Cincinnati Bearcats Jalen Haynes OUT Indefinitely; Basketball Schedule Breakdown & Season Preview Overwatch 2 [QKaAbgN6nCr]

Chuck Walter and Eric Lilly discuss the devastating injury loss of big man transfer Jalen Hayes from George Mason and breakdown the Cincinnati Bearcats Men's Basketball schedule for the 2025-26 season.

As the leaves turn in Cincinnati, the buzz around Fifth Third Arena is palpable. The 2025-26 season marks year three for head coach Wes Miller in the Big 12, a conference that sent seven teams to the NCAA Tournament last spring and features six preseason AP Top 25 squads. For the Bearcats, coming off a middling 18-15 campaign that ended in the NIT's second round, this offseason was a full roster reset. Nearly every scholarship spot turned over via the transfer portal, high school recruits, and international signings, crafting a squad blending raw talent, veteran grit, and international flair. The goal? Push into the NCAA's 68-team field for the first time under Miller and climb the Big 12 ladder from its projected bottom-third perch.

Miller's portal mastery shines through. After losing stars like Dan Skillings Jr. and Simas Lukoius to the pros and others to graduation, Cincinnati landed six high-impact transfers. Point guard Kerr Kriisa, a sharpshooting Estonian from West Virginia (career 37.8% from three), brings elite IQ and Big 12 experienceaveraging 5.9 points and 2.4 assists last year despite injuries. He'll orchestrate alongside returning sophomore Day Day Thomas, the lone holdover with meaningful minutes. Thomas exploded in 2024-25, posting 10.2 padres game today points per game on 40.2% three-point shooting after a foot injury sidelined him early. His defensive tenacity (1.7 steals per game) and scoring burstslike a 29-point clinic against West Virginiamake him the emotional core.

The backcourt deepens with Sencire Harris, a 6-foot-4 sophomore from West Virginia who averaged 5.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 32 games. His athleticism and rebounding for a guard add versatility. Shooting guard Jalen Celestine, transferring iraq from Baylor, chips in 7.1 points and 3.5 boards with a smooth mid-range game; he dropped eight points and seven rebounds on UC last February. Internationally, Brazilian guard Lucas Atauri rounds out the guards. The 21-year-old, who averaged 6.5 kings speech points and 37% from deep for Paulistano So Paulo last season, adds off-ball shooting and grew his minutes from 9.7 to 19.2 per game. His late flip from DePaul to Cincinnati underscores Miller's global recruiting push.

Up front, size and skill abound. Five-star freshman Shon Abaev, a 6-foot-9 Florida phenom, headlines the class with his versatile scoring (elite work ethic already earning rave reviews from coaches). He'll pair with 6-foot-11 Baba Miller from Florida Atlantic, who posted 11.3 points and seven rebounds last year, providing rim protection and stretch-four potential. Moustapha Thiam, a former UCF starter and top high school recruit, brings 7-foot athleticism after a freshman season of 8.2 points and 5.1 boards. Jalen Haynes, another portal gem, adds forward depth with his scoring touch. International wing Jordi Rodriguez, a 6-foot-7 Spaniard, completes the 15-man roster with perimeter defense and shooting upside.

This group's strength? Depth and shooting. With Kriisa, Thomas, Celestine, and Atauri spacing the floor, Abaev and Miller can attack mismatches. Defensively, Harris and Thomas's length could force turnovers, echoing UC's press history. Weaknesses linger: frontcourt cohesion (Thiam and Miller are raw) and Big 12 physicality against behemoths like Houston. Early chemistry in summer workouts will be key, as Miller emphasized at media day: "We've got pieces that fit our identitytough, fast, fearless.

"The schedule tempts fate early. Non-conference opens November 3 at home against Western Carolina, followed by a four-game homestand including Dayton on November 11 to kick off a home-and-home rivalry. The marquee Crosstown Shootout hits December 7 at Fifth Third Arena versus Xavier, flipping last year's road loss. Neutral-site tests include Georgia in Atlanta's Holiday Hoopsgiving (December 13) and Clemson in the Greenville Winter Invitational (December 20)tough SEC tune-ups before Big 12 grind. Conference play launches January 3 hosting defending champ Houston, the AP's No. 2 preseason team after their national runner-up run. Home-and-aways with UCF and West Virginia bookend a slate featuring road tilts at Kansas, Arizona, and Texas Tech (No. 10 preseason). Senior Night against BYU (No. 8) caps the regular season March 3, with the Big 12 Tournament March 10-14 in Kansas City.

In a loaded Big 12where Houston, Arizona (No. 13), Texas Tech, Iowa State (No. 16), Kansas (No. 19), and BYU vie for supremacyCincinnati slots around 10th in early power rankings. Analysts cite the rebuild's youth but praise the portal hauls for upside.