playing experience. He brings a lot of know-how to the party. The UC big men could really learn a lot from him.

One last comment that has nothing to do with basketball. The UC baseball team made it to the NCAA Baseball Tournament this year. UC won its first game, beating Wake Forest 11-6. Go UC baseball.

I asked what part, if any, did N'Dikave have in the recruitment of Miller. Nobody answered.

[leeraymond]

I am really pumped about the front line for next season. I have been following UC basketball for a very long time. When UC has been at its best, it typically had a very productive front line. Think (Blount, Nelson, Jones), (Blount, Nelson, Martin), (Fortson and Long), (Martin, Tate, Mickeal, Brannen, and Patterson), (Gates and Thomas), (Jackson and Rubles), and (Clark and Washington). Lahkin was also a good big man for UC. Remember that Blount, Fortson, Long, Martin, Mickeal, Patterson, and Clark all played in the NBA. Hopefully, about time that Thiam, Miller, Haynes, and McKinley no longer play for UC, we can also list them as one of UC's best front lines.

This might not be the best place to put this comment. However, other than to discuss Coach N'Diaye in terms of how he ended up at UC, nobody has mentioned anything concerning how effective he might be as a coach. Coach N'Diaye is in place to coach the big men. Since I have been following UC basketball, I cannot remember UC having a coach that had professional playing experience. Coach N'Diaye comes in with 10 years of D1 coaching experience, 5 years of NBA playing experience, and 6 years of international professional playing experience. He brings a lot of know-how to the party. The UC big men could really learn a lot from him.

One last comment that has nothing to do with basketball. The UC baseball team made it to the NCAA Baseball Tournament this year. UC won its first game, beating Wake Forest 11-6. Go UC baseball.

[leeraymond]

Believe it or not, based on last season's stats, Haynes was more productive than both Thiam and Miller in terms of scoring and rebounding per minute on the floor. Check out the comparisons based on last season (Points per minute / Rebounds per minute).

Miller: .377 / .23
Thiam: .362 / .22
Haynes: .546 / .26

Haynes appears to be a pretty productive player. Let's not sell Jalen Haynes short. This guy is going to get his points and rebounds. He may actually be a better player in the paint than both Thiam and Miller. Haynes may be able to use his physicality and weight to gain advantage in the paint against Thiam and Miller in practice.

If Haynes can reduce his turnovers and fouls, he is going to steal some minutes from Thiam and Miller. Given that everyone stays healthy, next year's team should be able to play in a number of different styles. I like this roster better than last year's roster. It is more diverse and flexible. Will that convert into wins? I hope so. With this roster, can UC play well enough to get to the upper division of the BIG XII?

[Rufus]

His turnover rate is concerning especially considering that he did this in a conference that is less physical on average than the B12. But hopefully our "coaches" can get this corrected.