NASSAU, Bahamas – Men’s basketball teams from both Arkansas and Cincinnati will play multiple exhibition games against international competition as part of the 2026 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League this August at the beautiful Baha Mar resort. Veteran event promoter bdG Sports made the announcement Thursday.
Fans of the Razorbacks can get an up-close preview of John Calipari’s 2026-27 squad when Arkansas plays four games during their seven-day trip (July 29-Aug. 4) to the capital city of the Bahamas. The Razorbacks are slated to play on Friday, July 31 (7 p.m. ET), Saturday, Aug. 1 (6 p.m.), Monday, Aug. 3 (6 p.m.) and Tuesday, Aug. 4 (noon).
New Cincinnati head coach Jerrod Calhoun has scheduled the Bearcats to compete twice during their six-day visit (Aug. 1-6) to the Baha Mar resort. UC will compete on Sunday, Aug. 2 (2 p.m. ET) and Tuesday, Aug. 4 (2:30 p.m.).
All games will take place at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts and Entertainment Center on-site at the resort. Opponents, including international teams and Canadian universities, will be announced later.
South Carolina and Valparaiso were announced as other participants in the 2026 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League on Wednesday. Additional U.S. college teams scheduled to take part in the event will be announced soon.
PREVIEWING ARKANSAS
Calipari’s third squad in Fayetteville features the return of wing Billy Richmond III, who averaged 11.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists last season. He will be joined by the nation’s top-rated freshman class that includes consensus National High School Player of the Year Jordan Smith Jr., wing JJ Andrews, wing Abdou Toure and forward Miikka Muurinen, along with Georgia transfer guard Jeremiah Wilkinson.
“We will have one of, if not the, youngest teams in the nation this coming season,” Calipari said. “With Billy (Richmond) being the only player back from our program with significant experience, we felt like we needed a trip like this to build chemistry on and off the court. Not only that, this will also be a great chance for our fans to experience a great destination like Baha Mar, while getting a first chance to see this year’s team in live action on the court.”
The Razorbacks finished 28-9 overall and 13-5 in the Southeastern Conference in 2025-26, winning the SEC Tournament and advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. Arkansas’ 28 victories tied for the third most since joining the SEC prior to the 1991-92 campaign.
PREVIEWING CINCINNATI
“I’m really excited about this trip to the Bahamas for our exhibition tour,” Calhoun said. “With 12 new players, it’ll be a great time for us to learn more about our team. The best part about these summer trips is that, with the transfer portal and so many moving parts, it’s really good to get these practices and competitive games under our belt. We can’t wait to get down there.”
The Bearcats welcomes a Top 25 portal class with a roster boasting 12 newcomers for the 2026-27 season. The group makes up the most experienced roster in the Big 12, with incoming players averaging 56 career games played and more than 30 starts.
New NCAA rules allow college teams to take a foreign tour annually after the previous rule allowed such a trip only once every four academic years.
The fifth-annual event is managed by bdG Sports, a Kentucky-based sports and entertainment management firm which annually operates 20 collegiate men’s and women’s basketball games at Baha Mar each November.
“Summer tours have become vitally important to teams in today’s college basketball environment,” President and CEO of bdG Sports Brooks Downing said. “We are seeing incredible interest from throughout the sport given the number of benefits, such as the 10 extra practices, the multiple games, and the opportunity for team bonding in one of the world’s most incredible destinations. The $4 billion resort at beautiful Cable Beach boasts entertainment options for everyone, including incredible dining options, a casino, a $250 million water park, and a new jazz club. Baha Mar is excited to welcome both teams to The Bahamas!”
TICKETS, ROOMS & FAN PACKAGES
Arkansas and Cincinnati fans interested in attending the 2026 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League can visit www.bahamarhoops.com/summer for upcoming information on tickets, rooms and VIP packages. A valid passport is required to enter the Bahamas.
WONDER AWAITS AT THE BEAUTIFUL BAHA MAR RESORT
The remarkable Baha Mar resort serves as the backdrop to this basketball showcase. Anchored by Grand Hyatt and featuring SLS Baha Mar and Rosewood Baha Mar, the resort is situated on 1,000 acres overlooking Nassau’s famous turquoise ocean waters. The destination resort boasts more than 2,300 rooms, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a $200 million luxury water park, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the Caribbean’s first and only flagship ESPA Spa, a new jazz club, and a collection of more than 45 restaurants and lounges.
ABOUT BAHA MAR HOOPS
Each November around the Thanksgiving holiday, Baha Mar plays host to Baha Mar Hoops, one of the largest regular-season events in the sport of college basketball. Twenty NCAA Division I men’s and women’s teams visit the stunning resort each year to compete in one of three basketball tournaments. In total, 20 games will be played over an 11-day span.
Each August, the resort also holds the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League, offering NCAA teams exhibition games against international competition as part of a foreign tour. The resort has welcomed men’s basketball teams from Kentucky, Louisville, Nevada, Penn State, Rhode Island and Xavier for summer exhibition tours in recent years.
BAHA MAR HOOPS SOCIAL TAGS
Keep up to date with the latest information regarding Bah Mar Hoops via social media at @BahaMarHoops on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
