Cincinnati Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Bearcats
2018-19 non-conference schedule
Nov. 7 – Ohio State (H)
Nov. 13 – NC Central (H)
Nov. 16 – Milwaukee (H)
Nov. 19 – Western Michigan (H)
Nov. 23-24 – George Mason and either Baylor/ Ole Miss in Emerald Coast Classic
Nov. 27 – Arkansas-Pine Bluff (H)
Dec. 1 – UNLV (A)
Dec. 4 – Northern Kentucky (H)
Dec. 8 – Xavier (H)
Dec. 15 – Mississippi State (A)
Dec. 19 – UCLA (H)
Dec. 22 – South Carolina State (H)
Cincinnati played the team’s home games at Northern Kentucky’s home court while the Fifth Third Arena was going through an 84 million dollar renovation. It’s finished and the Bearcats will have some quality games to help open their new looked building.
That includes the season-opener against Ohio State, a team who also lost some key players. It’s a really solid test for both programs that could turn into a quality win for the victor.
UCLA and Mississippi State will both be tough opponents from an athletic standpoint, so the Bearcat’s defense will have to be top-notch to stand a chance. George Mason, the preseason A-10 favorite who returns everyone from last season’s team, might just be the best team in the Emerald Classic when it’s all said and done.
Related Story. Why Cincy will be better than Xavier in 2018-19. light
Of course, the game that matters the most for Cincinnati fans in the non-conference is the Crosstown Shootout battle with Xavier. They lost last year’s game, 89-76 to give them bragging rights. The Musketeers lost a ton of production as well as their head coach to Louisville but new head coach Travis Steele brought in some quality grad transfers to still make them very competitive this year. It looks to be a tossup between the two as of now, which makes for another entertaining bout.