Cincinnati is starting a season among the elite for the first time in eight years.
That status doesn't appear to be in much jeopardy during a six-game homestand against seemingly inferior opponents.
With their top four scorers returning, the No. 21 Bearcats look to get the season off to a strong start by continuing their home dominance of non-conference foes when they face Alabama State on Sunday night.
Cincinnati turned in its best season under coach Mick Cronin in 2010-11, going 26-9 while reaching the NCAA tournament for the first time in six years. Most of the hiatus was due to a rebuilding of the program following the controversial departure of coach Bob Huggins in 2005.
"We had no choice but to take our time and rebuild our academics and the image of the program because that's what I was hired to do," said Cronin, a Cincinnati native who took the helm in 2006. "I wasn't hired to just go grab every talented guy I could to win as fast as I could."
While last season's NCAA tournament run ended with a second-round loss to eventual champion Connecticut, the Bearcats are dealing with lofty expectations due to starting a season in the AP poll for the first time since 2003.
Yancy Gates led Cincinnati with 11.9 points and 6.9 rebounds last season, and the senior forward feels pride in helping to revive his hometown team.
"It's big for me," Gates said. "Almost all I watched was UC basketball growing up. It was always a top team. For me to be part of bringing it back - a lot of people don't get an opportunity to do that in their home city."
Gates is one of the top four scorers returning for the Bearcats, along with senior guard Dion Dixon (11.6 points per game), junior guard Cashmere Wright (8.9) and sophomore guard Sean Kilpatrick (9.7).
Another home-heavy start to a season should benefit for the Bearcats, who will play six straight at Fifth Third Arena with the toughest challenge likely coming Nov. 25 against Marshall, which received one vote in the latest AP poll.
Cincinnati has won 21 of the past 22 home meetings with non-conference foes, winning all 10 last season by an average of 21.7 points.
The Bearcats are facing Alabama State (0-1) for the first time.
The Hornets are trying to rebound from Friday's 67-49 season-opening loss to Marshall, a defeat that saw them commit 22 turnovers and shoot 17 for 46 from the floor.
"What we want to do is come out and play with a lot more intensity and be a lot more focused on what we are doing defensively as well as offensively," coach Lewis Jackson told the team's official website. "We have had an opportunity to look at the film and we have made the corrections necessary that will allow us to come out and play more of Alabama State basketball."
Jackson will likely need a better effort from his starters after guard Ivory White accounted for 11 of the 26 points Friday. Forward Stephawn Brown missed all six of his field-goal attempts and managed one point in 35 minutes.
Alabama State has lost 13 in a row to ranked opponents, but hasn't faced one since a 92-58 defeat to Alabama on Dec. 9, 2006.
