As I sit here watching the Bearcats' preseason workouts, I can't help but feel this could be their year - if they get a few key things right. Having followed Cincinnati basketball for more than a decade, I've seen what separates good teams from championship contenders, and this squad has all the ingredients if they can execute on these five critical strategies. Let me walk you through what I believe will make or break their season, starting with what we already know works beautifully.
The foundation of any successful basketball program begins with dominating the paint, and Cincinnati has the perfect centerpiece in Viktor Lajčić. Now I know the official stats show Fajardo leading the league in rebounding last season with 16.1 boards per game while shooting 60-percent from the field to rank third in scoring with 19.2 points average, but what those numbers don't reveal is how he changes the entire geometry of the court. When you have a big man who commands double teams and cleans the glass like that, it opens up everything for everyone else. I've watched every one of his games from last season, and what impressed me most wasn't just the numbers - it was his basketball IQ. He knows when to crash the offensive boards and when to get back on defense, something many young bigs never quite figure out. The Bearcats need to run their offense through him early and often, because when he gets going, the entire team elevates.
But here's where I think they've been missing opportunities - they need to modernize their offensive approach beyond just feeding the post. In today's game, you can't just rely on inside scoring, no matter how dominant your big man might be. What I'd love to see is more pick-and-pop action with Lajčić, who has shown flashes of a decent mid-range game that could stretch defenses thin. Too often last season, I noticed they'd go entire possessions without even looking at the three-point line, and that simply won't fly against the top teams in their conference. They need to develop at least two consistent perimeter threats to keep defenses honest. I'm particularly excited about freshman guard Marcus Johnson, who shot 38% from deep in high school and has the quick release that could translate well to college ball. If they can get him comfortable early in the season, it could transform their entire offensive dynamic.
Defensively, there's work to be done - and I'm not just talking about individual effort. What separates great defensive teams from merely good ones is communication and anticipation. Watching them last season, I noticed too many breakdowns in their zone defense, particularly in the corners where they gave up what felt like endless open threes. The stats back this up - they allowed opponents to shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which ranked them in the bottom third of the conference. That has to change. What I'd implement if I were running practices is more situational drilling, especially defending against ball movement around the perimeter. They have the athletes to be an elite defensive team, but athleticism alone doesn't win games - disciplined positioning and active hands do. I'd also like to see them experiment with more full-court pressure, especially with their depth at the guard position this year. Nothing disrupts an opponent's rhythm like consistent defensive pressure from baseline to baseline.
Player development might be the most underrated aspect of building a winning season, and here's where Cincinnati's coaching staff really needs to shine. We often focus on the stars, but championship teams have reliable contributors coming off the bench who understand their roles perfectly. I remember watching last year's conference tournament and noticing how the Bearcats' production dropped significantly when their starters needed rest - their bench was outscored by an average of 12 points in those crucial games. That can't happen this year. They need to identify specific skills for each reserve player to develop - whether it's three-point shooting, defensive versatility, or playmaking - and drill those skills until they become weapons. Development isn't just about getting better at everything; it's about becoming exceptionally good at what your team needs most from you.
Finally, let's talk about mentality - because in close games, which they'll have plenty of, psychology often determines the outcome. What I've observed in successful Bearcats teams of the past is a certain swagger combined with resilience. They never get too high after wins or too low after losses, maintaining an even keel throughout the grueling conference schedule. This current group needs to develop that same mental toughness, especially in road environments where every call seems to go against you and the crowd is roaring. I'd love to see the veterans take more leadership in these situations, gathering the team during timeouts and settling everyone down. Basketball is as much about emotional control as it is about physical skill, and teams that master both tend to be the ones cutting down nets in March.
Putting it all together, I genuinely believe this Bearcats team has the potential to exceed expectations and make some noise come tournament time. They have the star power with Lajčić, the emerging young talent, and a coaching staff that's proven they can develop players. What will determine their success is how well they can implement these strategies consistently throughout the season. From where I sit, if they can establish inside dominance while developing a reliable perimeter game, tighten up their defensive rotations, build bench depth through targeted development, and cultivate that championship mentality, we could be looking at a special season in Cincinnati. The pieces are there - now it's about putting them together in the right configuration and playing with the passion this city expects from its basketball team.
