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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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ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 11: Jarron Cumberland #34 of the Cincinnati Bearcats celebrates their championship after defeating the Houston Cougars after the final game of the 2018 AAC Basketball Championship against at Amway Center on March 11, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 11: Jarron Cumberland #34 of the Cincinnati Bearcats celebrates their championship after defeating the Houston Cougars after the final game of the 2018 AAC Basketball Championship against at Amway Center on March 11, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Season Outlook

Cincinnati is a tournament team, anything less should be considered a disappointment to Bearcats fans. As far as transitions go with new head coaches this should be one of the easier ones. Brannen inherits a team with a lot of talent and he’s wasted no time out on the recruiting trail.

John Brannen has assured fans that he wasn’t going to drastically change the style of ball that Cincinnati is known for. The Bearcats will continue to be a gritty and physical team that likes to run the floor. Expect him to experiment a little bit with rotations during the first few games of the year as he tries to figure out what he’s got to work with and who he can rely on in crunch time,

Jarron Cumberland’s return for his senior season provides a massive boost for Cincinnati this season, it’s going to make life a lot easier for Brannen. Cumberland has dealt with an injury in the offseason but assuming he’s healthy for the year, he has the capability of carrying Cincinnati and being an All-American.

Next. Preseason AAC rankings for 2019-20. dark

Add in the big time grad transfer Jaevin Cumberland to the mix, Jaevin helps fill an area where the Bearcats have notoriously struggled, the deep ball. Cincinnati returns a lot of its key pieces from a team that won the AAC Tournament last year. With all this being said the biggest question that remains around Cincinnati is whether or not they can make it to the second weekend. Something Mick Cronin really struggled to do despite a number of tournament appearances.

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