Rothstein of CBS Sports and FanDuel Sports Network said in late July across various platforms that Bob Huggins and Mick Cronin had been successful in the tournament. He correctly noted UC has not been in an NCAA tournament game since blowing a 13-point lead in Nationwide Arena in Columbus March 22, 2019, in a first-round loss to Iowa.
He then boasted that he'd pay Bearcats fans in Graeter's should Calhoun's 'Cats go dancing in March.
"I'll tell you what I'm going to do, because I'm not somebody who hides from this," Rothstein said. "I just gave you my two cents and if you hold up your end of the bargain, Cincinnati and Jerrod Calhoun. I'm going to give you more than two cents. There's a Graeter's Ice Cream in Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati. If Cincinnati makes the NCAA tournament in 2027, prior to the '27-'28 season I am going to fly to Cincinnati and I'm going to put my credit card down at that Graeter's Ice Cream in Fountain Square, and I'm buying ice cream for all Bearcats fans in downtown Cincinnati for one hour to celebrate this achievement."
Jerrod Calhoun said he'd prove Rothstein wrong and on Friday, Sept. 25, he invited the national college basketball talking head to a Bearcats practice. Rothstein documented the visit on his X account.
During the visit, Calhoun introduced the players to Rothstein, who picked them 12th out of the 16-team Big 12. He then played his prognostication from the summer, detailing UC's seven-year NCAA Tournament drought.
After it played, MJ Collins was selected to deliver to Rothstein a cooler with Graeter's saying, "This time it's on us; next time you pay."
Rothstein said he appreciated the gesture, but he was trying to shed pounds. He did tell The Enquirer in a previous interview that he was a black raspberry chip fan.
Exhibition time near for Cincinnati Bearcats
UC's about to start its exhibition season with the Oct. 7 CareSource Invitational at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason, Oct. 7 against Ohio State at 3 p.m. Following that, Xavier plays Dayton at 5:30.
They also play national semifinalist Illinois at Fifth Third Arena on Oct. 17, then Oakland on Oct. 27. The regular season opens vs. American on Nov. 2.
Collins is still awaiting word on eligibility. Newcomer Javontae Campbell from Bowling Green also has an injured foot and was seen on crutches at the Tip-Off dinner on Sept. 23. It's believed he could be ready to play by the first of the year.
The UC preseason will be documented on the ESPN+ documentary "Calhoun Street," currently being shot by 4th Floor Creative on campus.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bearcats serve Graeter's to basketball pundit who left them off list