The 12th-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats, fresh off winning the inaugural Cayman Islands Classic championship over the weekend, return home to face Alabama State on Monday night at BB&T Arena in Newport, Ky.
Alabama State is merely a pit stop for the Bearcats, who begin perhaps their most important four-game stretch of the season following Monday's game. The Hornets (0-6) have an RPI ranking of No. 320 out of 351 Division I teams, according to RealTimeRPI.com. They lost 101-97 to Savannah State on Tuesday, a team Cincinnati beat by 30 points earlier this month.
"We don't underestimate any competition," junior forward Kyle Washington said after the Bearcats won the Cayman title with wins over Buffalo, Richmond and Wyoming.