New University of Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball coach Jerrod Calhoun is taking his new team out of the country.
As previously reported, men’s teams from both UC and Arkansas will play multiple exhibition games against international competition as part of the 2026 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League this August at the Baha Mar resort. Veteran event promoter bdG Sports made the announcement on Thursday, June 18.
Calhoun has scheduled the Bearcats to compete twice during their six-day visit (Aug. 1-6) to the Baha Mar resort. UC will compete on Sunday, Aug. 2 (2 p.m. ET), and Tuesday, Aug. 4 (2:30 p.m.). UC will not play Arkansas but will face international or Canadian competition.
“I’m really excited about this trip to the Bahamas for our exhibition tour,” Calhoun said. “With 12 new players, it’ll be a great time for us to learn more about our team. The best part about these summer trips is that, with the transfer portal and so many moving parts, it’s really good to get these practices and competitive games under our belt. We can’t wait to get down there.”
Calhoun also has some other aggressive exhibitions set up as he says he needs to “see failure” to see how his new squad reacts. He plans on playing different lineups.
The Bearcats welcome a Top 25 portal class with a roster boasting 12 newcomers for the 2026-27 season. The group makes up the most experienced roster in the Big 12, with incoming players averaging 56 career games played and more than 30 starts.
Fans of the Razorbacks can get an up-close preview of John Calipari’s 2026-27 squad when Arkansas plays four games during its seven-day trip (July 29-Aug. 4) to the capital city of the Bahamas. The Razorbacks are slated to play on Friday, July 31 (7 p.m. ET), Saturday, Aug. 1 (6 p.m.), Monday, Aug. 3 (6 p.m.) and Tuesday, Aug. 4 (noon).
Where to see Cincinnati Bearcats basketball in Bahamas
All games will take place at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts and Entertainment Center on-site at the resort. Opponents, including international teams and Canadian universities, will be announced later.
South Carolina and Valparaiso were announced as other participants in the 2026 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League on Wednesday, June 17. Additional U.S. college teams scheduled to take part in the event will be announced soon, along with ticket information and VIP packages.
New NCAA rules allow college teams to take a foreign tour annually after the previous rule allowed such a trip only once every four academic years.
Coach John Calipari on Arkansas
“We will have one of, if not the, youngest teams in the nation this coming season,” Calipari said. “With Billy (Richmond) being the only player back from our program with significant experience, we felt like we needed a trip like this to build chemistry on and off the court. Not only that, this will also be a great chance for our fans to experience a great destination like Baha Mar, while getting a first chance to see this year’s team in live action on the court.”
The Razorbacks finished 28-9 overall and 13-5 in the Southeastern Conference in 2025-26, winning the SEC Tournament and advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. Arkansas’ 28 victories tied for the third-most since joining the SEC before the 1991-92 campaign.
What is Baha Mar Hoops Summer League?
BdG Sports manages the fifth annual event. This Kentucky-based sports and entertainment management firm annually operates 20 collegiate men’s and women’s basketball games at Baha Mar each November. It’s the same group that put on last year’s UC vs. Louisville game at Heritage Bank Center and the UC/Dayton game in 2024 in downtown Cincinnati.
“Summer tours have become vitally important to teams in today’s college basketball environment,” President and CEO of bdG Sports Brooks Downing said. “We are seeing incredible interest from throughout the sport, given the number of benefits, such as the 10 extra practices, the multiple games and the opportunity for team bonding in one of the world’s most incredible destinations. The $4 billion resort at beautiful Cable Beach boasts entertainment options for everyone, including incredible dining options, a casino, a $250 million water park and a new jazz club. Baha Mar is excited to welcome both teams to The Bahamas!”
Cincinnati Bearcats tickets, rooms, packages
Arkansas and Cincinnati fans interested in attending the 2026 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League can visit www.bahamarhoops.com/summer for upcoming information on tickets, rooms and VIP packages. A valid passport is required to enter the Bahamas.
Baha Mar Resort, non-basketball information
The Baha Mar resort serves as the backdrop to this basketball showcase. Anchored by Grand Hyatt and featuring SLS Baha Mar and Rosewood Baha Mar, the resort is situated on 1,000 acres overlooking Nassau’s famous turquoise ocean waters. The destination resort boasts more than 2,300 rooms, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a $200 million luxury water park, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the Caribbean’s first and only flagship ESPA Spa, a new jazz club and a collection of more than 45 restaurants and lounges.
Baha Mar Hoops for holidays
Each November around the Thanksgiving holiday, Baha Mar plays host to Baha Mar Hoops, one of the largest regular-season events in the sport of college basketball. Twenty NCAA Division I men’s and women’s teams visit the resort each year to compete in one of three basketball tournaments. In total, 20 games will be played over 11 days.
Each August, the resort also hosts the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League, offering NCAA teams exhibition games against international competition as part of a foreign tour. The resort has welcomed men’s basketball teams from Kentucky, Louisville, Nevada, Penn State, Rhode Island and Xavier for summer exhibition tours in recent years.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC Bearcats basketball, Arkansas part of Bahamas exhibitions in August
Reporting by Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
