Bob Huggins On New Big 12 Teams: 'I Feel Sorry For Them, No Idea What They're Getting Into'

Cincinnati enters the conference this summer.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Mar 31, 2023 8:36 AM EDT

In this story:

Cincinnati Bearcats

West Virginia Mountaineers

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati basketball is in for a rude awakening next season. At least, that's what Bob Huggins thinks.

The legendary former UC coach and current West Virginia head man said he feels sorry for the four teams entering the best league Huggins has "ever" coached in.

"You want the honest answer?" Huggins told the Field of 68's After Dark show. "I feel sorry for them. They have no idea what they're getting into. ... I've been in a lot of leagues with the best coaches in America and with the best players in America. And I'm telling you right now the hardest league that I've ever coached in - ever - and the best fanbases. You go in, and they may be 3-17, and they've got 14,000 people sitting there. … It's unbelievable. The fan support. How good the players are. How good the coaching is. It is such a hard, hard league. And you've got to go through it twice. And I'm gonna tell you - they're not ready for that."

Huggins is the all-time wins leader at Cincinnati and is fresh off his second NCAA Tournament appearance with WVU in the past five seasons.

It's been a grind for most Big 12 teams in conference play, West Virginia included. The Mountaineers have gone over .500 in conference play once in the past five seasons as the league continues to strengthen.

Anyway you slice it, Cincinnati enters an uphill battle in its opening season in the league. To put that in perspective, BYU finished the season as the worst Big 12 team in KenPom (No. 77) entering next season.

Only UC (No. 50), UCF (No. 56), Oklahoma (No. 54), Oklahoma State (No. 46), and Texas Tech (No. 63) finished the season outside the top 30 in KenPom.

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