The unofficial online home for fans of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Report: West Virginia-Cincinnati Pair for Future Big 12 Basketball Schedule

Quote:As a source told CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, West Virginia and Cincinnati will pair up for future Big 12 men’s basketball schedules when the league moves to 14 teams in 2023. Rothstein reported seven matchups that will be protected as the league will move away from a balanced conference schedule.

This pairing guarantees two games, one at each home venue.

New Big 12 MBB Pairings:

Cincinnati / West Virginia

Kansas / Kansas State

Oklahoma / Oklahoma State

Texas / Texas Tech

Baylor / TCU

Houston / UCF

Iowa State / BYU

If true, these matchups are perfect for the new era of Big 12 basketball. Rothstein also reported that the conference will stay at 18-game schedule and is committed to continuing the challenges with the Big East and SEC.

Cincinnati is slowly turning things around as second-year head coach Wes Miller is looking to return the Bearcats to relevancy. After Mick Cronin departed for UCLA, Cincinnati has been trying to find the right person to lead the program. First it was John Brannen, now it’s Miller’s time. Miller coached Cincinnati to an 18-15 record, upsetting Illinois in the process. Miller is one of the fastest up and coming coaches in the country, recording 203 career wins just at the age of 39...

So we just play West Virginia for all our conference games? Cool.

I think they used to call the arrangement "travel partners" in the Big Ten. I imagine there will be a week where we play Kansas during the week and West Virginia plays Kansas State, then the opponents are reversed during the weekend.

(10-14-2022 08:07 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  I think they used to call the arrangement "travel partners" in the Big Ten. I imagine there will be a week where we play Kansas during the week and West Virginia plays Kansas State, then the opponents are reversed during the weekend.

I think this has more to do with an odd number of scheduled games in basketball with 14 members, and protecting a potential "rivalry" within that. Obviously not necessarily for us, more for the teams that have established rivalries and want to keep that happening twice a year. I don't think this has anything to do with travel arrangements.

(10-14-2022 08:55 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(10-14-2022 08:07 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  I think they used to call the arrangement "travel partners" in the Big Ten. I imagine there will be a week where we play Kansas during the week and West Virginia plays Kansas State, then the opponents are reversed during the weekend.

I think this has more to do with an odd number of scheduled games in basketball with 14 members, and protecting a potential "rivalry" within that. Obviously not necessarily for us, more for the teams that have established rivalries and want to keep that happening twice a year. I don't think this has anything to do with travel arrangements.

Yeah I think that's the main idea here. 14 teams means 13 games and they are committing to an 18 game schedule. So you play 5 teams twice and 8 teams once. UC will play WVU twice (presumably home and away annually) as one of our 5 teams. But of course the conference will lose Texas and OK and may add teams and/or re-align so it's all subject to change in the near future.

(10-14-2022 12:32 PM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  

(10-14-2022 08:55 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(10-14-2022 08:07 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  I think they used to call the arrangement "travel partners" in the Big Ten. I imagine there will be a week where we play Kansas during the week and West Virginia plays Kansas State, then the opponents are reversed during the weekend.

I think this has more to do with an odd number of scheduled games in basketball with 14 members, and protecting a potential "rivalry" within that. Obviously not necessarily for us, more for the teams that have established rivalries and want to keep that happening twice a year. I don't think this has anything to do with travel arrangements.

Yeah I think that's the main idea here. 14 teams means 13 games and they are committing to an 18 game schedule. So you play 5 teams twice and 8 teams once. UC will play WVU twice (presumably home and away annually) as one of our 5 teams. But of course the conference will lose Texas and OK and may add teams and/or re-align so it's all subject to change in the near future.

Bolded, that's a good summary of where we are I think. It's a natural with West Virginia, but as television news always says, "stay tuned". Personally, I feel TX and OK will work a deal to exit after next season and we'll see four or more Pac 12 teams entering the following season.

It's still unfolding, but the Big 12 may turn out bigger and better than we ever imagined when invited a little over a year ago.