Bearcats Wrap Homestand with First-Ever Matchup Against Tarleton State
CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Bearcats are set to close out their three-game homestand Monday night when they host Tarleton State at Fifth Third Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., with coverage available on ESPN+, 700 WLW, and the TuneIn app.
This season carries special weight for the Bearcats - it marks the 125th year of Cincinnati men’s basketball. That’s 125 years of hardwood history, championship banners, and legendary names that helped shape the program into one of college basketball’s most storied. With 44 All-Americans, 41 conference titles, six Final Four appearances, and back-to-back national championships in their trophy case, the Bearcats are honoring that legacy all season long.
But this year’s team isn’t just looking back - it’s making noise in the present, especially on the defensive end. Through the early stretch of the season, Cincinnati has emerged as one of the most disruptive defenses in the country. According to KenPom, the Bearcats rank sixth nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing just 64.1 points per game.
They’re doing it with a mix of physicality and discipline. Cincinnati leads the nation in non-steal turnover percentage - meaning they’re forcing mistakes without gambling - and they rank ninth in block percentage, swatting away 17.6% of opponents’ shots.
Inside the arc, they’ve been particularly stingy, holding teams to just 42.1% shooting on two-point attempts, good for 13th nationally. Add in a 23.2% turnover percentage, and it’s clear this defense isn’t just solid - it’s suffocating.
That defensive identity has also impacted pace. Offensively, the Bearcats are moving with urgency, averaging just 14.8 seconds per possession - 20th-fastest in the country.
On the flip side, they’re slowing opponents down, forcing them to grind through 17.6-second possessions, which ranks among the slowest tempos in the nation. It’s a style that wears teams down over 40 minutes.
In Big 12 play, Cincinnati is already setting the tone. They lead the conference in opponent field goal percentage (36.7%), rank third in blocks (5.5 per game), and sit fourth in scoring defense.
And they’re doing all this with a largely new cast. Only one starter and two letterwinners returned from last year’s squad, meaning the Bearcats brought back just 13.3% of their scoring, 7.6% of their rebounding, and 17.5% of their assists. That’s a steep reset - but so far, the rebuild looks ahead of schedule.
One of the key returners making his presence felt is senior forward Baba Miller. Despite missing a couple of games due to injury, Miller has made a strong early-season impact.
He’s already posted three double-doubles - tied for 23rd nationally and second in the Big 12 - and is averaging 2.0 blocks per game, ranking ninth in the conference. His length, timing, and versatility have been crucial at both ends of the floor.
Monday night’s contest will mark the first-ever meeting between Cincinnati and Tarleton State, a program on the rise under sixth-year head coach Billy Gillispie. The Texans come in at 5-3, riding a three-game win streak after a high-scoring loss at Baylor back in mid-November.
Tarleton’s offensive engine has been junior guard Dior Johnson, who’s been electric off the bench. He’s putting up 23.6 points per game while shooting an eye-popping 56.2% from the field and 64.7% from beyond the arc.
That kind of efficiency, especially coming from a reserve role, makes him a matchup to watch. Senior guard/forward Freddy Hicks adds another layer to the Texans’ attack, contributing 11.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
For Cincinnati, this is more than just the end of a homestand - it’s another opportunity to keep building chemistry, sharpen their defensive identity, and continue writing the next chapter in a milestone season. With a defense that’s already among the nation’s elite and a team still finding its ceiling, the Bearcats are laying the foundation for something bigger. Monday night is just the next step.