Just as new coach Norman Dale in “Hoosiers” set up folding chairs for Hickory High’s opening practice in the movie, new Cincinnati Bearcats coach Jerrod Calhoun has been methodical in his first workouts with his new team.
The first week featured cutting, spacing, and passing mixed with some individual drills. Calhoun said he wasn’t ready to see 5-on-5 because they didn’t know enough. A Norman Dale, “My practices aren’t designed for your enjoyment,” wasn’t uttered, but Calhoun wanted to tune up the parts before starting the engine.
Thursday, June 18, with several donors and friends of the program in view, the Bearcats went up-and-down Fifth Third Arena, something they hope to do successfully in this first campaign. Surrounding the floor in lights is the slogan, “We over Me”.
That mentality helped Calhoun lead Utah State to 29 wins this past season and back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances.
UC coach Jerrod Calhoun has new players, new system
“It’s foreign, it’s a new language,” Calhoun said, describing this early June process that will eventually lead into some practices and exhibitions in the Bahamas in August, with some challenging exhibitions in October to come before the games begin to count.
He likes the athleticism of the team and the versatility. He says the new Bearcats get along and in addition to practices, he holds player meetings once a week. The roster is a mix of older and younger guys as Calhoun didn’t want “one-year players,” which would cause him to recruit another new roster next year.
Jerrod Calhoun’s goal is to do what hasn’t been done since 2019
Talking to the media on the floor, Calhoun talks about the expectations of the Cincinnati basketball brand. That expectation hasn’t wavered since his inaugural press conference three months ago: make the NCAA Tournament in Year One.
“You develop great habits every single day and you have to have some long-term vision,” Calhoun said. “A lot of players get caught in that game of not working daily. One of my mentors, Coach (Bob) Huggins, he had a simple saying, ‘Don’t waste days.’ These guys haven’t wasted a day.
“We want to get to the NCAA Tournament. Once you get into the tournament, you really can write your own story.”
If it all goes to plan, a very active offense and pressing defense using the team’s depth and length will lead the way.
In the early going, he likes Towson transfer Tyler Tejada’s versatility, which could allow him at 6-foot-9, to play anywhere from the one to the four position.
“He makes shots,” Calhoun said. “I think he could be point forward, I think he could play on the wing.”
Utah State transfer Adlan Elamin is also 6-9, and Mike Rehfeldt (Senior Associate AD/Sports Performance) has him up to 192 pounds with an eventual goal of 210.
Tulsa transfer Tylen Riley is also a potential starter at point guard who can stretch the defense and 6-10, 245-pound Jayden Hastings from Boston College offers up some tough defense, along with 6-5 Myles Colvin.
“I think Myles Colvin has a chance to be an elite defender,” Calhoun said. “His lateral quickness and length, he’s been shockingly really well on that side of the ball.”
High school recruiting is priority for UC coach Jerrod Calhoun
Already with a verbal commitment from Princeton standout Kameron Mercer and offers out to Josh Tyson of Lakota West and Isaiah Mack-Russell of Winton Woods, Calhoun is trying to circle the wagons in Greater Cincinnati. As he spoke June 18, he had several Zoom calls lined up with out-of-town players.
Locally, he took the advice of former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, who later became president at Youngstown State. Tressel told him to focus on local.
“It’s basically getting a map around Cincinnati in a six-hour radius and making sure every time we step in the gym, they know who we are,” Calhoun said. “When Coach Huggins and Coach (Mick) Cronin were here, when they walked into the gym, there was an aura, a fear factor that the Bearcats are here. There was a brand. That’s what we’ve got to have.”
Early interviews with new UC Bearcats
Among the schools UC beat out for Hastings were Vanderbilt and Texas Tech. He averaged 6.7 points and 5.6 rebounds for Boston College, playing 22.6 minutes per game. His 47 blocks in 31 games would have been second to Moustapha Thiam’s 50 last year at UC.
He was attracted to Calhoun’s ‘Cats by the family atmosphere.
“I block shots, I can guard (positions) one through five and my post game has evolved a lot since I’ve been in college,” Hastings said. “I’m working on my face-up game. My shooting has evolved so much, now I’m trying to bring it out into the games. Defensively, I’m going to be the anchor that the team needs.”
Hastings has also worked with Rehfeldt in reducing body fat. He is listed at 245 pounds along with Utah State transfer David Iweze. Riley Allenspach from George Mason is the biggest Bearcat all-around at 6-11 and a reported 250 pounds.
UC’s Myles Colvin has springs in his shoes
Colvin says his vertical leap is 41 inches, and that’s been evident in the UC workouts. He brings from Wake Forest an 11.6 points per game scoring average along with 4.4 rebounds, over 40% shooting from the field, 36% on 3-pointers and 87% from the line. He’s one of seven current Bearcats who shot 80% or better from the free-throw line last season.
“I play very athletic,” Colvin said of his skywalking abilities. “I make a lot of highlight plays. On the defensive end, I can pick it up even more. Offensively, I get a lot of rebounds and putbacks.”
Many college players have a celebratory flex after a putback dunk or runaway slam but Colvin says it’s what’s expected of him, so he keeps it “calm, cool and collected.”
Colvin brings NCAA Tournament experience, having played in the Sweet 16 vs. Houston while at Purdue in 2025 and in the national championship game vs. Connecticut in 2024. He’ll be a relied-upon veteran on this team.
“I’m not used to being a leader, I’m not a very vocal guy,” Colvin said. “During these past couple of weeks, I’ve stepped it up and used my voice a lot. It’s helped me personally and the team. I’m working on getting out of my comfort zone and getting better.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: New UC Bearcats put on 5-on-5 basketball display in Fifth Third Arena
Reporting by Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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By Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
