Cincinnati Bearcats

CINCINNATI — College athletics has rarely been more confusing.

Between NIL, the transfer portal, revenue sharing and seemingly endless court rulings, simply determining who is eligible to play has become almost as difficult as coaching the games themselves.

That brings us to the NCAA's new "five-for-five" eligibility rule and why Cincinnati fans should be paying close attention.

At the center of the discussion is former Utah State standout MJ Collins.  When Jerrod Calhoun accepted Cincinnati's head coaching position, it seemed only natural that several of his former players would follow him to Clifton. Collins was one of the biggest names connected to the Bearcats after averaging 17.5 points per game and earning All-Mountain West Second Team honors last season.

The problem isn't whether Collins wants to play at Cincinnati.  It's whether the NCAA will allow him to.

The five-for-five rule was designed to give student-athletes five seasons of competition within a five-year window, replacing the patchwork of redshirts, waivers and hardship exceptions that had evolved over the years. But when the rule was implemented, athletes from the high school Class of 2022 were excluded, triggering multiple legal challenges across the country.

Collins is one of the players caught in that uncertainty.

As of late August, Cincinnati remains hopeful that he'll eventually become eligible, but no final decision has been reached. The program has continued preparing as though it could have to begin the season without him while leaving roster flexibility if the courts ultimately rule in his favor.

That's the right approach.  The worst thing a coaching staff can do is build a season around something it doesn't control.

If Collins is cleared, the Bearcats add one of the most accomplished scorers in college basketball and a player who already understands Calhoun's system.  If he isn't, Cincinnati still believes it has assembled a roster capable of competing in the Big 12.

However, neither outcome changes the work taking place inside Fifth Third Arena.  Practices continue.  Chemistry continues to develop.  Preparations for the season continue.

Eventually, the legal process will catch up.

Until then, the Bearcats can only do what every other program caught in college athletics' ever-changing landscape is doing.

Wait.

And hope.

NASSAU, Bahamas — It would be easy to dismiss Cincinnati's two exhibition victories in the Bahamas because of the competition.  But that would also miss the point.

The Bearcats returned home with a pair of convincing wins, defeating Victoria 110-63 before following it up with a 107-66 victory over Calgary to finish their summer trip 2-0. More importantly, Jerrod Calhoun's first Cincinnati team began showing signs of the identity its new head coach has spent the offseason trying to establish.

The opening game against Victoria was over almost as soon as it began.

After briefly falling behind 5-4, Cincinnati forced eight turnovers in the first five minutes and ripped off a 13-0 run. By halftime, the Bearcats had built a 55-22 advantage behind relentless defensive pressure and unselfish offense, eventually finishing with seven players in double figures while forcing and incredible 32 turnovers. MJ Collins led the balanced attack with 15 points, while Adlan Elamin added 14 and Akai Fleming handed out eight assists.

Twenty-four hours later, the Bearcats picked up right where they left off.

Myles Colvin erupted for 25 points, knocking down seven three-pointers as Cincinnati rolled past Calgary 107-66. Akai Fleming contributed 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Tyler Tejada added 14 points of his own, and Elamin once again reached double figures as the Bearcats completed an undefeated trip to Nassau.

The scores themselves, however, weren't the biggest story.  Style was.

Throughout the two-game trip, Cincinnati forced turnovers, pushed the tempo and displayed the type of unselfish play Calhoun has repeatedly emphasized since arriving in Clifton. Just as encouraging, players appeared genuinely invested in one another's success, something Calhoun pointed to after the opener as one of his favorite takeaways from the week.

Of course, perspective is important.  These were exhibition games in early August, not Big 12 conference contests. No one should be penciling Cincinnati into the NCAA Tournament because of two lopsided wins over Canadian universities.

At the same time, the Bearcats accomplished exactly what they needed to accomplish.  A roster filled with newcomers gained valuable game experience.  The coaching staff got its first extended look at rotations and combinations.  And perhaps most importantly, the team began developing the chemistry that every program with this much turnover desperately needs before the regular season begins.

The real tests are still to come.

But if the Bahamas trip was any indication, Jerrod Calhoun's first Cincinnati team appears to be heading in the right direction.

What's Next: Cincinnati returns home to continue preparations for the CareSource Invitational outdoor exhibition against Ohio State before opening the 2026-27 regular season later this fall.

CINCINNATI — Talent can be assembled in a matter of weeks.  But a basketball team takes much longer.

That's the challenge facing first-year Cincinnati head coach Jerrod Calhoun as the Bearcats continue summer workouts with a roster that looks dramatically different than the one that took the floor just a few months ago. Twelve newcomers have joined the program, making this one of the most extensive roster overhauls in the country.

For now, however, wins and losses aren't the priority.  Learning one another is.

Every practice provides another opportunity for players to understand where teammates like the ball, how quickly they make decisions and what they're capable of defensively. Those lessons may seem insignificant in July, but they're often the difference between winning and losing close games in February.

That's one reason Cincinnati's upcoming trip to the Bahamas carries far more significance than a pair of exhibition games.

For Calhoun, it'll be the first opportunity to see his new roster compete against someone wearing a different jersey. For the players, it'll be a chance to experience game situations that simply can't be replicated during practice. Just as importantly, the extended time together away from campus should accelerate the chemistry every new team spends months trying to build.

Assistant coach Ben Asher recently noted that the exhibitions will give the coaching staff its first real opportunity to evaluate rotations, lineups and how players respond when the games become competitive. That's information coaches simply can't gather from practice alone.

The encouraging news for Bearcat fans is that the early reports coming out of Fifth Third Arena have been positive.

Players have repeatedly talked about the energy surrounding the program, while coaches have emphasized the willingness of an almost entirely new roster to embrace Calhoun's expectations. That's exactly what you'd hope to hear this time of year.

While the real evaluations will come later, the Bahamas trip will provide a first glimpse.  The outdoor exhibition against Ohio State will offer another.

Only then will anyone have a meaningful understanding of what this basketball team is capable of becoming.  Until then, the Bearcats are doing exactly what they should be doing:  learning one another.

Because for a team this new, chemistry isn't just important.  It's everything.

CINCINNATI — New Cincinnati head coach Jerrod Calhoun has made no secret of his desire to build the Bearcats in his image.

This week, he took another significant step toward doing exactly that as Cincinnati officially added transfers Elijah Perryman and Adlan Elamin, giving Calhoun two players already familiar with his system after both spent last season playing under him at Utah State.

The pair arrive in Clifton following a successful season in Logan, where Calhoun led the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament before accepting the Cincinnati job this spring. While both players will need time to adjust to the rigors of the Big 12, they won't have to learn an entirely new coaching philosophy.

Perryman brings versatility to Cincinnati's frontcourt after establishing himself as one of Utah State's most reliable interior players. His ability to score around the basket, rebound and defend multiple positions gives the Bearcats another experienced option in a conference where depth in the frontcourt often determines success.

Elamin provides another athletic wing capable of contributing on both ends of the floor. While his offensive game continues to develop, his length, defensive effort and understanding of Calhoun's expectations should allow him to compete for meaningful minutes immediately.  Perhaps more importantly, both players bring leadership.

Whenever a new coaching staff takes over a program, one of its biggest challenges is teaching a new culture while simultaneously preparing for a season. Having players who already understand practice expectations, terminology and the day-to-day demands of the coaching staff can accelerate that process considerably.  That's exactly what Perryman and Elamin provide.

Neither player was brought to Cincinnati simply because of a previous relationship with the head coach. They were brought here because they fit what Calhoun wants this program to become—physical, disciplined and unselfish.

Whether either develops into an All-Big 12 performer remains to be seen.  But their greatest value may come long before the opening tip.  As Cincinnati's new roster learns what Jerrod Calhoun expects, Perryman and Elamin already know.  That makes them more than transfer additions.  It makes them extensions of the coaching staff on the floor.

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.