CINCINNATI — Ohio basketball fans are getting a historic preseason showcase this fall. Ohio's four marquee men's programs—the University of Cincinnati, Xavier, Dayton, and Ohio State—are set to collide in a first-of-its-kind outdoor doubleheader at the newly renovated Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason on Wednesday, October 7.

Dubbed the CareSource Invitational, the special preseason event will transition Center Court—the iconic venue of tennis's Cincinnati Open—into a unique stadium-style basketball arena. While CareSource has sponsored regional exhibition matchups for four years, this event marks the first time the showcase will be contested outdoors in the elements.

The doubleheader splits into two legendary local rivalries. The opening session tips off with the Cincinnati Bearcats taking on the Ohio State Buckeyes. The nightcap will feature the Xavier Musketeers and the Dayton Flyers.

Beyond the court, the event serves a vital charitable purpose. Net proceeds and foundational initiatives from the evening will raise critical funds and awareness for adolescent mental health programs and youth suicide prevention.

In the case of rain or inclement weather, the doubleheader will relocate to UD Arena in Dayton, situated roughly thirty minutes north of the Mason tennis campus.