Time for the season thread. One more exhibition game against Oakland, and then the opening game against American starts on November 2nd. Absolutely stoked to get this year started with a better built roster and a superior head coach. Buckle up, should be fun!
i ready. it's almost not an unknown entity anymore. i think we have some players. i'm most excited to see the development of elamin and mahaffey. i hope at least one of akai flemings/myles colvin pans out. a backcourt of riley and collins (and in the future campbell) seems march made. hopefully not having much inside won't matter
What I have enjoyed thus far is that against 2 P4 squads, one of which is packed with elite talent, this UC team continuously shared the ball. There was almost no standing and waiting for "Alpha" to take over and lead them... at various points they all played the Alpha role which will be extremely difficult to defend consistently unless the opponent has 5 above average defenders -- which most don't. I just hope that philosophy stays with this team. I know Calhoun preaches that, as did Underwood, so fingers crossed.
I will be interested to see how this team of better shooters than we've seen in while, handles a zone defense concept that they'll see most likely from Oakland. If Calhoun has taught them the concepts of an effective zone offense AND the 'Cats can knock down shots, the enthusiasm for this team will go through the roof. I hope the students and fans show up for the game and this team. Count me in for ordering a big glass of the kool-aid the 'Cats are selling right now.
(10-19-2026 08:41 AM)Cal1362 Wrote: What I have enjoyed thus far is that against 2 P4 squads, one of which is packed with elite talent, this UC team continuously shared the ball. There was almost no standing and waiting for "Alpha" to take over and lead them... at various points they all played the Alpha role which will be extremely difficult to defend consistently unless the opponent has 5 above average defenders -- which most don't. I just hope that philosophy stays with this team. I know Calhoun preaches that, as did Underwood, so fingers crossed.
I will be interested to see how this team of better shooters than we've seen in while, handles a zone defense concept that they'll see most likely from Oakland. If Calhoun has taught them the concepts of an effective zone offense AND the 'Cats can knock down shots, the enthusiasm for this team will go through the roof. I hope the students and fans show up for the game and this team. Count me in for ordering a big glass of the kool-aid the 'Cats are selling right now.
Bolded, I concur on both points. I can't help but think with the right coaching Abaev and Skillings could have been excellent players for the Bearcats but it never seemed they had the focus or intensity to be game changers. I wish them both well but I think we're entering a new and exciting era for the 'Cats.
My how the Big East has faded. UCONN has become a 21st century blueblood; St. John's may be really good but it's also a nod to their HOF head coach. The Big East brand name far exceeds the league's standing today.
We'll see how it goes the rest of 2026, but I really believe Calhoun's 'Cats may have a place in the top 25 sometime this season. I know, I know, we have to guard against getting out in front of our skis.
(10-19-2026 06:57 PM)Bruce Monnin Wrote: I didn't think scrimmages meant anything. No credit for beating Ohio State and playing Illinois tough.
I would agree with your sentiment in general... To me, I don't evaluate scrimmage results so much as trying to get an early gauge of the "eye test" for the team. Even after beating OSU and UM last fall, Wes still had the hard to understand substitution patterns, seemed like he was trying to force Abaev into an alpha role he wasn't ready for or talented enough for (yet? possibly), had the issue with two undersized point guards that weren't particularly adept at getting into the lane and drawing fouls or generating big assist numbers and a coach that still seemed to be trying to figure it out at the level he was at.
My "way too early" impressions from the two scrimmages I've seen thus far, let me think (pause as I adjust my rose colored Bearcat glasses ) this current Bearcats team improves on most of those and many other shortcomings on display last season. Team chemistry seems better from the start, FT shooting, FG shooting, PG that are more pass first but if you step back can still punish you, so far no huge scoring droughts (although there will obviously be a few), what appears to be an actual offensive game plan but mostly a coach who is comfortable in his philosophy and not trying to or worried about proving himself on the Big XII stage.
We'll see if any of this holds or if we are just in the high hopes, crash and burn, rinse repeat cycle. IMO, this team gets UC back to what we as fans think of as "our legacy" -- being routinely in the polls and making regular Tourney appearance beyond the first weekend
10-20-2026 09:11 AM
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i'll believe it when i see it and even when i see i'll believe it when dubs don't get vacated. that also puts us one above the scholarship (or whatever they're called) limit of fifteen. i imagine derbyshire becomes a traditional redshirt to make room
(10-22-2026 08:28 PM)Lush Wrote: i'll believe it when i see it and even when i see i'll believe it when dubs don't get vacated. that also puts us one above the scholarship (or whatever they're called) limit of fifteen. i imagine derbyshire becomes a traditional redshirt to make room
Everyone is playing class of 22 guys, ok not everyone but way too many are for anything to be vacated.
(10-22-2026 08:28 PM)Lush Wrote: i'll believe it when i see it and even when i see i'll believe it when dubs don't get vacated. that also puts us one above the scholarship (or whatever they're called) limit of fifteen. i imagine derbyshire becomes a traditional redshirt to make room
Everyone is playing class of 22 guys, ok not everyone but way too many are for anything to be vacated.
Sadly a mess though still. But Calhoun seems to be making it work in UC's favor. Is the NCAA too self righteous to simply surrender on this and save itself, and its member schools, millions of dollars in legal fees?
This reminds me of the good old days at the softball park when your game is about to start and you see another team who’s game just ended and you yell over to their cleanup hitter to come play for your team.
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2026/27 Bearcats Basketball Season Thread
2026/27 Bearcats Basketball Season Thread 
) this current Bearcats team improves on most of those and many other shortcomings on display last season. Team chemistry seems better from the start, FT shooting, FG shooting, PG that are more pass first but if you step back can still punish you, so far no huge scoring droughts (although there will obviously be a few), what appears to be an actual offensive game plan but mostly a coach who is comfortable in his philosophy and not trying to or worried about proving himself on the Big XII stage.
