The Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball team is officially ready to drop the curtain on the 2026-27 season, with new coach Jerrod Calhoun taking the helm. His ultimate goal is crystal clear: guide his alma mater back to “The Dance,” a stage they haven’t seen since 2019 under Mick Cronin. For Bearcats fans, the wait for March Madness has been way too long.
Calhoun’s Grand Vision for a Flipped Roster
Calhoun, who just guided Utah State to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, isn’t just hoping for a return; he’s engineering it. After a pair of exhibitions in the Bahamas and two dress rehearsals at Fifth Third Arena, his vision is taking shape. He’s completely flipped the entire roster, save for walk-on Grant Darbyshire. His message is “We over Me,” and he’s banking hard on depth and relentless ball movement to make that March Madness dream a reality. The Bearcats have been bystanders for far too long, sidelined since their last NCAA invitation in 2019. It’s time to change that narrative.
A Rich History, a Pressing Future
Calhoun, hired in March 2026, steps into a program with a storied, if sometimes turbulent, history. Before Mick Cronin’s nine straight NCAA appearances ending in 2019, the program saw legends like Bob Huggins, who never had a losing season from 1989-2005. Huggins led the Bearcats to a Final Four and two Elite Eights. Ed Jucker delivered back-to-back national championships in 1961 and 1962, plus a national runner-up finish in 1963. Going way back, John Wiethe won five Mid-American Conference titles from 1946-1952, and George Smith coached from 1952-1960. Other names in the coaching lineage include Tay Baker, who took over from Jucker in 1965, Gale Catlett who made three NCAA tournaments from 1972-1978, Ed Badger from 1978-1983, and Pete Gillen and Tony Yates through the 80s, with Yates coaching his alma mater from 1983-1989. More recently, Andy Kennedy served as interim in 2005-06, nearly reaching the NIT semifinals. John Brannen’s team was the No. 1 seed in the American Athletic Conference tournament in his first year (2019-2021) before COVID-19 ended NCAA hopes, and Wes Miller, from 2021-2026, had five winning seasons and two NIT appearances, but no NCAA berths. Calhoun is now charged with reviving that championship legacy, bringing “The Dance” back to a city that craves it.
The stage is set for Calhoun’s “We over Me” squad. With a completely revamped lineup and a clear mission, all eyes are on whether his depth and ball movement can finally break the Bearcats’ NCAA Tournament drought. This isn’t just another season; it’s a statement.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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