Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball, Other Local Colleges Setting Up Exhibition Event Ahead of 2025-26 Season

A big local basketball event is reportedly brewing for a few teams in the area. 247Sports's Rick Broering of the Musketeer Report noted on Tuesday that an announcement is coming soon to roll out an exhibition basketball event involving Cincinnati, Xavier, Dayton, and Ohio State.

The event would not count toward regular-season records to start, as more details are pending ahead of the announcement.

UPDATE: Rebound Rundown's Paul Fritschner reported the event is involving all four of these team's playing at the Lindner Family Tennis Center outdoors at Center Court within the venue. The games will happen on Wednesday, October 7th.

"Xavier, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Ohio State will play in a preseason exhibition doubleheader on Center Court at the home of the Cincinnati Open, in Mason, Ohio on Wednesday, October 7th. Cincinnati vs. Ohio State, Xavier vs. Dayton."

Fritschner also noted the schools will play these games at Dayton's UD Arena if weather is poor.

“The CareSource Invitational is exactly the type of unique event we envisioned when we reimagined the Lindner Family Tennis Center beyond the Cincinnati Open,” said Bob Moran, President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment, in a press release. “Center Court has long been the stage for unforgettable moments, and we're excited to create an atmosphere and energy that will be unlike anything college basketball fans have experienced before.”

NEWS: Xavier, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Ohio State will play in a preseason exhibition doubleheader on Center Court at the home of the Cincinnati Open, in Mason, Ohio on Wednesday, October 7th.

Cincinnati vs. Ohio State
Xavier vs. Dayton@ReboundRundown pic.twitter.com/tln8LLy6WG
— Paul Fritschner (@PaulFritschner) July 9, 2026

"I'm hearing a big announcement involving Cincinnati, Dayton, Ohio State, and Xavier is on the way. The schools are expected to unveil a unique college basketball exhibition event," Broering posted on X.

UC head coach Jerrod Calhoun has not been shy about aiming to play the best teams in the area more consistently as he begins his tenure leading the program.

He discussed wanting to play at Ohio State earlier in the spring.

“We enjoy scheduling; we think it's kind of like a jigsaw puzzle that we have to put together,” Calhoun said. “There's a strategic play in there, but personally, I think we should play Ohio State, home and home, every year for the next 30 years. I think it's great for the state."

The Cincinnati alum knows what it's like when Cincinnati is the top dog in Ohio, and he made their presence known by landing top-ranked Ohio player Kam Mercer early in his first few months.

"This year, we went and spent $2.4 million on a roster, and we won a regular-season title. We won a conference tournament title. We won a first-round NCAA game, and we took Arizona to the final four or five minutes. Not here to say we don't need money by any means. We need a lot of it, and that's for sure, but I think what it shows you is our ability to evaluate the right people," Calhoun noted at this introductory press conference. "You have to have the right people. The University of Cincinnati deserves a winner in men's basketball. This city deserves to be rocking and rolling again. People need to fear us in the state of Ohio; it's the best basketball job in the state of Ohio, I think it truly is."

A historic outdoor taste of basketball action is on the way for Cincinnati hoops fans, players and coaches.

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