College basketball is about to get a very Ohio-shaped makeover. On Oct. 7, Cincinnati, Ohio State, Xavier and Dayton will turn the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason into a basketball venue for the CareSource Invitational, an outdoor exhibition doubleheader built around four of the state’s biggest programs. )
The setup is simple and loaded with local juice: Cincinnati will face Ohio State in the opener, followed by Xavier against Dayton. The tennis center’s Center Court, best known as the home of the Cincinnati Open, will be transformed into a stadium-style basketball arena for the night. )
These games will not count in the teams’ official records, but that hardly makes the event feel small. Cincinnati-Ohio State brings a major in-state matchup with Big 12 and Big Ten weight behind it, while Xavier-Dayton revives one of the sport’s most familiar regional rivalries. Put both games on the same court, outside the usual campus buildings, and the atmosphere should be the real headliner.
The event also carries a community mission. Organizers are using the showcase to support mental-health awareness and create space for conversations involving young people, coaches and players. That gives the night more substance than a standard preseason tune-up. )
- 🏀 One venue, two Ohio matchups, four high-major programs.
- 🎾 A tennis center becomes a basketball arena for one night.
- 🧠 The exhibition doubles as a mental-health awareness platform.
For fans, this is the kind of preseason event that feels bigger than an exhibition: local rivalries, unusual surroundings and a full evening of hoops before the real games begin.