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Cincinnati Looks to Bounce Back Against Utah in Big 12 Tournament
Bearcats need at least one win to boost NCAA Tournament hopes
Published on Mar. 10, 2026
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Cincinnati enters the Big 12 tournament needing at least one win to improve its chances of an NCAA Tournament berth, and the Bearcats will face 16th-seeded Utah in their opening game. The Bearcats are coming off a regular-season finale loss to TCU, while Utah has lost 12 of its last 13 games. The winner will advance to face UCF in the next round.
Why it matters
Cincinnati is on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament, so this opening-round game against Utah is crucial for the Bearcats' postseason hopes. A win would keep their at-large bid chances alive, while a loss would likely end their season. Utah, meanwhile, is simply looking to end a difficult campaign on a high note.
The details
Cincinnati (17-14) saw its NCAA Tournament chances take a hit with a 73-63 loss to TCU in its regular-season finale. The Bearcats shot 44.2% from the field and had 19 turnovers in that game. Utah (10-21) is coming off a 101-75 loss at Baylor, its fifth straight defeat and 12th in the last 13 games. The Utes shot 60.4% from the floor but turned the ball over 16 times, leading to 31 points for Baylor.
- The Big 12 tournament game between Cincinnati and Utah will take place on Tuesday afternoon.
- Cincinnati beat Utah 69-65 in their only matchup of the regular season on February 15.
The players
Wes Miller
The head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Alex Jensen
The head coach of the Utah Utes.
Day Day Thomas
A player for the Cincinnati Bearcats who scored 19 points in the loss to TCU.
Jalen Celestine
A player for the Cincinnati Bearcats who scored 12 points in the loss to TCU.
Baba Miller
A player for the Cincinnati Bearcats who had 14 rebounds in the loss to TCU.
What they’re saying
“I can't think of a time I've been at Cincinnati that I've felt that a team is more focused and more dialed into what they have to do to succeed.”
— Wes Miller, Cincinnati Head Coach (statenews.net)
“We kind of replicated the same mistakes we've made for the last couple of weeks. But it's hard to be in a game, let alone win a game, when you give up 22 points off of turnovers in the first half.”
— Alex Jensen, Utah Head Coach (statenews.net)
What’s next
The winner of Tuesday's game between Cincinnati and Utah will advance to face UCF on Wednesday in the next round of the Big 12 tournament.
The takeaway
This opening-round matchup in the Big 12 tournament is a crucial one for Cincinnati, as the Bearcats look to boost their NCAA Tournament hopes with a win over Utah. The Utes, meanwhile, are simply trying to end a difficult season on a high note.
