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Report: UC hoops to visit Butler on 12/10/2016

By Bearcat Jones

Dec 2, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Butler Bulldogs forward Tyler Wideman (4) controls the ball against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half at Fifth Third Arena. Butler won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Butler Bulldogs forward Tyler Wideman (4) controls the ball against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half at Fifth Third Arena. Butler won 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cincinnati basketball team will be traveling to play the Butler Bulldogs in 2016, per CBS Sports.

According to John Rothstein of CBS Sports, the Cincinnati Bearcats will attempt to avenge last season’s heartbreaking home loss to the Butler Bulldogs on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.  Details about future basketball schedules are always much harder to come by than those of football schedules, so this game being set at such an early date (by basketball standards) leads me to speculate that it will be featured prominently on national television.  Time will tell, but it could be an early-season matchup of two Top-25 squads.

Both teams figure to get a big boost to their RPIs by playing a tough game early, and I’m going to try not to revisit the game and how the Bearcats blew it and just leave it at this: if this year’s matchup is anything like last year’s, tickets will be worth every cent.  We also know that UC has several other big-ticket games lined up for the 2015-16 season.  The Bearcats will visit Iowa State, host Xavier and Michigan, and potentially play Duke on a neutral court.  The dates for the Iowa State (Dec. 1 ) and Michigan (Dec. 17) games had previously been announced.

And folks, here’s my advice to you: mark December 10, 2016 on your calendars now and make the short drive up I-74.  Hinkle is one of the coolest sports venues you’ll ever see.  I had the chance to catch a Butler home game last year, and it was incredible.  I’d put Hinkle up there with Fenway Park in terms of the old-school coolness factor, and the renovations that Butler made to the arena two years ago are absolutely gorgeous.