The Cincinnati Bearcats haven't qualified for the NCAA Tournament since 2019 – when Mick Cronin was still in charge – but head coach Wes Miller finally appears to have built a squad worthy of the tournament. The Bearcats get another chance to prove themselves Saturday when they host UCF in Big 12 action. Thinking about wagering on college hoops? Kickstart a BetMGM account with the BetMGM Ohio bonus code SBWIRE today to claim their Bet $5, Get $158 In Bonus Bets offer.
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While Cincinnati has lost four of its last five games, we need to apply some context. Each of the Bearcats' last six games have been against Top 25 teams – and their losses have been by 1, 3, 4 and 5 points. Their ability to stay with the nation's best shows in their metrics as they rank among the Top 40 in the NET and KenPom ratings.
Meanwhile, Ohio State is a step behind Cincinnati when it comes to the metrics and its chances to reach the NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes face a huge challenge Saturday at Northwestern because the Wildcats are in a similar boat – needing every win they can get against similarly-ranked teams in order to improve their NCAA chances.