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Wes Miller could have Cincinnati labeled as a dark horse this season with several key returners

The Bearcats won’t be talked about as much this offseason as the Big 12’s best teams (Kansas, Houston, Baylor, Iowa State, Arizona), but they could very much still play a factor in the country’s best conference. Five of the team’s top seven scorers return, and three impact transfers enter the fray.

Dan Skillings Jr. (13 ppg, 6 rpg) should have the most hype among the names on this team, a wing with NBA-level athleticism that can play at an all-conference level on both ends. Day Day Thomas (10 ppg, 3 apg) and Jizzle James (9 ppg, 2 apg) not only give the Bearcats the best duo of backcourt names, but a solid point guard tandem, and one that should improve even more this offseason. Seniors Simas Lukosius (12 ppg, 3 apg) and Aziz Bandaogo (7 ppg, 7 rpg) each transferred in a year ago, and now return to Cincinnati to give the Bearcats an added boost of experience. Lukosius’ strength comes from behind the three-point line, whereas Bandaogo is a force inside defensively and on the glass.

It would be a shame in the current state of college sports to not mention incoming transfers in an article previewing a team, so we’ll get that out of the way too. Wes Miller found three players out of the portal this spring, all of which should play a role in the upcoming season. Texas transfer Dillon Mitchell (10 ppg, 8 rpg) nearly went pro but will now play in the Big 12 for a third season, Bradley transfer Connor Hickman (15 ppg, 3 apg) adds another layer of scoring and experience to the backcourt, and USC transfer Arrinten Page (3 ppg, 2 rpg) gives the Bearcats another big body down low, a rim protector with a large amount of potential still untapped.

Skillings Jr, Mitchell, and Lukosius are my three players to watch for on this Cincinnati team, as they all have all-conference potential if the individual touches are there. The first two will likely be drafted into the NBA next offseason, and Lukosius should have a lengthy professional career somewhere with his elite shooting ability.

Wes Miller’s Bearcats aren’t being talked about nearly enough for what they return and what they bring in, but I’d be surprised if they don’t make a good run at finishing top five in the Big 12. With playmaking, shooting, athleticism, post presence, and experience, the Bearcats have all aspects needed for a deep postseason run, and I think Cincinnati can make something happen in the loaded Big 12 this year.

Other Things to Note:

• Sacramento State transfer Duncan Powell (12 ppg, 7 rpg) commits to Georgia Tech