The Cincinnati Bearcats tip off their basketball season Nov. 9 against Evansville, and their schedule will feature plenty of tough opponents with several individual players who have pro potential.
The Bearcats will face their usual tough American Athletic Conference schedule as well as non-conference foes including Georgia, the Hall of Fame Classic where they'll play Illinois and either Arkansas or Kansas State and, off course, the Crosstown Shootout against Xavier.
UC will have a pair of tall tasks, literally, as they will face arguably the two best centers in the nation – Illinois' Kofi Cockburn and Memphis' Jalen Duren.
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Here are the top opponents Cincinnati will face in 2021/22:
Emoni Bates, Memphis
Sunday, Jan. 9 at Memphis, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 3 at Fifth Third Arena, 7 p.m.
The 6-foot-9 freshman forward was named Preseason All-AAC Second Team.
One of the nation's top recruits, was ranked top-5 nationally by 247sports.com.
Jr. Clay, Tennessee Tech
Tuesday, Dec. 21 at Fifth Third Arena, 7 p.m.
Six-foot guard was named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference preseason team for third time
Finished second in the conference at 17.3 points per game, adding 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals. Has scored over 1,200 points in his career
Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
Monday, Nov. 22, Hall of Fame Classic at Kansas City, 6:30 p.m.
Returned to the Illini after testing NBA Draft waters. The 7-footer is in the mix for national player of the year after being named preseason first-team All-American by several publications.
Averaged 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, also blocking 40 shots in 31 games last season for Illinois.
Kendric Davis, SMU
Thursday, Jan. 6 at Fifth Third Arena, 9 p.m.
Thursday, March 3 at SMU, 7 or 9 p.m.
Senior guard led the AAC in scoring at 19 points per game. Also averaged 7.6 assists per game, the only player in the country to lead his conference in both scoring and assists.
His 3.2 assist-to-turnover ratio was the best in the AAC and 10th in the NCAA.
Jalen Duren, Memphis
Sunday, Jan. 9 at Memphis, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 3 at Fifth Third Arena, 7 p.m.
A 6-11 freshman center who was named Preseason AAC Rookie of the Year and Preseason All-AAC first team.
A top-5 recruit nationally by 247sports.com, with some recruiting services ranking him No. 1 overall.
Tyson Etienne, Wichita State
Sunday, Jan. 16 at Wichita State, 1 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 17 at Fifth Third Arena, 7 or 8 p.m.
Sophomore guard returns after being named AAC Co-Player of the Year last season.
Averaged 16.3 points per game and set a school record with and average of 2.95 3-pointers made per game, while shooting .392 from outside the arc.
Zach Freemantle, Xavier
Saturday, Dec. 11 at Cintas Center, 8:30 p.m.
Named the Big East Most Improved Player last season after averaging 16.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
The 8.9 rebounds per game were enough to lead the conference for the 6-9 junior.
Brandon Mahan, UCF
Wednesday, Feb. 23 at UCF, 9 p.m.
The 6-5 guard is one of the AAC’s top shooters. Led the conference and finished sixth in the nation with a .906 free throw percentage. Finished third in the AAC, shooting .438 from 3-point range.
Averaged 12.3 points per game.
Landers Nolley II, Memphis
Sunday, Jan. 9 at Memphis, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 3 at Fifth Third Arena, 7 p.m.
A big guard at 6-7, he led the Tigers in scoring last season after transferring from Virginia Tech.
Averaged 13.1 points per game while shooting .387 on 3-pointers and .803 from the free throw line.
Marcus Sasser, Houston
Tuesday, Dec. 28 at Houston, 8 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 6 at Fifth Third Arena, 6 p.m.
The 6-2 junior guard averaged 13.7 points 2.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game last season.
Was named All-AAC Second Team one season after he was named to the All-Freshman Team
Paul Scruggs, Xavier
Saturday, Dec. 11 at Cintas Center, 8:30 p.m.
The 6-5 senior is back for another season with the Musketeers.
Averaged 14.0 points per game and finished 20th in the nation, and first in the Big East, with 5.7 assists per game.
Deandre Williams, Memphis
Sunday, Jan. 9 at Memphis, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 3 at Fifth Third Arena, 7 p.m.
The 6-9 Evansville transfer became eligible Dec. 16, and the Tigers had a 16-5 record from that point on.
Averaged 11.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
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