Let’s be real for a second. Being a fan of Cincinnati basketball lately feels a bit like riding a roller coaster that was built without a blueprint. One night, you’re watching this squad systematically dismantle a top-10 Iowa State team at Fifth Third Arena, and the next, you’re wondering how they let a double-digit lead evaporate against a middle-of-the-road conference opponent.
It’s exhausting. It's also exactly why everyone is talking about them.
The Bearcats are currently navigating their third year in the Big 12, and the "welcome to the neighborhood" honeymoon phase is officially over. Wes Miller, now in his fifth season at the helm, is facing the kind of pressure that only comes when you coach at a school with two national championship trophies in the lobby. Fans aren't just looking for "competitive" anymore; they want the NCAA Tournament drought to end.
The Wes Miller Era: Is the Seat Actually Hot?
There’s been a lot of chatter lately—especially after that rough three-game skid in early January—about whether Wes Miller is the guy to get Cincinnati back to the Bob Huggins or Mick Cronin levels of consistency.
Honestly? It’s complicated.
Miller has a 92-67 record as of mid-January 2026. On paper, that’s solid. But in the Big 12, "solid" gets you a 12th-place finish and a Tuesday night game in the conference tournament. The jump from the American Athletic Conference (AAC) to the Big 12 has been a brutal reality check. The Bearcats have gone from being the "bully" to being the team that has to fight for every single possession.
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The defense is still the calling card. Cincinnati currently ranks in the top 30 nationally in defensive efficiency. They make you earn every point. But the offense? That’s where the gray hairs come from. They shoot a lot of threes—ranking near the top of the Big 12 in attempts—but they’ve struggled to actually make them consistently, hovering around 31% as a team.
The Roster: International Flavour and Local Grit
If you haven't watched a game lately, the first thing you'll notice is the sheer size of this team. They are long.
- Baba Miller: The 6-11 senior transfer from Florida Atlantic has been a revelation. He’s leading the team in scoring (12.7 PPG) and is a monster on the glass. He plays with a European finesse that makes him a nightmare matchup for traditional Big 12 power forwards.
- Moustapha Thiam: A 7-2 sophomore who followed the trend of big-time transfers. He’s already one of the best shot-blockers in the country. When he’s on the floor, the paint is basically a "no-fly zone."
- Day Day Thomas: The heart and soul of the backcourt. He’s a graduate student now, and his 45% shooting from deep this season is basically the only thing keeping the floor spaced.
Then you’ve got the freshmen like Shon Abaev and Keyshuan Tillery. Abaev is a 6-8 wing who was a top-25 recruit, and you can see the flashes of NBA talent every time he touches the ball. But he’s a freshman in the Big 12. He gets pushed around sometimes. It happens.
What Most People Get Wrong About Cincinnati Basketball
The biggest misconception right now is that this program is "underperforming."
Look at the Big 12 standings. You’ve got Houston, Arizona, Kansas, and Iowa State. These aren't just good teams; they are Final Four contenders. Cincinnati is currently 10-8 overall and 2-3 in conference play. While that might look mediocre to a casual observer, those two wins came against Colorado and a massive upset over #2 Iowa State.
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The Bearcats aren't "bad." They are just playing in a league where there are no nights off. When you play at West Virginia or UCF, you're walking into a buzzsaw.
The real issue isn't talent—it's the margin for error. Cincinnati has lost three games this year by a combined five points. If two or three of those bounces go the other way, we're talking about a top-25 team.
The Identity Crisis
For decades, Cincinnati basketball was defined by "Nasty Nati" defense and rebounding. Wes Miller has tried to keep that grit while adding a more modern, fast-paced offensive transition. Sometimes it looks like a masterpiece. Other times, it looks like five guys who just met at a local YMCA.
The turnover margin is a bright spot, though. They force nearly 15 turnovers a game, which is top-tier for the conference. If they can just find a way to stop the scoring droughts that seem to plague them for six-minute stretches in the second half, they are a lock for the tournament.
Why the Next Four Weeks Matter
We are entering the "gauntlet." The schedule from late January through February is a murderer's row.
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- At Arizona & Arizona State: A desert road trip that will test their depth.
- Baylor at home: A must-win for the resume.
- At Houston: Arguably the hardest place to play in college basketball right now.
If Cincinnati can go 3-2 over their next five games, the conversation changes from "is Wes Miller on the hot seat?" to "how high can they seed in the NCAA Tournament?"
Actionable Insights for the Season
If you're following the Bearcats through the rest of the 2026 season, keep an eye on these three specific metrics. They will tell you exactly where this team is headed:
Watch the 3-point Percentage
If Cincinnati shoots above 34% as a team, they almost always win. When they drop into the 20s, they lose. It’s that simple. Day Day Thomas and Kerr Kriisa have to be consistent threats from the perimeter to keep defenses from collapsing on Baba Miller.
The "Thiam" Factor
Monitor Moustapha Thiam's foul trouble. The Bearcats' defense drops significantly when he’s on the bench. He needs to stay on the floor for at least 25 minutes a game for UC to stay competitive against the Big 12's elite big men.
Free Throw Disparity
One of the team's biggest Achilles' heels has been putting opponents on the line too often. In their losses to West Virginia and UCF, they gave up 25+ free throw attempts. Defensive discipline is the difference between a NIT bid and a Saturday game in the Big Dance.
The tradition at Cincinnati is too deep for the fans to accept anything less than greatness. Whether or not this specific group can reclaim that glory remains the biggest question in the Queen City. But one thing is for sure: you can't afford to look away.