Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: Will Cincinnati or UCLA post a better 2019-20 season?

By Ben Andreatta

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 16: Jarron Cumberland #34 of the Cincinnati Bearcats drives to the basket as Jaylen Hands #4 of the UCLA Bruins defends during the first half at Pauley Pavilion on December 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 16: Jarron Cumberland #34 of the Cincinnati Bearcats drives to the basket as Jaylen Hands #4 of the UCLA Bruins defends during the first half at Pauley Pavilion on December 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: Jarron Cumberland #34 of the Cincinnati Bearcats reacts during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: Jarron Cumberland #34 of the Cincinnati Bearcats reacts during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Looking at John Brannen and his Cincinnati Bearcats

As mentioned early, watching from afar, it seems John Brannen has the easier task for this year. A Bearcats program that should hit the ground running with their new man in charge, anything but a 10th consecutive tournament appearance should be considered disappointing for Bearcat fans. The reigning AAC Player of the Year, Jarron Cumberland, returns to the Bearcats with a chip on his shoulder looking to make a claim as one of the nations best players. Add in his cousin, grad transfer Jaevin Cumberland, and returner Tre Scott to the mix and the Bearcats are ready to compete.

Brannen has been hard at work this summer looking to add reinforcements and make the program his own. Top-50 recruit Zach Harvey joins the Bearcats this summer as one of the best rescruits Cincinnati has had in a long time. Brannen emphasized in an interview with Andy Katz earlier this summer that he wasn’t going to change the Bearcats style of play too much, Cincinnati has always been a team that has thrived in chaos under past head coaches Mick Cronin and Bob Huggins.

On top of what appears to be an easier non-conference schedule and playing in the AAC. Cincinnati should face a lot less resistance than UCLA on their way to another tournament bid but do however have an intriguing matchup at Ohio State to kick off their season, an early chance to see the Bearcats against a team that should be in the Top-25 all season.

Is that enough to warrant picking Cincinnati to have a better season than UCLA?

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