The Cincinnati Bearcats’ first trip to the Bahamas will have to wait a little longer.
UC’s men’s basketball exhibition games in Nassau have been pushed back a few days because of travel delays, according to event organizer Brooks Downing. The Bearcats will now face Victoria on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 2:30 p.m.
Eastern, then meet Calgary on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the same time. Both games will stream on FloCollege Basketball.
Downing, who runs bdG Sports and organizes the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League, said the delay affects the Bearcats’ schedule but not the event itself. Cincinnati is part of a field that also includes Arkansas, Louisville, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Valparaiso.
The original plan had UC in the Bahamas from Aug. 1-6 at the Baha Mar Rest in Nassau, with games scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 2 and Tuesday, Aug. 4 against Canadian opponents. Instead, the Bearcats’ first August exhibition will now come on Aug. 4 against Victoria.
Earlier this summer, UC coach Jerrod Calhoun explained why these summer trips matter so much in the modern game. “The best part about these summer trips is that, with the transfer portal and so many moving parts, it’s really good to get these practices and competitive games under our belt," Calhoun said. "We can’t wait to get down there.”
Cincinnati’s next exhibition after the Bahamas is set for Wednesday, Oct. 7, when the Bearcats take part in the CareSource Invitational on a special court at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason. Ohio State will play Xavier at 3 p.m., followed by Xavier vs. Dayton at 5:30 p.m., and the backup site if weather becomes an issue is UD Arena.
Tickets for both games are available through Ticketmaster.
Point guard Tylen Riley, who is sidelined with a hand injury and will not play in the Bahamas, could be back in time for the October exhibitions.
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Bearcats Face An Early Lineup Test After Key Injury
The Bearcats head into their first competitive games of 2026 in the Bahamas with a little less certainty than they would have liked, and not just because opening weekend always brings its own questions. Cincinnati is set to face the University of Calgary and the University of Victoria, but the early look at the roster has already been altered by an injury in practice, forcing the staff to sort through lineup and role adjustments before the season truly gets going.
Tylen Rileys absence changes the feel of the offense and puts more pressure on the rest of the backcourt to settle in quickly, while the projected starting group also leaves a few defensive questions to be answered once the games begin. The Bearcats still have time to adjust before conference play matters, but these early trips often reveal more than a coach would prefer, and Cincinnati will learn fast how much it can lean on its new combinations. [Read more 🡒]