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Cincinnati Basketball: Bearcats 2019-20 season preview

By Ben Andreatta

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 08: Cincinnati Bearcats fans get ready before the game against the Xavier Musketeers at Fifth Third Arena on December 8, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 08: Cincinnati Bearcats fans get ready before the game against the Xavier Musketeers at Fifth Third Arena on December 8, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: The Cincinnati Bearcats mascot performs during the game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: The Cincinnati Bearcats mascot performs during the game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

It’s a new-look Cincinnati Basketball team that the AAC will have to deal with. What should be expected of the Bearcats?

A new era for Cincinnati basketball is about to kick off this season with the departure of long-time head coach Mick Cronin. Cronin led the Bearcats to nine straight tournament appearances but took off to join the UCLA Bruins following a disappointing first-round exit to Iowa. The Bearcats moved right along hiring John Brannen from Northern Kentucky to take over the head coaching duties and he’s got his hands full.

Jarron Cumberland returning for his senior year was the other big storyline for the Bearcats this summer, the senior guard from Wilmington Ohio chose to withdraw from the NBA draft in hopes of taking care of some unfinished business at UC.

Cumberland will be joined this season by his cousin, graduate transfer Jaevin Cumberland who joins the Bearcats for his final year of college. Jaevin is a great scorer and will provide the Bearcats with an outside shooting threat, something they’ve struggled with over the years.

A lot of the key guys from last seasons’ AAC Tournament winning team are back and looking to repeat the task. Cincinnati will have a number of new faces this season as well, including top-50 recruit Zach Harvey. The Bearcats will be met with some stiff competition this season from the likes Memphis and Houston.

Here’s a look at the Bearcats roster including who could be starting the first game as well as some of the key reserves. I’ll look at some of the key matchups UC has on their non-conference slate, talk about the AAC and give my overall all thoughts on what kind of outlook Bearcat fans should have this season.

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