Cincy on the Prowl
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Bearcats Basketball 2nd In Jon Rothstein’s AAC Power Rankings

By Bearcat Jones

Nov 14, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Mick Cronin talks with Cincinnati Bearcats guard Troy Caupain (10) during a stop in play during the fist half against the St. Francis (Pa) Red Flash at Fifth Third Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Mick Cronin talks with Cincinnati Bearcats guard Troy Caupain (10) during a stop in play during the fist half against the St. Francis (Pa) Red Flash at Fifth Third Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Rothstein expects UC and UConn to be the class of the league in 2016-17.

CBS Sports College Basketball Insider Jon Rothstein (who is an excellent follow on Twitter for all things basketball, by the way) put out a great article on Tuesday morning about several AAC offseason storylines, including some notable odds and ends about Bearcats basketball.  Definitely worth the read.  [Spoiler alert] Most interesting fact: UConn and UC have met 9 times in the last 3 years.  UConn 5, UC 4.  But crazier than that, the combined score in those games: 565-564, UConn.  And all thanks to a lucky, 65-foot shot.

Rothstein also posted his picks for preseason All-AAC teams, impact freshmen, transfers to watch, power rankings, etc. on his Twitter account this week.

As the title mentions, Jon has UC at #2 in his preseason rankings.  The entire American Conference goes like this:

  1. UConn
  2. Cincinnati
  3. Houston
  4. SMU
  5. Memphis
  6. Tulsa
  7. Temple
  8. USF
  9. UCF
  10. E. Carolina
  11. Tulane

Rothstein also lists Bearcats Troy Caupain and Gary Clark on his preseason All-AAC team, names Jarron Cumberland as his #1 impact freshman, and lists big man Kyle Washington as an impact transfer in the league.  It’s no secret that this year’s Bearcat team could be very good.  Jon mentions UC and UConn as both being Top-25 worthy, and I agree.  That team will be tested early in non-conference play.

Also, later in the week, Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin will be Rothstein’s guest on this week’s College Hoops Today podcast, and Rothstein will have an in-depth preview of The American Conference.