With a bevy of experience returning for the 2024-25 season, the Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team is projected to finish among the top half of the conference, according to the league's preseason poll. The poll from Big 12 coaches was released Thursday, with the Bearcats picked to finish sixth out of 16 teams. The Bearcats return six of their top eight scorers from last season's team that narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the NIT quarterfinal round. Leading the returning players for UC entering the 2024-25 season are guards Dan Skillings Jr. and Simas Lukosius, who both averaged more than 11 points per game last season.