Category: Cincinnati Bearcats

Cincinnati transfer Aziz Bandaogo eligible after NCAA reverses course

Aziz Bandaogo’s waiver was approved and the transfer big man will immediately be eligible to play for the Cincinnati Bearcats this season.

The NCAA came to their senses regarding Cincinnati transfer big man Aziz Bandaogo, granting the former Utah Valley star immediate eligibility after receiving new information.

This is the second high profile college basketball star who had their waiver approved on appeal, following Jaylon Tyson who transferred from Texas Tech to Cal after his head coach, Mark Adams, was fired for his treatment of players, including Tyson.

“I’m thrilled for Aziz Bandaogo and can’t wait to have him play for us here at the University of Cincinnati this season,” Bearcats coach Wes Miller said. “This process has been incredibly tough on Aziz and our whole team and I’m glad he can now focus on being the best student-athlete he can be for the Bearcats. We appreciate the NCAA for reconsidering his case, and ultimately coming to this decision.”

Bandaogo began his college career at Akron, averaging 2.9 points and 2.8 rebounds in 40 games across two seasons before transferring to Utah Valley, where he exploded. Bandaogo averaged 11.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks while playing for the Wolverines, winning WAC Defensive Player of the Year.

He hit the portal after his coach, Mark Madsen, took a new job at Cal and ended up joining Miller at Cincinnati in their first season in the Big 12.

The Bearcats are 4-0 on the year but rank 283rd in the country in blocked shots per game, and adding Bandaogo’s size, rim protection, and touch around the rim will make this team even more dangerous as they get into conference play.

Breaking down Cincinnati’s expectations and biggest challenge in 2023

What will be Cincinnati football’s biggest barrier to long-term success in the Big 12 and what should expectations be for the Bearcats going forward?

On Sunday, we looked at the BYU Cougars, their biggest challenge, and their expectations as they enter the Big 12.

We move on to the Cincinnati Bearcats, who, alongside BYU, Central Florida, and Houston, joined the Big 12 as part of the next wave of conference realignment.

The Bearcats are entering the Big 12, coming off arguably their best five-year stretch in program history. However, Luke Fickell, who led the Bearcats to three 11+ win seasons, including a College Football Playoff appearance in 2021, has moved on to the Big Ten and the Wisconsin Badgers.

Nonetheless, very few programs in America have the momentum of the Bearcats entering this season. Over the last five years, the program established itself as one of the best in the Group of Five, with a 53-11 record and two New Year’s Six bowl game appearances.

But now, under head coach Scott Satterfield, can the Bearcats carry that momentum into the Big 12?

After the somewhat surprising departure of Fickell, Cincinnati athletic director John Cunningham hired Scott Satterfield, who had just finished his fourth season with the Louisville Cardinals. Satterfield’s time in Louisville was not overly successful, collecting an eight-win season in his debut season before going 17-19 over the last three seasons. However, the Cardinals did improve their record each season.

That being said, the hiring was still widely considered by college football experts as underwhelming for a program with recent substantial success and was about to enter a Power Five conference.

While it will take a few years to truly see what type of quality the hiring of Scott Satterfield was, there is an opportunity for Satterfield to solve the program’s most significant challenge moving forward.

First, we dive into the biggest challenge

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Former University of Florida wide receiver Xzavier Henderson reveals transfer destination

The Cincinnati Bearcats added one of the best wide receivers in the transfer portal to their roster.

Former Florida wide receiver Xzavier Henderson has found his next destination., The 6-foot-3 wide receiver announced on Friday that he will be continuing his collegiate career at the University of Cincinnati after spending the last three seasons with the Gators.

Henderson announced his decision by quietly posting a picture on his Instagram story saying “Today I woke up a Bearcat.”

Henderson during his time with the Gators played in 30 games, totaling 73 receptions for 835 yards and five touchdowns. He’s coming off a career season in Gainesville with 38 receptions for 410 yards and two touchdowns. He was the Gators’ third-leading receiver this past fall behind Ricky Pearsall and Justin Shorter.

Cincinnati is entering its first year under head coach Scott Satterfield who took over the Bearcats’ head coaching job this offseason following the departure of Luke Fickell to Wisconsin. Satterwhite made his way to Cincinnati via Louisville where he spent the las four seasons collecting an overall record of 25-24.

The Bearcats under Fickell and interim head coach Kerry Coombs were 9-4 last season including 6-2 in AAC play. The program is just two years removed from a College Football Playoff berth, being the first Group of Five teams to earn their way into the four-team playoff in 2021.

This upcoming season will also be Cincinnati’s first in the Big 12 as they will officially join the conference on July 1. They’ll join the conference alongside Central Florida, BYU, and Houston.

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Cincinnati’s Ben Bryant becomes latest quarterback to enter the portal

The transfer portal just gained another quarterback.

Another quarterback has entered the transfer portal giving teams like the Auburn Tigers and Florida Gators another option.

It was reported on Thursday that last year’s starting quarterback Ben Bryant would enter the transfer portal. Bryant spent his first three seasons with the Bearcats before transferring to Eastern Michigan in 2021 and returning to Cincinnati in 2022. Bryant went into the offseason competing with another transfer quarterback for the starting job under Satterfield.

The 6-foot-3 quarterback played in 11 games last season throwing for 2,732 yards and 21 touchdowns while completing 61.2% of his passes. Provided that Bryant moves on, Satterfield will have Emory Jones as the likely starter after transferring from Arizona State.

Jones played with the Florida Gators from 2018 until 2021. His departure was likely due to the emergence of Anthony Richardson. Jones had issues with turning the ball over during his four seasons in Gainesville. After one year with Arizona State, he opted to transfer to Cincinnati.

The Bearcats are set to begin their season in the new-look Big 12 along with the BYU Cougars, UCF Knights, and Houston Cougars.