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For the first time since its inaugural season in the Big East seven years ago, the Cincinnati men’s basketball team hosted ESPN’s Big Monday at Fifth Third Arena.

With No. 3/4 Syracuse in town, there was a packed-house, reminiscent of former coach Bob Huggins’ era.

In the opening half, Cincy played sound defense, shot 45.5 percent from behind the arc and was on course for a win. In the second half, the Bearcats subsequently went cold and succumbed to easy, uncontested layups from the Orange.

This came off the heels of an overtime loss at West Virginia Saturday, when senior guard Dion Dixon failed to convert a five-foot jumper in regulation with the score knotted.

The Cats’ latest losses — in Morgantown, against potential Big East Player of the Year Kevin Jones — and to the Orange, who are undoubtedly the kingpin of the conference, are surely nothing to hide from.

In fact, I’ll make the argument that the Bearcats are a bona fide Big East title contender — especially following road wins against then-No. 11 Georgetown, and reigning national champion Connecticut.

Cincinnati continues to receive a lack of recognition in the polls but is building a solid resume for March.

Prior to this past weekend, UC touted a 5-1 record in league play, as it earned its best start since joining the conference in 2005.

Since the Crosstown Shootout Dec. 10, 2011, the Cats have posted a surprising 10-3 mark. Head coach Mick Cronin has repeatedly stated that his squad rose to the occasion in its most ominous hour.

Following one of the worst on-court fiascoes in recent memory, UC has completely transformed its identity and persona.

The current team has a tendency, almost to a flaw, to perform well only when they are backed into a corner.

Senior forward Yancy Gates was among the four players that received suspensions, leaving Cincy to play long stretches with a lone player taller than 6-foot-5 in the six games he sat out.

Gates was also considered the Bearcats’ top rebounder and offensive threat at the time, but the Bearcats adapted by playing a four-guard offense that breathed new life into a stagnant squad.

With his full repertoire of players back at his disposal, Cronin continued with the same smooth and efficient style of play. Gates was eased back into the starting lineup, but no longer had to shoulder the burden of the offensive end, and is averaging nearly three points less in the past seven games.

In his three most recent outings, the veteran has provided a presence on defense — posting three straight double-doubles.

The Bearcats have provided more room for Gates in the paint by averaging a gaudy 9.8 3-point baskets per game, as opposed to 5.4 prior to the brawl, and are now finally living up to the billing of their fifth-place projection in the league in the pre-season media poll.

A month ago, UC hardly resembled a NCAA tournament team with a 5-3 mark including a loss to Presbyterian College.

Head boss Cronin must be given credit where it’s due, and right now, his team is on course for its
second-straight March Madness bid. With his team’s recent slew of games, it’s hard to find another team in the country playing as well as his on the road.

With a win at West Virginia, Cincy would have garnered an unheard-of eighth consecutive conference road win in the Big East.

The Bearcats (15-6, 5-3) are nearly at the midway point of the conference season, and need just six more wins to assure a ticket to the Big Dance.