The Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball program has added exhibition contests at Michigan and Arkansas, head coach Wes Miller announced on Monday, Sept. 29. The Bearcats will travel to Ann Arbor to face the Wolverines at 6 p.m. on Oct. 17, before they take on the Razorbacks in the CareSource Invitational at 8 p.m. on Oct. 24 in Fayetteville.
Cincinnati Bearcats guard Day Day Thomas (1) shoots over Xavier Musketeers guard Dante Maddox Jr. (21) in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout last Dec. 14.
Where to watch Cincinnati Bearcats basketball exhibitions
The matchup at Michigan will be streamed on BIG+, while the contest at Arkansas can be seen on SEC Network+.
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In Miller’s fifth season at the helm, UC welcomes 12 newcomers to its 2025-26 roster, in addition to veteran guard Day Day Thomas, who has averaged 10.3 points and 3.0 assists in 67 career games for Cincinnati. UC’s six veteran transfers, Jalen Celestine, Sencire Harris, Jalen Haynes, Kerr Kriisa, Baba Miller and Moustapha Thiam, average 80 career games played at the college level.
The Bearcats face seven NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago in their non-conference schedule, which opens against Western Carolina on Nov. 3 at Fifth Third Arena.
Cincinnati’s Corie Blount, right, reaches to block a shot by Michigan’s Chris Webber in first-half action during the NCAA Final Four in 1992. The two would continue to compete in the NBA. .
Cincinnati vs. Michigan all-time
Though the exhibition won’t count, the Wolverines lead the all-time series 3-1. Michigan won early games in 1921 and 1923 before the George Smith-era Bearcats beat them in 1953 at Cincinnati Gardens.
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Many longtime UC fans remember the last game which came April 4, 1992 in the Final Four against Michigan’s “Fab Five” in the Metrodome. The Bearcats led at halftime and got 21 points from Nick Van Exel but Michigan came back to win 76-72. NBA players in that game were Van Exel and Corie Blount for the Bearcats and Jalen Rose and Chris Webber for Michigan.
The Cincinnati Bearcats travel to Fayetteville to take on Arkansas in the CareSource Classic Oct. 24. The Razorbacks are coached by John Calipari.
Cincinnati vs. Arkansas all-time
Again, this one is for kicks, but UC leads the Razorbacks 3-2 all-time.
UC won with Oscar Robertson in the 1958 NCAA Midwest Regional consolation game 97-62 in Lawrence, Kansas. On Dec. 29, 1994 it was Nolan Richardson’s Hogs over the Bob Huggins Bearcats 84-75 in the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu. A year later in Fayetteville, UC beat the Razorbacks 82-67 in a game former President Bill Clinton attended. In 1997, it was UC over Arkansas 92-57 when the Bearcats were fourth in the nation. The last meeting was Nov. 23, 2021, in Wes Miller’s first year. Arkansas won in the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, 73-67.
Former UC great Kenyon Martin waves to fans during a timeout in the first half of the 92nd Annual Crosstown Shootout NCAA basketball game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Xavier Musketeers at Fifth Third Arena last Dec. 14.
Cincinnati Bearcats Tip-Off Dinner Oct. 14 features Kenyon Martin
The Bearcats will host their third-annual Tip-Off Dinner Tuesday, Oct. 14 in Fifth Third Arena. This year’s event will feature ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla as the evening’s guest speaker.
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Kenyon Martin, a 2013 UC Hall of Fame inductee, 2000 National Player of the Year and No. 1 pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, will serve as the evening’s special guest with Cincinnati play-by-play announcer Dan Hoard as the master of ceremonies.
Reserved tickets are available for $100 with VIP tickets for $250 at cpaw.io/mbb26td. The reserved ticket includes a reserved seat, buffet dinner and cash bar. The VIP tickets include reserved seating at a preferred table, buffet dinner, access to the VIP bar and a VIP reception with the UC men’s basketball coaching staff and players
Attendees will receive an inside look at the upcoming season, an opportunity to visit with current and former players and have the chance to bid on one-of-a-kind silent auction items. All proceeds from the exclusive night will directly benefit the UC Athletics Impact Fund.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats in basketball exhibitions at Michigan, Arkansas
