After the Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team plays Oakland University on Oct. 27, they'll have six days until the 2026-27 season starts for real on Monday, Nov. 2, against American University.
The Bearcats have had an exhibition win outdoors at the Lindner Tennis Center over Ohio State, then lost to another Big Ten team when Illinois defeated them at Fifth Third Arena Oct. 17.
Now, after two Big Ten practice games, Jerrod Calhoun puts his Big 12 team against the Golden Grizzlies from the Horizon League. Why play Oakland?
There's a method to Calhoun's madness.
"You say, 'Ah, it's just Oakland!'" Calhoun said. "Well, Oakland beat Kentucky a few years ago. At the end of the day, everything you do is strategically planned. Oakland's going to
sit in a zone the entire 40 minutes. I want to see zone live. That's why we play Oakland, and he (coach Greg Kampe) is a good friend."
Calhoun snares another player from Akron for Bearcats
Based on Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's executive order, Amani Lyles, a four-year player from Akron, has eligibility. As long as that stands,Lyles, like MJ Collins, has a fifth year, which he will play for the UC Bearcats. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Lyles averaged 14.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game at Akron, where he was a teammate of current Bearcat Eric Mahaffey, last season. Lyles had 26 points in Akron's NCAA tournament loss to Big 12 member Texas Tech.
'Calhoun Street' documentary on Cincinnati Bearcats basketball comes to ESPN+
The Bearcats released a trailer last week of what 4th Floor Creative has put together during September and October. Jerrod Calhoun announced at the preseason basketball banquet thathis first Bearcats team would be featured in an ESPN+ documentary. The title is 'Calhoun Street'.
"We've got to wake this city up!" Calhoun says in the trailer. "I'm here to wake this city up!"
After this dress rehearsal, the lights come on for real.
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3 keys for Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Oakland Golden Grizzlies
1. Cincinnati Bearcats can't discount Horizon League opponent
As Calhoun mentioned, Oakland knocked off the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, 80-76, then took North Carolina State to overtime in the second round, losing 79-73.
This past season, they played UCF in the Big 12, losing only 87-83 and they fell short vs. No. 9 Michigan State, 79-70. The last meeting with UC was a win by Mick Cronin's 'Cats in 2006 and Bob Huggins beat them three times. In 1998, UC went 24-for-48 on 3-pointers to win 106-78, but Huggins was displeased as the Golden Grizzlies scored 50 of their points in the second half. At the next practice, the Bearcats began with 50 sprints.
2. Cincinnati Bearcats must move ball vs. Oakland
The Grizzlies play a 1-3-1/1-1-3 matchup zone, which Coach Greg Kampe has used to give teams fits for years.
And, if you think Oakland will be overly impressed with playing UC, they have another game to be concerned about to start the regular season. The Golden Grizzlies begin at Crisler Arena against No. 16 Michigan in Ann Arbor.
3. Cincinnati Bearcats best 'D-up'
In Oakland's 103-74 opening exhibition over Grand Valley State, the Golden Grizzlies went 20-for-41 from the 3-point line. UC made 12 3-pointers against Illinois, so it might be a track meet trying to keep up with the perimeter shots. Plus, they'll obviously want to improve on the 106 points they allowed Illinois in their last exhibition.
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Oakland tip time
Tip: 7 p.m. Oct. 27, Fifth Third Arena (12,012)
TV/Radio: gobearcats.com (audio only)
Series: UC leads 4-0 (last meeting 68-61 UC win in 2006-07 season with Mick Cronin)
Oakland Golden Grizzlies scouting report
Record: 16-16 (12-8 Horizon League) last season
Coach: Greg Kampe (28th year, 469-407 all at Oakland)
Offense: 82.6 (2025-26)
Defense: 81.7 (2025-26)
Oakland projected starters
(Position, Height, Stats)
Chris Fields (F, 6'8", 9.7 ppg at Campbell)
Nassim Mashhour (G, 6'6", 9.3 ppg last season)
William Kassi (G-F, 6'10", 9.8 ppg in 2024-25 at Indian Hill Community College)
RJ Taylor (G, 6', 2.6 ppg at Northern Iowa)
Warren Marshall IV (G. 6'6", 3.5 ppg last season)
Cincinnati Bearcats scouting report
Record: 18-15, 9-9 Big 12 in 2025-26 under Wes Miller
Coach: Jerrod Calhoun, first year; 297-159 overall with five seasons in Division II and nine in Division I
Offense: 73.1 ppg (under Wes Miller)
Defense: 67.6 ppg (under Wes Miller)
Cincinnati Bearcats projected starters
(Position, Height, Stats)
Tylen Riley (G, 6'3", 15 ppg at Tulsa)
Trevian Carson (G, 6'3", 11.9 ppg at North Dakota State)
Jayden Hastings (C, 6'10", 6.7 ppg at Boston College)
Adlan Elamin (F, 6'10", 6.7 ppg at Utah State)
MJ Collins (G, 6'2", 17.5 ppg at Utah State)
Cincinnati Bearcats, Oakland Golden Grizzlies to watch
Guard Nassim Mashhour is Oakland's top returning scorer at 9.3 points per game, but it was Northern Iowa transfer RJ Taylor who led the Golden Grizzlies in their opening exhibition with 25 points, including six treys.
Guard Tylen Riley has had the hot hand for the Bearcats, scoring 23 points off the bench in the Ohio State exhibition, then adding 31 with 13 assists in the loss to the 2026 national semifinalists, Illinois.
"That shows how much work I put into it," Riley said. "I'm just trying to take another leap."
Riley began his career at Cal Baptist and last year played at Tulsa, where they made the NIT. All of UC's seniors (Riley, Carson, Myles Colvin, Tyler Tejada, Hastings, Riley Allenspach) all conceivably can return via the NCAA's "5-for-5" rule. The only Bearcats without eligibility next season would be fifth-year players Collins, Javontae Campbell, Grant Darbyshire and the newly-acquired Lyles.
Cincinnati Bearcats, Oakland rankings
KenPom.com: UC is No. 31 preseason; Oakland is No. 199
NCAA NET: UC was No. 49 to end last season, Oakland No. 175
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: One more exhibition for Cincinnati Bearcats before season opener
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