Cincinnati Basketball: Bearcats history in AAC Tournament before final appearance tips off

With a quarterfinals matchup against Temple coming up this week, check out how the Bearcats have fared in the annual AAC Tournament since joining the conference nearly a decade ago.

Cincinnati has found a lot of success in the AAC Tournament with a 12-6 all-time record including taking down the Houston Cougars to secure back to back championships in 2018 and 2019.

After winning the regular season title, the Bearcats weren’t able to keep the momentum going in the 2014 AAC Tournament, coming up just short in a 58-56 loss to UConn in the quarterfinals.

Both of the next two tournaments ended with last-second losses to UConn as well, most notably in a memorable quadruple overtime loss to the eventual champion Huskies in 2016.

Cincinnati Basketball: Bearcats history in AAC Tournament before final appearance tips off

One year before taking home two consecutive titles, Cincinnati reached the AAC Tournament championship game, but couldn’t finish the job in a 71-56 loss to the SMU Mustangs.

During the last two years of former head coach Mick Cronin’s tenure, the Bearcats won back to back AAC Tournament championships with a pair of wins over Houston in 2018 and 2019.

Cincinnati capped off 2018 with a 56-55 win in the championship game as Gary Clark recorded a third straight double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds en route to earning MVP.

Cincinnati Basketball: Bearcats set to face Temple in AAC Tournament first round matchup

Following a couple of losses to Houston in the regular season, Jarron Cumberland fueled the Bearcats to a 69-57 victory with a game-high 33 points and eight rebounds in 2019.

Since the 2020 AAC Tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic, Cincinnati had a chance to win a third straight championship in 2021 but lost to the Cougars 91-54 in the title game.

The Bearcats are hoping to make a run in the final AAC Tournament, starting with a quarterfinals matchup against Temple on Friday. Last season ended with a quarterfinals loss to Houston.