The Big East has gone ahead and released each of the Basketball teams mirror games for the 2011-12 season. The verdict for the Bearcats? Not exactly great, but not exactly terrible either. The Big East clearly has placed UC in one of the top two tiers of the conference. Which one exactly? Your guess is just as good as mine. And for the record my guess is the second one. Here are the mirror games for UC this year.
Cincinnati: Villanova, Marquette, St. John’s
My preseason top 25: 19
Last season: DePaul, Georgetown, St. John’s
Finish: 26-9, 11-7 (NCAA)
The Johnnies stay on the docket for two games for another year. The Villanova games are always interesting, and should be again this year. Doubly so now that UC is no longer the scrappy upstart, but a legitimate threat to win the conference. Last but not least is Marquette, it will be just like Conference USA! Wait? You didn't like C-USA? Or the Great Midwest Conference? Oh, then I guess that going for the wistful nostalgia card just then was a mistake. Say la vie.
The Bearcats will be releasing a full Big East schedule, or maybe just a full schedule, later today. Stay tuned.