Fifth-ranked Cincinnati plays host to No. 19 Wichita State at Northern Kentucky University on Sunday in what will be their first meeting in more than 36 years but first of two encounters in the next two weeks.
The teams were picked to finish first and second, respectively, in a preseason poll of American Athletic Conference coaches with the Shockers needing a victory to pull within a game of the Bearcats in the race for the league title.
Cincinnati (23-3, 12-1 AAC) has fallen in both meetings against teams ranked in the Top 25 this season and the Bearcats dropped their third decision of the season Thursday night at Houston, when they shot 38.