The Cincinnati Bearcats' NCAA Tournament drought has now stretched to seven years, a tough pill to swallow for a program with such a storied history. Their hopes were dashed in the Big 12 tournament when they let a 12-point lead slip away against UCF, ultimately falling short in a game they seemed destined to win. It was a heartbreaker, especially considering the high probability they had of closing it out.
Instead of securing a spot in the "last four in," the Bearcats found themselves on the outside looking in, listed among the "next four out." By the time the selection show aired, they weren't even part of the final discussions.
Behind the scenes, changes are afoot. Athletic Director John Cunningham and Senior Deputy AD John Daniel have met with head coach Wes Miller, signaling a likely change in leadership. Although no formal announcement has been made, the expectation is that Miller will be moving on, with an official statement anticipated on April 1, coinciding with a reduction in his buyout clause.
Reflecting on the Bearcats' journey, it's been 2,548 days since they last graced the NCAA Tournament floor. Their last appearance was in 2019 under coach Mick Cronin, who has since found success at UCLA.
Under John Brannen, the Bearcats were poised for a tournament run in 2020 before the pandemic canceled those plans. Brannen's tenure ended after a challenging 2020-2021 season, paving the way for Miller, who amassed a 100-74 record over five seasons but couldn't break the tournament drought.
This season, the Bearcats faced a tough schedule, going 4-9 against teams that made the NCAA Tournament. They did manage some impressive victories, including a win over then-No.
2 Iowa State, sparking a memorable court storm at Fifth Third Arena. They also claimed wins against Kansas and BYU, both of whom secured solid tournament seeds.
However, losses to teams like Louisville, Georgia, and Clemson, along with multiple defeats to top seeds like Houston and Arizona, highlighted the challenges they faced throughout the season.
Historically, the Bearcats have experienced similar dry spells. After Bob Huggins' departure in 2005, it took six years to return to the tournament.
Before Huggins' successful run, the team endured an even longer absence post-Gale Catlett. The program's rich history includes multiple NCAA appearances and two national championships under Ed Jucker, setting a high bar that the current team aspires to reach once more.
As the Bearcats look to the future, the focus will be on finding the right leadership to guide them back to the prominence they once enjoyed on the national stage.