[Stardust]

f things break just right with the Big East/SEC Challenge – which means if ESPN gives its blessing – there’s a chance that national champion Kentucky could play at UC in 2012-13.

Of course, those are two really big ‘ifs,’ but such a matchup is at least a legitimate possibility.
The Bearcats, who won at Georgia last year in the Big East/SEC Challenge are scheduled to play in it again this season, this time as a home team. Kentucky is scheduled to be in the event as a road team.

“Last year we lobbied for Kentucky but ESPN picks the matchups,” Cronin said. “Now there’s speculation that Kentucky will be sent here because they’re a road team and we’re a home team. You’d think it would be logical because we’re close by. But ESPN makes that decision.”

What are the chances a UC-Kentucky game will happen?

“There’s 12 teams (in the event) so there’s six home teams,” Cronin said. “We’re one of six. So there’s a 17 percent chance that’s going to happen.”

Cronin said he has talked to Kentucky, which recently ended its series with Indiana, about replacing the Hoosiers with a game against UC at U.S. Bank Arena, with the two schools splitting the gate. But he understands the Wildcats have a lot of marquee games they’re committed to playing and might not want to add another one.

“If you’re them,” Cronin said, “how many blockbusters do you want?”http://cincinnati.com/blogs/uc/2012/05/0...n-2012-13/