Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Basketball Game Preview: Prediction & Players to Watch

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Time: 3:00 PM ET Location: Lindner Family Tennis Center — Mason, Ohio Event: CareSource Invitational Game Type: Preseason Exhibition Setting: Outdoor basketball game

The Cincinnati Bearcats and Ohio State Buckeyes will open the inaugural CareSource Invitational Wednesday afternoon with one of the most unusual preseason games in college basketball.

Center Court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center will be transformed from a tennis venue into an outdoor basketball arena, giving two of Ohio’s most recognizable programs an early opportunity to test their revamped rosters before the regular season begins.

The exhibition also carries a larger purpose. The CareSource Invitational was created to raise awareness and funding for adolescent and young-adult mental health and suicide-prevention initiatives. Cincinnati and Ohio State tip off at 3 p.m., followed by Dayton and Xavier at 5:30 p.m.

Cincinnati vs. Ohio State Prediction & Matchup Preview

Cincinnati enters a new era under first-year head coach Jerrod Calhoun, who inherited a program that finished 18-15 overall and 9-9 in Big 12 play last season. Calhoun has rebuilt the roster with size, experience and multiple players capable of scoring from different positions.

Unlike many teams entering October, Cincinnati has already played two exhibitions together.

The Bearcats defeated Victoria 110-63 and Calgary 107-66 during the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League in August. Those games gave Calhoun an early opportunity to experiment with lineups and begin installing his offensive and defensive systems.

One of Cincinnati’s most important additions is Tyler Tejada.

The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists at Towson last season. He scored at least 20 points 12 times and gives Cincinnati a versatile scorer who can operate inside or away from the basket.

Guard Myles Colvin could provide another major scoring option. Colvin demonstrated his perimeter ability during Cincinnati’s summer trip, scoring 25 points and making seven three-pointers in the victory over Calgary.

Ohio State presents a much different challenge than Cincinnati encountered in the Bahamas.

The Buckeyes finished 21-13 overall and 12-8 in Big Ten play last season and reached the NCAA Tournament. Jake Diebler’s team averaged 79.3 points per game, shot 49.1 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three-point range.

Ohio State’s most established returning scorer is John Mobley Jr.

Mobley averaged 15.7 points and 2.8 assists last season while shooting better than 41 percent from three. His 97 made three-pointers were the fourth-most in a single season in Ohio State history.

The Buckeyes also possess tremendous size.

Ohio State’s roster includes 7-foot-2 Ivan Njegovan, 7-foot-1 Vuk Lazarevic, 6-foot-11 Andrija Jelavic and 6-foot-10, 270-pound Josh Ojianwuna.

That frontcourt size will create one of the afternoon’s biggest questions: can Cincinnati spread Ohio State out, create driving lanes and force the Buckeyes’ bigger players to defend away from the basket?

Players to Watch

Tyler Tejada — Cincinnati: The experienced 6-foot-9 forward could become Cincinnati’s primary offensive weapon. His ability to score at multiple levels creates matchup problems.

Myles Colvin — Cincinnati: A dangerous perimeter shooter who showed in the Bahamas how quickly he can change a game from three-point range.

MJ Collins Jr. — Cincinnati: Experienced guard who led Cincinnati with 15 points in its first Bahamas exhibition and adds another potential scoring option in the backcourt.

John Mobley Jr. — Ohio State: Ohio State’s most proven perimeter scorer and one of the best returning three-point shooters in the Big Ten.

Josh Ojianwuna — Ohio State: The 6-foot-10, 270-pound forward missed last season while recovering from knee surgery. Before arriving at Ohio State, he averaged 7.4 points and 6.4 rebounds during his final season at Baylor.

Ivan Njegovan — Ohio State: At 7-foot-2 and 260 pounds, Njegovan gives the Buckeyes exceptional size around the rim.

Keys to the Game for Cincinnati

Cincinnati needs to create spacing. Ohio State owns a major size advantage around the basket, so the Bearcats will want Tejada and their perimeter players pulling defenders away from the paint.

The Bearcats also need to continue their strong outside shooting. Colvin’s seven-three performance in the Bahamas showed what Cincinnati can become when its shooters are connecting.

Finally, Cincinnati must keep Ohio State from dominating the offensive glass. The Buckeyes have several players standing 6-foot-9 or taller, making team rebounding essential.

Keys to the Game for Ohio State

Ohio State should attempt to establish its size immediately.

Ojianwuna, Njegovan, Jelavic and Lazarevic give the Buckeyes multiple options around the rim. Forcing Cincinnati to defend the paint could create second-chance opportunities and eventually open perimeter shots.

The Buckeyes must also create opportunities for Mobley.

Cincinnati cannot afford to lose track of him in transition or around ball screens. Mobley made 97 threes last season, and allowing him to find an early rhythm could quickly change the game.

Ohio State will also want to pressure Cincinnati’s largely reconstructed backcourt and see how the Bearcats respond against Big Ten-level length and physicality.

The Outdoor Factor

The setting adds another unpredictable element.

Players are accustomed to competing inside arenas with consistent lighting, depth perception and climate control. Playing outdoors at the Lindner Family Tennis Center creates a completely different visual background.

That could especially affect perimeter shooting early.

Teams that adjust quickly to the environment and avoid becoming overly dependent on three-point shooting may have an advantage.

The Verdict

This is officially an exhibition, so both coaches will be more interested in evaluating rotations, combinations and young players than treating the afternoon exactly like a regular-season game.

Still, this should be competitive.

Ohio State has the advantage in proven Big Ten experience and frontcourt size. Mobley is also the most established returning player on either side.

Cincinnati, however, has already played two games together under Calhoun. The Bearcats scored more than 100 points in both Bahamas exhibitions, and the combination of Tejada’s versatility and Colvin’s shooting gives Cincinnati enough offense to stretch Ohio State’s defense.

The key could be whether the Bearcats can keep Ohio State from controlling the paint and rebounding battle.

If Cincinnati can make enough perimeter shots and force Ohio State’s big men to defend in space, the Bearcats have a chance to win a close game.

Final Score Prediction

Cincinnati Bearcats 82, Ohio State Buckeyes 78

Expect both coaches to experiment extensively, but Cincinnati’s additional summer game experience and offensive versatility give the Bearcats a slight edge in the first game of the CareSource Invitational.

Because this is a preseason exhibition, official betting lines and player props may not be widely available, and rotations could differ significantly from regular-season usage.