Cincinnati

Heartbreak#3975.5

Big 12 · Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

NCAA titles: 1961, 1962

RivalriesCincinnati–Louisville rivalryvs Louisvilleone-way Cincinnati–Memphis rivalryvs Memphistwo-way

The Heartbreak Index5.5 · #397

The Damned · CBB, 1962

5.5

Heartbreak

#397

of 1,138 clubs

#18

in CBB

3.9

agony · 1.6 despair

The clocks

CBB since 19625.0
CBB final appearance since 19631.3

Heaviest wounds

fell one round short, 1992 · lost the final, 1963 · playoff run died early, 1996 · playoff run died early, 1993

One formula, every club the site covers. See the whole board →

1938-1106

All-time

0.637

Win %

NCAA titles

Final Fours

Tourney apps

#1 seeds

Weeks at #1

All-Americans

Greatest tournament games

Cincinnati’s top NCAA tournament games of all time by Game Score.

Sort by

#2 Cincinnati 70-65 #1 Ohio State (OT)

Kansas City Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri

National Title

1961 · Mar 25, 1961 · Championship Game

2.62

Game Score

#1 Cincinnati 58-60 #3 Loyola-Chicago (OT)

Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky

National Title

1963 · Mar 23, 1963 · Championship Game

2.43

Game Score

#2 Cincinnati 71-59 #1 Ohio State

Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky

National Title

1962 · Mar 24, 1962 · Championship Game

2.38

Game Score

#1 Cincinnati 69-77 #2 California

Cow Palace, San Francisco-San Jose, California

Final Four

1960 · Mar 18, 1960 · Final Four

2.15

Game Score

#9 Cincinnati 74-75 West Virginia

Boise State University Pavilion, Boise, Idaho

1998 · Mar 14, 1998 · Second Round

2.04

Game Score

#7 Cincinnati 68-75 #4 North Carolina (OT)

Brendan Byrne Arena, New York, New Jersey

Elite Eight

1993 · Mar 28, 1993 · Regional Finals

1.95

Game Score

#5 Cincinnati 85-75 #1 Kansas State

Phog Allen Field House, Kansas City, Kansas

Elite Eight

1959 · Mar 14, 1959 · Regional Finals

1.93

Game Score

#10 Cincinnati 66-67 #18 Iowa State

Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Michigan

1997 · Mar 15, 1997 · Second Round

1.92

Game Score

#23 Cincinnati 60-69 #7 Kentucky

RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

2005 · Mar 19, 2005 · Second Round

1.86

Game Score

#6 Cincinnati 73-75 #24 Nevada

Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee

2018 · Mar 18, 2018 · Second Round

1.84

Game Score

#			Round	Match
1	Mar 25, 1961	1961	Championship Game	#2 Cincinnati 70-65 #1 Ohio State (OT) Kansas City Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri National Title	2.62
2	Mar 23, 1963	1963	Championship Game	#1 Cincinnati 58-60 #3 Loyola-Chicago (OT) Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky National Title	2.43
3	Mar 24, 1962	1962	Championship Game	#2 Cincinnati 71-59 #1 Ohio State Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky National Title	2.38
4	Mar 18, 1960	1960	Final Four	#1 Cincinnati 69-77 #2 California Cow Palace, San Francisco-San Jose, California Final Four	2.15
5	Mar 14, 1998	1998	Second Round	#9 Cincinnati 74-75 West Virginia Boise State University Pavilion, Boise, Idaho	2.04
6	Mar 28, 1993	1993	Regional Finals	#7 Cincinnati 68-75 #4 North Carolina (OT) Brendan Byrne Arena, New York, New Jersey Elite Eight	1.95
7	Mar 14, 1959	1959	Regional Finals	#5 Cincinnati 85-75 #1 Kansas State Phog Allen Field House, Kansas City, Kansas Elite Eight	1.93
8	Mar 15, 1997	1997	Second Round	#10 Cincinnati 66-67 #18 Iowa State Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Michigan	1.92
9	Mar 19, 2005	2005	Second Round	#23 Cincinnati 60-69 #7 Kentucky RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana	1.86
10	Mar 18, 2018	2018	Second Round	#6 Cincinnati 73-75 #24 Nevada Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee	1.84

Season by season

2027 · Cincinnati

Big 12

Record

0-0

Conf record

—

SRS

—

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2026 · Cincinnati

Big 12

Record

18-15

Conf record

9-9

—

SRS

#44

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2025 · Cincinnati

Big 12

Record

19-16

Conf record

7-13

—

SRS

#48

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2024 · Cincinnati

Big 12

Record

22-15

Conf record

7-11

—

SRS

#27

Seed

—

Tournament

NIT

2023 · Cincinnati

American Athletic

Record

23-13

Conf record

11-7

—

SRS

#49

Seed

—

Tournament

NIT

2022 · Cincinnati

American Athletic

Record

18-15

Conf record

7-11

—

SRS

#84

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2021 · Cincinnati

American Athletic

Record

12-11

Conf record

8-6

—

SRS

#113

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2020 · Cincinnati

American Athletic ★

Record

20-10

Conf record

13-5

—

SRS

#45

Seed

—

Tournament

—

2019 · Cincinnati

American Athletic ◆

Record

28-7

Conf record

14-4

#22

SRS

#31

Seed

Tournament

NCAA tournament

2018 · Cincinnati

American Athletic ★ ◆

Record

31-5

Conf record

16-2

SRS

Seed

Tournament

NCAA tournament

2017 · Cincinnati

American Athletic

Record

30-6

Conf record

16-2

#18

SRS

#22

Seed

Tournament

NCAA tournament

2016 · Cincinnati

American Athletic

Record

22-11

Conf record

12-6

—

SRS

#31

Seed

Tournament

NCAA tournament

Year	School	Record	Conference	Conf	AP	SRS	Seed	Tournament	Natl
2027	Cincinnati	0-0	Big 12
2026	Cincinnati	18-15	Big 12	9-9		#44
2025	Cincinnati	19-16	Big 12	7-13		#48
2024	Cincinnati	22-15	Big 12	7-11		#27		NIT
2023	Cincinnati	23-13	American Athletic	11-7		#49		NIT
2022	Cincinnati	18-15	American Athletic	7-11		#84
2021	Cincinnati	12-11	American Athletic	8-6		#113
2020	Cincinnati	20-10	American Athletic ★	13-5		#45
2019	Cincinnati	28-7	American Athletic ◆	14-4	#22	#31	7	NCAA tournament
2018	Cincinnati	31-5	American Athletic ★ ◆	16-2	#6	#7	2	NCAA tournament
2017	Cincinnati	30-6	American Athletic	16-2	#18	#22	6	NCAA tournament
2016	Cincinnati	22-11	American Athletic	12-6		#31	9	NCAA tournament
2015	Cincinnati	23-11	American Athletic	13-5		#54	8	NCAA tournament
2014	Cincinnati	27-7	American Athletic ★	15-3	#13	#26	5	NCAA tournament
2013	Cincinnati	22-12	Big East	9-9		#25	10	NCAA tournament
2012	Cincinnati	26-11	Big East	12-6		#31	6	Sweet 16
2011	Cincinnati	26-9	Big East	11-7		#21	6	NCAA tournament
2010	Cincinnati	19-16	Big East	7-11		#61		NIT
2009	Cincinnati	18-14	Big East	8-10		#73
2008	Cincinnati	13-19	Big East	8-10		#100
2007	Cincinnati	11-19	Big East	2-14		#108
2006	Cincinnati	21-13	Big East	8-8		#27		NIT
2005	Cincinnati	25-8	Conference USA	12-4	#23	#16	7	NCAA tournament
2004	Cincinnati	25-7	Conference USA ★ ◆	12-4	#11	#10	4	NCAA tournament
2003	Cincinnati	17-12	Conference USA	9-7		#35	8	NCAA tournament
2002	Cincinnati	31-4	Conference USA ★ ◆	14-2	#5	#2	1	NCAA tournament
2001	Cincinnati	25-10	Conference USA ★	11-5		#19	5	Sweet 16
2000	Cincinnati	29-4	Conference USA ★	16-0	#7	#4	2	NCAA tournament
1999	Cincinnati	27-6	Conference USA ★	12-4	#11	#9	3	NCAA tournament
1998	Cincinnati	27-6	Conference USA ★ ◆	14-2	#9	#14	2	NCAA tournament
1997	Cincinnati	26-8	Conference USA ★	12-2	#10	#8	3	NCAA tournament
1996	Cincinnati	28-5	Conference USA ★ ◆	11-3	#7	#4	2	Elite Eight
1995	Cincinnati	22-12	Great Midwest ◆	7-5		#12	7	NCAA tournament
1994	Cincinnati	22-10	Great Midwest ◆	7-5	#25	#27	8	NCAA tournament
1993	Cincinnati	27-5	Great Midwest ★ ◆	8-2	#7	#5	2	Elite Eight
1992	Cincinnati	29-5	Great Midwest ★ ◆	8-2	#12	#6	4	Final Four
1991	Cincinnati	18-12	Metro	8-6		#48		NIT
1990	Cincinnati	20-14	Metro	9-5		#69		NIT
1989	Cincinnati	15-12	Metro	5-7		#87
1988	Cincinnati	11-17	Metro	3-9		#106
1987	Cincinnati	12-16	Metro	3-9		#144
1986	Cincinnati	12-16	Metro	5-7		#77
1985	Cincinnati	17-14	Metro	8-6		#85		NIT
1984	Cincinnati	3-25	Metro	0-14		#190
1983	Cincinnati	11-17	Metro	1-11		#89
1982	Cincinnati	15-12	Metro	4-8		#98
1981	Cincinnati	16-13	Metro	6-6		#113
1980	Cincinnati	13-15	Metro	3-9		#100
1979	Cincinnati	13-14	Metro	4-6		#81
1978	Cincinnati	17-10	Metro	6-6		#38
1977	Cincinnati	25-5	Metro ◆	4-2		#26		NCAA tournament
1976	Cincinnati	25-6	Metro ◆	2-1	#12	#26		NCAA tournament
1975	Cincinnati	23-6	Independent		#13	#40		Sweet 16
1974	Cincinnati	19-8	Independent			#35		NIT
1973	Cincinnati	17-9	Independent			#21
1972	Cincinnati	17-9	Independent			#43
1971	Cincinnati	14-12	Independent			#90
1970	Cincinnati	21-6	Missouri Valley	12-4		#24		NIT
1969	Cincinnati	17-9	Missouri Valley	8-8		#19
1968	Cincinnati	18-8	Missouri Valley	11-5		#18
1967	Cincinnati	17-9	Missouri Valley	6-8		#23
1966	Cincinnati	21-7	Missouri Valley ★	10-4	#7	#18		Sweet 16
1965	Cincinnati	14-12	Missouri Valley	5-9		#31
1964	Cincinnati	17-9	Missouri Valley	6-6		#22
1963	Cincinnati	26-2	Missouri Valley ★	11-1	#1	#2		Final Four
1962	Cincinnati	29-2	Missouri Valley ★	10-2	#2	#2		Champion	National
1961	Cincinnati	27-3	Missouri Valley ★	10-2	#2	#2		Champion	National
1960	Cincinnati	28-2	Missouri Valley ★	13-1	#1	#1		Final Four
1959	Cincinnati	26-4	Missouri Valley ★	13-1	#5	#1		Final Four
1958	Cincinnati	25-3	Missouri Valley ★	13-1	#2	#1		Sweet 16
1957	Cincinnati	15-9	Independent			#51		NIT
1956	Cincinnati	17-7	Independent			#10
1955	Cincinnati	21-8	Independent			#26		NIT
1954	Cincinnati	11-10	Independent			#30
1953	Cincinnati	11-13	Mid-American	9-3		#63
1952	Cincinnati	11-16	Mid-American	5-5		#67
1951	Cincinnati	18-4	Mid-American ★	7-1	#17	#7		NIT
1950	Cincinnati	20-6	Mid-American ★	10-0		#16
1949	Cincinnati	23-5	Mid-American ★	9-1
1948	Cincinnati	17-7	Mid-American ★	7-2
1947	Cincinnati	17-9	Mid-American ★	6-2
1946	Cincinnati	8-13	Independent
1945	Cincinnati	8-9	Independent
1944	Cincinnati	6-5	Independent
1943	Cincinnati	9-10	Independent
1942	Cincinnati	10-10	Independent
1941	Cincinnati	6-12	Independent
1940	Cincinnati	8-9	Independent
1939	Cincinnati	12-5	Independent
1938	Cincinnati	6-11	Independent
1937	Cincinnati	9-10	Independent
1936	Cincinnati	10-7	Independent
1935	Cincinnati	16-3	Independent
1934	Cincinnati	12-7	Independent
1933	Cincinnati	9-9	Independent
1932	Cincinnati	4-11	Independent
1931	Cincinnati	2-15	Independent
1930	Cincinnati	14-4	Independent
1929	Cincinnati	13-4	Independent
1928	Cincinnati	14-4	Independent
1927	Cincinnati	13-5	Independent
1926	Cincinnati	17-2	Independent
1925	Cincinnati	5-14	Independent
1924	Cincinnati	11-8	Independent
1923	Cincinnati	13-9	Independent
1922	Cincinnati	15-8	Independent
1921	Cincinnati	10-11	Independent
1920	Cincinnati	5-9	Independent
1919	Cincinnati	3-11	Independent
1918	Cincinnati	2-6	Independent
1917	Cincinnati	3-8	Independent
1916	Cincinnati	1-9	Independent
1915	Cincinnati	3-8	Independent
1914	Cincinnati	2-8	Independent
1913	Cincinnati	4-7	Independent
1912	Cincinnati	2-9	Independent
1911	Cincinnati	3-6	Independent
1910	Cincinnati	3-2	Independent
1909	Cincinnati	6-4	Independent
1908	Cincinnati	9-0	Independent
1907	Cincinnati	7-2	Independent
1906	Cincinnati	2-0	Independent
1905	Cincinnati	6-3	Independent
1904	Cincinnati	4-5	Independent
1903	Cincinnati	4-4	Independent
1902	Cincinnati	0-1	Independent

Consensus All-Americans

14 AP All-American selections.

Sean Kilpatrick2014

Steve Logan2002

Kenyon Martin2000

Danny Fortson1997

Danny Fortson1996

Nick Van Exel1993

Ron Bonham1964

Ron Bonham1963

Tom Thacker1963

Tony Yates1963

Paul Hogue1962

Oscar Robertson1960

Year	Player
2014	Sean Kilpatrick
2002	Steve Logan
2000	Kenyon Martin
1997	Danny Fortson
1996	Danny Fortson
1993	Nick Van Exel
1964	Ron Bonham
1963	Ron Bonham
1963	Tom Thacker
1963	Tony Yates
1962	Paul Hogue
1960	Oscar Robertson
1959	Oscar Robertson
1958	Oscar Robertson

NBA first-round picks

39 first-round NBA draft selections from this program.

Tari Eason2022

Last college yr: 2021

Jacob Evans2018

Last college yr: 2018

Jacob Evans2018

Last college yr: 2017

Jacob Evans2018

Last college yr: 2016

Jason Maxiell2005

Last college yr: 2005

Jason Maxiell2005

Last college yr: 2004

Jason Maxiell2005

Last college yr: 2003

Jason Maxiell2005

Last college yr: 2002

Kenyon Martin2000

Last college yr: 2000

DerMarr Johnson2000

Last college yr: 2000

Kenyon Martin2000

Last college yr: 1999

Kenyon Martin2000

Last college yr: 1998

Draft	Player	Last college yr
2022	Tari Eason	2021
2018	Jacob Evans	2018
2018	Jacob Evans	2017
2018	Jacob Evans	2016
2005	Jason Maxiell	2005
2005	Jason Maxiell	2004
2005	Jason Maxiell	2003
2005	Jason Maxiell	2002
2000	Kenyon Martin	2000
2000	DerMarr Johnson	2000
2000	Kenyon Martin	1999
2000	Kenyon Martin	1998
1997	Danny Fortson	1997
2000	Kenyon Martin	1997
1997	Danny Fortson	1996
1997	Danny Fortson	1995
1993	Corie Blount	1993
1993	Corie Blount	1992
1970	Jim Ard	1970
1969	Rick Roberson	1969
1970	Jim Ard	1969
1969	Rick Roberson	1968
1970	Jim Ard	1968
1969	Rick Roberson	1967
1964	George Wilson	1964
1963	Tom Thacker	1963
1964	George Wilson	1963
1962	Paul Hogue	1962
1963	Tom Thacker	1962
1964	George Wilson	1962
1962	Paul Hogue	1961
1963	Tom Thacker	1961
1960	Oscar Robertson	1960
1962	Paul Hogue	1960
1960	Oscar Robertson	1959
1958	Connie Dierking	1958
1960	Oscar Robertson	1958
1958	Connie Dierking	1957
1958	Connie Dierking	1956

The Heartbreak Index5.5 · #397▸

Greatest tournament games

Season by season

Consensus All-Americans

NBA first-round picks

The Heartbreak Index5.5 · #397