2020–21 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team explained

Mode:Basketball
Year:2020–21
Prev Year:2019–20
Next Year:2021–22
Team:Cincinnati Bearcats
Conference:American Athletic Conference
Short Conf:American
Record:12–11
Conf Record:8–6
Hc Year:2nd
Ac1 Year:2nd
Asst Coach2:Sean Dwyer
Ac2 Year:2nd
Asst Coach3:Tim Morris
Ac3 Year:2nd

The 2020–21 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bearcats were led by second-year head-coach John Brannen. The team played their home games at Fifth Third Arena as members of the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 12–11, 8–6 in AAC play to finish in fifth place. They defeated SMU and Wichita State in the AAC tournament before losing to Houston in the championship game.

On April 3, 2021, the school placed head coach Brannen on paid leave pending an investigation after six Bearcats players decided to transfer following the season.[1] A week later, the school fired Brannen following an investigation into his conduct.[2]

Previous season

The Bearcats finished the 2019–20 season 20–10, 13–5 in AAC play, finishing tied for first place and winning a share of the regular season title. The Cats kept fans on the edge of their seats with a nation-leading seven overtime games.[3] They entered as the No. 1 seed in the AAC tournament, which was ultimately cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Bearcats were awarded the automatic bid to the 2020 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament by the conference, before it too was cancelled.[4]

Offseason

In the spring, Keith Williams and Chris Vogt both announced that each would enter the 2020 NBA draft, while retaining the option to return for their senior seasons.[5] [6] In late July, both would option to return for their final seasons of eligibility.[7] [8]

Departing players

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Chris McNeal0G6'1"190Jackson, TennesseeCompleted college eligibility
Trevor Moore5G6'5"195Houston, TexasTransferred to Morgan State (mid-season)[9]
Trevon Scott13F6'8"225Darien, GeorgiaGraduated
Jaevin Cumberland21G6'3"185Wilmington, OhioCompleted college eligibility
Prince Toyambi24F6'7"225Kinshasa, DR CongoTransferred to Georgia Southern[10]
John Koz32G6'1"200Cleveland, OhioWalk-on; graduated
Jarron Cumberland34G6'5"210Wilmington, OhioGraduated
Jaume Sorolla35C6'11"240Tortosa, SpainLeft team (mid-season)[11]

Incoming transfers

Name Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
F 230 Transferred from Colgate after graduating. Will have one year of eligibility beginning immediately.[12] [13]
G 190 Transferred from Michigan. DeJulius was granted a waiver for immediate eligibility. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.[14] [15] [16]

2020 recruiting class

Preseason

AAC preseason media poll

On October 28, The American released the preseason Poll and other preseason awards[17]

Coaches Poll
1 Houston 99 (2)
2 Memphis 90 (2)
3 SMU 80
4 Cincinnati 77
5 South Florida 61
6 Tulsa 50
7 Wichita State 44
8 UCF 37
9 East Carolina 34
10 Temple 18
11 Tulane 15

Preseason awards

Roster

Schedule and results

The Bearcats are currently scheduled to travel to Knoxville for the second part of a home-and-home series with Tennessee and begin a home-and-home series on the road at Georgia. Cincinnati and Xavier announced they would maintain the Crosstown Shootout during the season.[25]

COVID-19 impact

See main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Bearcats schedule is subject to change, including the cancellation or postponement of individual games, the cancellation of the entire season, or games played either with minimal fans or without fans in attendance and just essential personnel.

Prior to the start of the season, UC announced there would be no fans in Fifth Third Arena; only permitting fans in the arena later in the season if it's safe and appropriate to do so.[33] UC was later granted an attendance variance by the State of Ohio which allows for crowds of around 1,135 fans inside the arena for games against Tulane (Feb. 26), Memphis (Feb. 28) and SMU, rescheduled as Vanderbilt, (March 4).[34]

Schedule

|-!colspan=12 style=| Regular Season|-!colspan=9 style="| AAC Tournament|-|-

Awards and honors

American Athletic Conference honors

All-AAC Second Team

All-AAC Freshman Team

Weekly honor roll

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-04-03. Cincinnati coach Brannen on leave amid inquiry. 2021-04-12. ESPN.com. en.
  2. Web site: 2021-04-09. Cincy fires Brannen after investigation of program. 2021-04-12. ESPN.com. en.
  3. Web site: Cincinnati Basketball Season Review by Learfield IMG College . 2020-04-07 . 2020-04-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200407050201/http://digital.learfieldimgcollege.com/cincinnati-mbb-review/full-view.html . dead .
  4. Web site: American Athletic Conference cancels men's basketball tournament amid coronavirus concerns . Page . Fletcher . 12 Mar 2020 . The Cincinnati Enquirer. 17 Apr 2020 .
  5. Web site: UC's Williams says he will enter 2020 NBA Draft, but keeping options open . . 27 Mar 2020 . WKRC.com . . 15 Apr 2020 .
  6. Vogt . Chris . ChrisVogt33 . 1252644358588948482 . 21 Apr 2020. Just a kid from Mayfield . https://twitter.com/ChrisVogt33/status/1252644358588948482 . 1 May 2020.
  7. Vogt . Chris . ChrisVogt33 . 1286429695416860672. 23 July 2020. Last go around. #ContractYear. https://twitter.com/chrisvogt33/status/1286429695416860672. 23 July 2020.
  8. Goodman . Jeff . GoodmanHoops . 1289238355301998592. 31 July 2020. Cincinnati's Keith Williams is withdrawing from the NBA draft, per source.. https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1289238355301998592. 31 Jul 2020.
  9. Borzello . Jeff . jeffborzello . 1204130930534821888 . 9 December 2019 . Cincinnati guard Trevor Moore has entered the transfer portal, source told ESPN . https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/1204130930534821888 . 2 February 2020.
  10. Toyambi . Prince . BIGPRINCE19 . 1258894491513237512 . 8 May 2020 . Next Chapter, Georgia Southern University let’s Go!! . https://twitter.com/BIGPRICE19/status/1258894491513237512 . 10 May 2020.
  11. Web site: Page . Fletcher . Jay Sorolla leaves Cincinnati basketball, will turn pro. Cincinnati.com . February 4, 2020.
  12. Borzello . Jeff . jeffborzello . 1250122699927629824 . 14 Apr 2020 . Colgate grad transfer Rapolas Ivanauskas announced his commitment to Cincinnati. 6-foot-10, has perimeter range, averaged 13.1 points and 7.6 rebounds. Top-20 grad transfer. . https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/1250122699927629824 . 14 Apr 2020.
  13. Web site: Ivanauskas Joins Cincinnati Men's Basketball . . 15 Apr 2020 . GoBearcats.com . GoBearcats . 15 Apr 2020 .
  14. Web site: Clark . Dave . Michigan transfer David DeJulius commits to Cincinnati Bearcats . 16 Apr 2020 . The Cincinnati Enquirer. 16 Apr 2020.
  15. Web site: DeJulius Transferring to Cincinnati . . 17 Apr 2020 . GoBearcats.com . GoBearcats . 17 Apr 2020 .
  16. ChadBrendel . 1299009567142141957 . 27 Aug 2020 . BREAKING: Sources indicate to @BearcatJournal that Michigan transfer David DeJulius has been granted his waiver and is eligible immediately for Cincinnati #Bearcats . https://twitter.com/ChadBrendel/status/1299009567142141957 .
  17. Web site: Houston Tabbed as 2020-21 American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Favorite. theAmerican.org. 28 October 2020.
  18. Web site: CBB Injuries & Updates - Wed. December 2 . . 3 Dec 2020 . collegefantasyupdate.com . 30 Dec 2020 .
  19. Web site: Mamoudou Diarra opts out of 2020-21 season . Jenkins . Keith . 12 Dec 2020 . enquirer.com . . 13 Dec 2020 .
  20. Williams_Justin . 1344450322455027713 . 30 Dec 2020 . NEWS: #Bearcats head coach John Brannen confirms the roster rumors on his radio show. Junior forward Mamoudou Diarra is back with the program after a brief opt out. Senior graduate transfer Rapolas Ivanauskas is no longer with the team and has elected to opt out this season. . https://twitter.com/Williams_Justin/status/1344450322455027713 .
  21. GabeMadsen53 . 1344699588997996546 . 31 December 2020 . I have decided to exercise the option to opt out the remainder of the season..
  22. Web site: Zach Harvey decides to end season at Cincinnati . https://web.archive.org/web/20210217011428/https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/Article/Cincinnati-Bearcats-Zach-Harvey-opt-out-John-Brannen-American-Conference-161037264/ . dead . February 17, 2021 . Snow . Brian . 16 Feb 2021 . 247sports.com . . 17 Feb 2021 .
  23. Williams_Justin . 1365061983909871627 . 25 Feb 2021 .
    1. Bearcats junior guard David DeJulius announces on Instagram he is opting out for the remainder of the season. He is the fifth UC player to opt out at some point this season.
    . https://twitter.com/Williams_Justin/status/1365061983909871627 .
  24. ChadBrendel . 1370116328061874178 . 11 Mar 2021 . Sources confirm to @BearcatJournal that junior PG David DeJulius has opted back in and will be with the #Bearcats tomorrow for the AAC Tournament. . https://twitter.com/ChadBrendel/status/1370116328061874178 .
  25. Web site: Boone . Kyle . WATCH: Cincinnati coach John Brannen reveals Crosstown Shootout vs. Xavier set for 2020-21 season . . 22 October 2020.
  26. Web site: NIT Season Tip-Off 2020 Field Announced. ESPN Events. ESPN. 11 November 2019.
  27. Rothstein. Jon. JonRothstein. 1329567191285571592. 19 November 2020. Sources: This entire MTE is now off in Indianapolis. Original field was Cincinnati, Loyola-Chicago, and Duquesne.. https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1329567191285571592. 19 November 2020.
  28. Web site: The American Announces Men's Basketball Schedule Changes . 27 Jan 2021.
  29. Web site: Cincinnati-Temple Game Scheduled for Jan. 20 Postponed . 19 Jan 2021.
  30. Web site: The American Announces Men's Basketball Schedule Changes . 10 Feb 2021.
  31. Web site: Cincinnati-Houston Men's Basketball Game Set for Feb. 21 Changes Location . 10 Feb 2021.
  32. Web site: Men's Basketball Adds Game with Vanderbilt for Thursday. 21 Feb 2021.
  33. Web site: Jenkins . Keith . Update: University of Cincinnati basketball hopes for 'limited' fans at Fifth Third Arena . Enquirer.cin . Cincinnati Enquirer . 13 November 2020.
  34. Web site: Athletics Announces Increased Capacity At Fifth Third Arena . 16 Feb 2021.
  35. Web site: USF's Collins, Memphis' Cisse Earn Men's Basketball Weekly Honors.
  36. Web site: Wichita State's Etienne, USF's Murphy Earn Weekly Honors.
  37. Web site: Houston's Sasser, Wichita State's Council Earn Weekly Honors.
  38. Web site: East Carolina's Gardner, Temple's Dunn Earn Weekly Honors.
  39. Web site: SMU's Davis, Temple's Williams Earn Weekly Honors.
  40. Web site: Houston's Grimes, Memphis' Cisse Earn Weekly Honors.
  41. Web site: Wichita State's Dennis, UCF's Adams Earn Weekly Honors.

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