Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball 2026–27 Season Preview: Jerrod Calhoun Begins a New Era with NCAA Tournament Ambitions

The University of Cincinnati enters the 2026–27 men’s basketball season with a new head coach, a rebuilt roster and an opportunity to change the program’s direction.

Jerrod Calhoun returns to his alma mater after a successful run at Utah State, bringing an offensive approach that could energize Fifth Third Arena. His first Cincinnati team features experienced scorers, multiple ballhandlers and several frontcourt options.

The central question is whether those individual strengths can become a cohesive team quickly enough to compete in the Big 12 and put Cincinnati back in the NCAA Tournament.

How Did Cincinnati Do Last Season?

Cincinnati finished 18–15 overall and 9–9 in Big 12 play during the 2025–26 season. The Bearcats were excellent at Fifth Third Arena, going 15–3 at home, but struggled elsewhere with a 2–8 road record and 1–4 mark at neutral sites.

There were impressive performances, including wins over Iowa State, Kansas and BYU. However, Cincinnati could not sustain that level consistently. Its season ended with a 66–65 loss to UCF in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament, following a first-round victory over Utah.

The statistical profile reflected a team whose defense frequently outperformed its offense. Cincinnati averaged 73.1 points per game while allowing 67.6, but shot just 43.1% from the field and 68.1% at the free-throw line. Those offensive limitations reduced its margin for error in close games.

The university announced its separation agreement with Wes Miller on March 19, then named Calhoun head coach on March 24. That change makes this season a fresh evaluation of the program rather than a continuation of last year’s rotation.

Coaching Staff Breakdown

Jerrod Calhoun — Head Coach: Calhoun arrives after going 55–15 in two seasons at Utah State, reaching the NCAA Tournament both years. His 2025–26 team finished 29–7 and won the Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships.

His offensive credentials are especially encouraging. Utah State averaged 82.1 points and 17.6 assists last season and ranked 26th in adjusted offensive efficiency. Cincinnati’s personnel gives him a chance to build around multiple creators, efficient finishing and better spacing. Translating that success against Big 12 defenses will be his first major test.

Mantoris Robinson — Associate Head Coach: Robinson follows Calhoun from Utah State and brings 15 years of coaching experience. His familiarity with the head coach’s expectations should help establish consistency during the transition.

Ben Asher — Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator: Another Utah State arrival, Asher will help organize an offense with several players accustomed to significant scoring responsibilities. Establishing roles and maintaining ball movement will be essential.

Johnny Hill — Assistant Coach/Defensive Coordinator: Hill also worked under Calhoun at Utah State. His challenge is to build dependable team defense while allowing Cincinnati’s aggressive guards to pressure the ball and create turnovers.

The staff also includes Max Bent and Curran Walsh, both assigned to offense and analytics; Mike Fuline, assistant coach and high school relations coordinator; and Jason Slay, assistant coach. Paul Molinari serves as chief of staff, while Corey Evans is the program’s general manager.

Centers and Interior Play

Cincinnati officially lists its big men as forwards. For this preview, the interior grouping reflects projected roles rather than an announced depth chart.

Riley Allenspach offers an appealing combination of size and offensive skill. The 6-foot-11, 245-pound George Mason transfer earned second-team All-Atlantic 10 honors last season, shot 56.6% from the field, and averaged 6.1 rebounds. In conference play, he scored 14.9 points per game and shot 39.4% from three-point range.

His ability to finish inside and threaten from outside could open driving lanes for Cincinnati’s guards. The question is how effectively he handles the physical demands of defending Big 12 frontcourts.

Jayden Hastings brings a more established shot-blocking presence. At Boston College, the 6-foot-10, 245-pound transfer averaged 6.7 points and 5.6 rebounds, blocked 47 shots, and made 61.1% of his field-goal attempts.

Hastings should be valuable when Cincinnati needs rim protection, rebounding and efficient finishing without requiring many offensive touches. His skill set gives Calhoun a different option alongside Allenspach.

David Iweze, a 6-foot-9, 245-pound transfer who redshirted at Utah State, provides a developmental interior option. Deshaun Vaden, listed at 6-foot-11, adds further size. Their opportunities will depend on readiness, defensive reliability and the rotation’s needs.

Forwards Breakdown

Tyler Tejada is a strong candidate to become one of Cincinnati’s primary scoring options. The 6-foot-9 Towson transfer averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists last season while shooting 88.2% at the free-throw line.

Tejada scored at least 20 points in 12 games and averaged 31.3 points during the CAA Tournament. His scoring résumé gives Cincinnati a potential answer when its initial offensive action breaks down. Maintaining efficiency against longer, more athletic defenders will determine how large that role becomes.

Adlan Elamin provides familiarity with Calhoun’s system. The 6-foot-10 sophomore started 28 games at Utah State last season, averaging 6.7 points and 3.1 rebounds.

Elamin’s length and experience make him an intriguing complementary piece. Improved outside shooting—he made 30.2% of his three-pointers last season—would give Cincinnati greater flexibility when pairing him with another big man.

The forward group’s challenge is balancing scoring with the less visible work: defensive rotations, box-outs and protecting possessions against pressure.

Guards Breakdown

MJ Collins Jr. brings both proven scoring and experience playing for Calhoun. At Utah State last season, he averaged 17.5 points, shot 36.1% from three, and earned Mountain West Tournament MVP honors.

Collins looks capable of becoming a central offensive piece immediately. His knowledge of the system should also help teammates adjust to its timing and expectations.

Javontae Campbell offers production at both ends. At Bowling Green, he averaged 18.7 points and 5.1 assists while leading the nation with 97 steals and 3.0 steals per game.

Campbell’s ability to disrupt opposing ballhandlers could create transition opportunities. The challenge will be applying that pressure against Big 12 guards while staying disciplined and avoiding unnecessary fouls.

Tylen Riley gives Cincinnati another experienced creator. The Tulsa transfer averaged 15.0 points and 4.4 assists, shot 87.1% at the foul line, and earned second-team all-conference recognition.

His combination of scoring, distribution and free-throw shooting could be particularly useful late in close games. Having multiple capable ballhandlers should also help Cincinnati withstand pressure without relying on one player to initiate every possession.

Myles Colvin adds another perimeter scoring option after averaging 11.6 points at Wake Forest. The 6-foot-5 guard brings experience against ACC competition and gives Calhoun another player capable of taking advantage when defenses concentrate on Cincinnati’s leading scorers.

The remaining backcourt includes Trevian Carson, Elijah Perryman, Akai Fleming, Grant Darbyshire and Eric Mahaffey. With so many options available, minutes will depend on fit as much as individual scoring ability.

Prediction for the 2026–27 Season

My preseason projection is 20–22 overall victories, a seventh- to ninth-place Big 12 finish, and a place in the NCAA Tournament bubble conversation.

Cincinnati has enough incoming scoring to improve offensively. Collins, Campbell, Riley and Tejada give the Bearcats several potential answers when opponents take away a preferred option. Allenspach’s offensive versatility and Hastings’ interior defense provide useful alternatives in the frontcourt.

The uncertainty is how those pieces work together. Statistics from previous schools will not simply add up in a new system, and players must adjust to different responsibilities.

Three developments would push Cincinnati toward the upper end of that projection: dependable defensive rebounding, efficient offense late in games, and more wins away from Fifth Third Arena.

My pick is a narrow NCAA Tournament berth, assuming the Bearcats remain healthy and develop into a cohesive defensive team. That is a forecast, not an established preseason ranking.

Conclusion

Cincinnati has assembled a roster with credible scoring, experienced guards and enough frontcourt variety to make Calhoun’s first season compelling.

The Bearcats’ opportunity is clear: turn individual production into a balanced offense while building the defensive consistency needed to win difficult road games. If that happens, Fifth Third Arena could host a team whose March ambitions extend well beyond a promising stretch in conference play.