NCAA Basketball: Way-too-early ranking of 2022 Maui Invitational field

6. Cincinnati Bearcats

After Cincinnati struggled down the stretch last year, Wes Miller went to work during his first full offseason with the Bearcats. As a result, the roster has been turned over ahead of the program’s coming transition to the Big 12.

Cincinnati does have an enviable group of guards. Last year’s leading scorer David DeJulius is back for another year and so Mika Adams-Woods, who should provide key minutes off the bench. He could’ve started, but he’s been displaced by Indiana transfer Rob Phinisee.

They’re stacked at wing too, maybe too much considering the minutes that need to go around. Landers Nolley II arrives from Memphis, while Jeremiah Davenport returns. Clemson transfer John Newman III should also be a big contributor if he can stay healthy.

One of Cincinnati’s issues is up front, where the team is short on high-level bigs, which may force them to play smaller lineups. That’s an issue that could be exposed by some of the bigger teams decamping to Hawaii in November.

The Bearcats don’t have a ton of depth, but they definitely have enough talent to propel them into the NCAA Tournament conversation this year. A lack of strong depth could be difficult to deal with in Hawaii, though, when teams play three games in three days while coping with a significant time difference.

Cincinnati draws Arizona in its first Maui Invitational game. The Bearcats have never beaten the Wildcats, but they did make the championship game in their other Maui Invitational appearance in 2009.