CINCINNATI — Jerrod Calhoun’s first Cincinnati team will look very different from the one that finished last season. One thing, however, is already becoming clear: the Bearcats are being built to defend.
The most obvious example of this is Javontae Campbell, who arrives from Bowling Green after being named the 2026 MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Campbell led the nation with 3.0 steals per game last season, finishing with 97 in 32 games, while also averaging 18.7 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.5 rebounds.
That is not simply a defensive specialist.
Campbell gives Cincinnati an experienced guard who can create turnovers, pressure the basketball, and still carry a significant offensive load. He scored 47 points in a game last season and shot 50 percent from the field, giving Calhoun a player who can affect a game at both ends.
The defensive emphasis extends well beyond Campbell.
Cincinnati added 6-foot-11 forward Deshaun Vaden from Mount Union after he averaged 3.5 blocks in only 15.6 minutes per game last season. Vaden ranked third nationally in blocks per game and shot 64.2 percent from the floor. The jump from Division III to the Big 12 will obviously be enormous, but his size and shot-blocking ability give Cincinnati a legitimate rim-protector.
Tyler Tejada brings a different kind of versatility. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 17.7 points and 5.5 rebounds at Towson last season and has already played 93 college games. He also spent three years playing for Pat Skerry, whose Towson teams have long emphasized physical defense and rebounding.
There is also a clear organizational commitment to that side of the floor.
Johnny Hill followed Calhoun from Utah State and is officially Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator. Last season, Utah State improved from 150th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency to 44th while winning both the Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships.
Calhoun also arrives with a strong offensive track record, with Utah State ranking 26th nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency last season. If Cincinnati can pair that offensive system with a defense capable of creating turnovers, protecting the rim, and surviving the physicality of the Big 12, the Bearcats will have a solid foundation to build upon in Calhoun’s first season.
The Bearcats will have plenty to figure out. The roster has been heavily remade, roles will need to be established, and chemistry will not be automatic simply because the pieces look interesting on paper.
But the identity seems to be there.
Campbell can create chaos on the perimeter. Vaden can protect the rim. Tejada adds size and experience, and Hill has been given direct responsibility for organizing the defense.
For a program trying to establish a new era, that is not a bad place to start.
