CINCINNATI BEARCATS NEWS

Trio helps Cincinnati cruise to 94-63 victory over Western Carolina in season opener

Baba Miller, Mustapha Thiam and freshman Shon Abaev all finished with 18 points to guide Cincinnati to a 94-63 victory over Western Carolina in a season opener

NOVEMBER 4 • Associated Press

Moustapha Thiam - Dominates in team debut Thiam supplied 18 points (6-7 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 5-7 FT), five rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 24 minutes during Monday's 94-63 win over Western Carolina.

Impact Thiam matched fellow newcomers Baba Miller and Shon Abaev with a team-high 18 points as the Bearcats cruised to an opening-night victory. Thiam joins Cincinnati with plenty of Big 12 experience after having averaged 10.4 points, 6.4 boards and 2.6 blocks as a true freshman last season for UCF. The 7-foot-2 center is expected to be one of the top big men in the country this season and teams with Baba Miller to form one of the most formidable front courts in the Big 12.

NOVEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Shon Abaev - 18 points in debut Abaev amassed 18 points (7-12 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), two rebounds and one assist across 24 minutes during Monday's 94-63 victory over Western Carolina.

Impact Abaev made a strong first impression for Cincinnati, finishing tied for the team lead in scoring during his collegiate debut. The 6-foot-8 freshman forward earned the start and lived up to the hype after being rated as the 27th-best incoming freshman according to ESPN. He is expected to be a major contributor this season for the Bearcats.

NOVEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Baba Miller - Double-double in team debut Miller supplied 18 points (7-9 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 4-6 FT), 10 rebounds and one assist in 24 minutes during Monday's 94-63 win over Western Carolina.

Impact The senior transfer from FAU matched fellow newcomers Moustapha Thiam and Shon Abaev for the team lead in scoring. Miller needed only 24 minutes to record a double-double in his debut with the Bearcats after posting five-such efforts last season with the Owls. Cincinnati's fortunes this season will ride heavily with Miller, who along with Thiam is expected to form one of the top front-court tandems in the Big 12 this season.

NOVEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Sencire Harris - Dealing with wrist injury Harris suffered a wrist injury in Monday's game against Western Carolina, head coach Wes Miller told Keegan Nickoson of BearcatJournal.com.

Impact According to Miller, Harris sustained the injury during the first half on a breakaway dunk and carried it into the second frame. Ultimately, the issue became complicated enough that the junior guard was checked by the medical staff. It's unclear if Harris will be limited when the Bearcats take on Georgia State on Friday.

NOVEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Sencire Harris - Checked by medical staff Harris was being checked out by the medical staff in the tunnel during Monday's game against Western Carolina, Keegan Nickoson of BearcatJournal.com reports.

Impact It's unclear what kind of injury Harris is dealing with. However, it was severe enough to cause him to leave the game and receive further evaluation from the medical staff.

NOVEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Scouting report, keys for Cincinnati Bearcats basketball opener vs. Western Carolina Here are three keys for Cincinnati Bearcats basketball in their season opener vs. Western Carolina

NOVEMBER 2 • NEWS-JOURNALONLINE.COM

Jalen Haynes - Out indefinitely Haynes (lower body) is out indefinitely following knee surgery, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reports.

Impact Haynes was already reported to have undergone a procedure on his knee, and this doesn't exactly clarify anything except that the forward has no timeframe for a potential return. Haynes was expected to be a factor in the Bearcats' rotation this season after averaging 14.1 points and 6.9 rebounds with George Mason in 2024-2025.

OCTOBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

What can Jamar Brown do for UCLA? Plenty, based on his performance in exhibition finale Jamar Brown proves he's worthy of a potential starting role on the UCLA men's basketball team this season in the Bruins' exhibition victory...

OCTOBER 29 • LATIMES.COM

Jalen Haynes - Undergoes surgery Haynes (lower body) recently underwent surgery, according to Neil Meyer of The Front Office News.

Impact "Haynes had a procedure. I don't have an update on his timetable, but it won't be soon," Cincinnati's head coach Wes Miller recently said. "We have hope he (Haynes) can return this season. I don't have an exact timetable as of right now." Miller indicates that Haynes may use a redshirt, and until further notice, his injury status will remain out indefinitely.

OCTOBER 29 • ROTOWIRE

Tyler McKinley - Logs six FTA as reserve McKinley (knee) logged six points (1-1 FG, 4-6 FT), one rebound and one steal during Cincinnati's 89-61 loss Friday at Arkansas.

Impact McKinley had a surprising number of opportunities to shoot the ball at Arkansas. The redshirt freshman is hoping that will continue to be the case for Cincinnati's 2025-26 season. However, McKinley's projected role as a reserve can limit McKinley's statistical upside.

OCTOBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Cincinnati Freshman Named One of College Basketball's Top 50 Newcomers He's impressed so far.

OCTOBER 27 • SI.COM

Cincinnati Basketball 2025-26 Season Preview: Can the Bearcats End Their NCAA Tournament Drought? Cincinnati Bearcats 2025-26 basketball preview: roster, key transfers, schedule, and NCAA Tournament outlook under coach Wes Miller.

OCTOBER 23 • BUSTINGBRACKETS.COM

Cincinnati and Oklahoma State among Big 12 teams getting early start with exhibition games

Cincinnati coach Wes Miller is excited about freshman Shon Abaev's potential, while Oklahoma State's Steve Lutz praised his team's road performance

OCTOBER 22 • Associated Press

Jalen Celestine - Available for exhibition game Celestine (undisclosed) is available for Friday's exhibition game against Arkansas, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Impact Celestine did not play Cincinnati's latest exhibition against Michigan, and the senior's DNP raised concerns about a long-term absence coming his way. Instead, he will have an opportunity to log some in-game action before the 2025-26 Bearcats begin their regular season. With two different Power Conference programs, California and Baylor, Celestine logged at least 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 three-pointers made in a single season. He is reliable, albeit statistically pedestrian.

OCTOBER 22 • ROTOWIRE

Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball Topples Michigan In Road Scrimmage During First Look At New Squad Cincinnati is testing itself against some top-tier teams ahead of the 2025-26 season.

OCTOBER 18 • SI.COM

Game thread: Michigan men's basketball vs. Cincinnati in a preseason exhibition Michigan basketball vs. Cincinnati Bearcats exhibition game updates and analysis.

OCTOBER 17 • 247SPORTS.COM

What to watch for in Michigan basketball's exhibition against Cincinnati Michigan unofficially begins its basketball season as the Wolverines host the Cincinnati Bearcats for an exhibition game.

OCTOBER 14 • 247SPORTS.COM

Cincinnati Bearcats basketball Big 12 TV, tip times announced Cincinnati Bearcats basketball Big 12 basketball TV times, tipoffs announced

OCTOBER 14 • CINCINNATI.COM

Jalen Haynes - Out indefinitely Haynes (lower body) is out indefinitely, per Neil Meyer of Front Office News.

Impact This is a big blow to the Bearcats' front court. The George Mason transfer is coming off an excellent junior season in which he averaged 14.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 55 percent from the field. Haynes was expected to compete for a starting role in Cincinnati's front court in 2025-2026, but he's now out for an extended period of time and little is known about his undisclosed lower body ailment. This will put more onus on Baba Miller and Moustapha Thiam down low for the Bearcats.

OCTOBER 14 • ROTOWIRE

Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball Hold Long Big 12, National Championship Betting Odds Entering 2025-26 Season Some long odds.

OCTOBER 1 • SI.COM

Arafan Diane moves up UK visit after hosting Mark Pope The Cats will soon host one of the top center prospects in the country

SEPTEMBER 4 • ASEAOFBLUE.COM

Williams: Cincinnati Bearcats coach does right thing on Jizzle James. It's not easy Williams: Wes Miller deserves some credit, right? The UC basketball coach dismissed a star player despite facing a make-or-break season.

AUGUST 22 • CINCINNATI.COM

Cincinnati Bearcats Dismiss Starting Point Guard Jizzle James Head coach Wes Miller announced the news in a statement on Tuesday.

AUGUST 19 • SI.COM

Cincy, TCU and Stanford among options for 4-star wing Aziz Olajuwon Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon is one of the great basketball players of all time, both in college for the Houston Cougars and in the NBA for t...

JULY 28 • BUSTINGBRACKETS.COM