Cincinnati Set to Host Utah on Military Appreciation Day at Fifth Third Arena
CINCINNATI - The Bearcats are back at Fifth Third Arena this Sunday, welcoming Utah for a noon ET tip in what promises to be a meaningful day both on and off the court. The matchup will air on ESPN and be broadcast locally on 700 WLW and the TuneIn app, but fans in the arena will get more than just basketball - it’s Military Appreciation Day, with the CCM Trumpet Ensemble performing the national anthem and a halftime show from DSAGC.
A Season Steeped in Legacy
This season marks a milestone for Cincinnati men’s basketball - the 125th in program history. That’s 125 years of hardwood tradition, from Oscar Robertson to the present day, and the Bearcats are celebrating it all season long.
With 44 All-Americans, 41 conference championships, six Final Four appearances, and back-to-back national titles in the trophy case, this program isn’t just historic - it’s iconic. In fact, the Associated Press once named Cincinnati one of the top 10 programs in college basketball history.
The Bearcats are leaning into that legacy this year, and you can feel it in the energy around the team.
Lockdown Defense and Smart Basketball
Cincinnati’s defense has been the calling card all season, and the numbers back it up. The Bearcats are giving up just 67.0 points per game and rank 10th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
But it’s not just about stopping shots - it’s about forcing teams out of rhythm. Opponents are averaging 17.8 seconds per possession, one of the slowest paces in the country (273rd nationally), and Cincinnati is making them work for every look.
The Bearcats are also excelling in the little things that win games. They’re eighth nationally in non-steal turnover percentage (just 9.6%), meaning they rarely give the ball away in unforced situations. They’re also top 20 in limiting offensive rebounds (26.1%) and defending inside the arc, holding opponents to just 7.1% shooting from 2-point distance, good for 13th nationally.
Big 12 Rankings Show a Balanced Attack
In Big 12 play, Cincinnati has carved out a reputation as a team that can hurt you in multiple ways. They’re third in the conference in 3-point attempts per game (26.6) and rank top five in several key categories: fourth in scoring defense (67.0), field goal percentage defense (41.3), and assists per game (16.6); fifth in defensive rebounds (26.28) and turnovers forced (13.16). That’s a well-rounded stat sheet - and a sign of a team that’s bought in on both ends.
Baba Miller: A Stat Sheet Stuffer
Senior forward Baba Miller has been a force this season - even with two games missed due to injury. He’s tied for 20th nationally and second in the Big 12 with 11 double-doubles and leads the conference in defensive rebounding, pulling down 8.04 boards per game on that end alone. His total rebounding average (10.5) ranks 11th in the country, and his 29.1% defensive rebounding percentage is fifth-best nationwide.
But Miller isn’t just cleaning the glass - he’s doing a bit of everything. Averaging 13.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, he’s one of just three players in college basketball hitting at least 13-10-3 on the season.
The other two? Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Butler’s Michael Ajayi.
That’s elite company. No Bearcat since at least 1996-97 has posted that kind of all-around production for a full season.
Familiar Foe in Utah
Cincinnati leads the all-time series with Utah, 4-2, including a perfect 3-0 mark at home. The last time these teams met - almost exactly a year ago - it was a high-scoring affair at Fifth Third Arena.
Jizzle James matched a career-high with 25 points, Josh Reed added 13 for his second straight game setting a new personal best, and the Bearcats held off a determined Utah squad, 85-75. That game also saw former Bearcat Gabe Madsen - now with Utah - go off for 28 points, including a record-breaking 22 three-point attempts.
He connected on eight of them, setting a new mark for opponent 3-point attempts at Fifth Third Arena.
Scouting the Utes
Utah comes into Sunday’s matchup at 9-15 overall and just 1-10 in Big 12 play under first-year head coach Alex Jensen. They’re coming off a 66-52 loss to No.
3 Houston, and while the record doesn’t jump off the page, there’s talent on this roster. Junior guard Terrence Brown is averaging 20.8 points per game, good for fourth in the Big 12, while veteran guard Don McHenry chips in 17.3 a night.
Brown is the kind of scorer who can heat up quickly, and Cincinnati’s defense will need to keep him in check early to avoid letting Utah hang around.
What to Watch
This game is more than a stat check or a standings update - it’s a chance for Cincinnati to continue asserting itself in a deep Big 12, celebrate its storied past, and honor those who serve. With the Bearcats playing some of their most connected basketball of the season, and Baba Miller putting up numbers that haven’t been seen in decades, Sunday is shaping up to be a can’t-miss moment in a season already full of them.
Tip-off is at noon. Don’t be late.