American Athletic Conference Basketball Preview & Predictions

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1.  Cincinnati: I have been debating the last 15 minutes on who to pick first, Cincinnati or UConn, but after seeing the Bearcats first game against Brown and how dominate they looked, I had to go with UC.  Cincinnati picked up a transfer from NC State in Kyle Washington last year so he will replace Octavious Ellis.  Washington had 16 points and 12 boards in his debut as a Bearcat.  Sensational guard Jacob Evans.  Evans got a lot of playing time as a Freshman last year and is expected even more this year.  He was 9-12 from the field and had 23 points.  Also returning is Gary Clark.  Almost nobody can stop Gary Clark.  The power forward had 14 points and 9 rebounds.  Clark is unstoppable when he wants to be.  (That usually leads to Jon Rothstein tweeting "Gary Clark is a problem.").  Lastly, Troy Caupain runs the show for the Bearcats at the point guard position.  Caupain can shoot the three ball and is a great ball handler.  Caupain was named the conference's preseason player of the year along with Dedric Lawson of Memphis.  Cincinnati will have some chances to get big wins early.  The problem is not talent with UC, it's can they close at the end of games.  This was a serious problem last year. 

2. UConn:  The Huskies have already had a disappointing loss.  After coming in as huge favorites the Huskies ended up losing 67-58 to Wagner. Despite being ranked 18th in the AP poll, the Huskies looked lethargic.  UConn fans are just hoping this was just a little rust they haven't shaken off yet.  Kevin Ollie brought in a heavily rated player in Alterique Gilbert.  Gilbert, a 6"0 guard was given preseason rookie of the year honors.  Amida Brimah returns to UConn and brings his stellar defense.  Brimah will most likely lead to the team in rebounds and is a potent shot blocker.  If UConn wants to make it past the first weekend in March then they will have a leader.  Right now I believe that is Rodney Purvish, but it was evident they did not have one against Wagner.  UConn sure as hell did not look like they number 18 team in the nation, but it's early and UConn usually saves their best basketball for March. 

3.  SMU: They had one of their best years in school history last year, but the Mustangs were banned from the postseason.  Not only did SMU lose starting point guard in Nick Moore, but they also lost their hall of fame head coach Larry Brown who decided to retire.  SMU does have the potential to make the tournament this year and in Joe Lunardi's way too early bracketology he has SMU in his last four in category.  SMU will be a great rebounding team with Ben Moore and Semi Ojeleye.  New head coach Tim Jankovich, who was the coach is waiting will have to win a lot of games in the conference.  As it sits right now, the Mustangs only ranked team they play is UConn and their biggest non conference game will be against Pitt.  SMU will score, but can they play well enough on the defensive end.  They are kind of the opposite of UConn. 

4. Houston: The Cougars also had a great year last year going 22-9, but they really did not play anyone and that's why they were invited to the NIT and the NCAA Tournament.  I'm sure not Coog fan really even expected to make the NIT last year so in the end it was a positive. Kevin Sampson has the program going in the right direction.  Once again the Cougars are a guard oriented team.  They are lead by senor guard and first team all AAC  senor guard Damyean Dotson and junior guard Rob Gray.  Gray led the American in three point shooting last year.  Houston will be the best shooting team in the league, but they lack a presence inside.  Devin Davis will be the only big man this year so the Cougars could get hammered on the boards.  They need to make up for it in turnovers, because they have a lot of ball handlers they don't turn it over as often.  Last year Houston had one of easiest non conference schedules in the nation, but they will have early opportunities for some big wins including LSU, Rhode Island, and Arkansas.  

5. Temple: This team shocked a lot of people last year after they ran the table in conference play and won the American in the regular season last year on their way to the NCAA Tournament. Despite this, Temple has had injuries to Jaylen Bond and Quenton Decosey, but Fran Dunphey always seems to have something up his sleeve.  The Owls always play tough defense and are coming off a very good year last year.

6. Memphis: Tubby Smith comes in for Josh Pastner this year.  It really baffles me that Josh Pastner got a power 5 job when he did nothing at all with Memphis.  Anyhow, the Tigers are off to a 2-0 start, but both of those two wins were cupcakes and Memphis will be 4-0 when they play Providence.  They just may have the best player in the conference in Dedric Lawson, who leads the team in points and rebounds right now (21.5 & 12) a game. The Tigers lost their best player from last year in Austin Nicholas who transferred to Virginia.  They have a very underrated guard in Jereimiah Martin who is the most unselfish guy in the league.  Memphis has been a really hard to team to gage because they have been so bad the last three years.  We will see what Tubby Smith has in store.

7. East Carolina: BJ Tyson and Caleb White were major players on ECU last year, and they will again this.  The team is headlined by junior standout BJ Tyson who is on the 2nd team all American conference and can do just about anything you ask him. White is putting up 16.5 points a game through the first three and is off to a hot start.  White is averaging 12.5 points and 6.5 assists. Like years in the past, East Carolina will lack a presence inside.  This year the burden will fall on Jabari Craig.  Craig is still inexperienced and the guard play will have to be pretty good for the Pirates to finish in the top half of the league.  Jeff Lebo may be fighting for his life this year, so every win counts.  ECU has a pretty easy schedule so they could get off hot start before heading into AAC play.   

8. Central Florida: The Knights are off to a hot start and will play the defending champions Villanova in their preseason tournament final.  They are playing great defense right now and it is built by Tako Fall inside.  UCF held Charleston to just 40 point in the semifinal game. Chances are you will not outrebound Fall or Nick Banyard. These two are averaging over 24 rebounds a game.  Unlike most of the American teams, I am concerned with the Knights guard play.  BJ Taylor has really stepped up to start the season, but they need a couple more men to play well this year.  UCF certainly has the defense and the inside play to compete with any one in the conference, we will see how well the guards are come conference play.  Johnny Dawkins has his team playing good ball very early.   

9. South Florida: The Bulls will be leaning on a lot of transfers this year.  Malik Martin and Isiah Anderson are the two biggest transfers and both can make an impact on this season.  Orlando Antigua has yet to have a successful season at South Florida and this will be his third year, I think he will have to wait one more year. 

10. Tulane: Louis Dabney is gone for Tulane.  Dabney was their leading scorer and lead the team in assist as well.  Also their leading rebounder, Dylan Osetkowski has transferred to Texas.  The Green Wave went out and made a big hire in Mike Dunleavy Sr.  This is Dunleavy's first ever head coaching job on the college level.  I had some serious question marks about Tulane coming in, but I did like the way they performed against North Carolina and Oklahoma.  They proved they do have some guard play in Cameron Reynolds and Kain Harris and that why they beat out Tulsa for the #10 spot.  Tulane is clearly not going anywhere this year, but they do not have any seniors. With that being said, I do think Tulane is capable of pulling of some upsets in conference play. 

11. Tulsa: Remember Tulsa snuck their way into the NCAA tournament last?? Yeah, that won't happen last year.  Although they lost in the play in game, the Golden Hurricane had 12 seniors.....12, on one team.  A lot of new men on this Golden Hurricane team. They lost to Jacksonville State 84-73 in their first game and their defense and rebounding will be a problem.  I write this as they trail Wichita by double early in the game. The key player for Tulsa will be Junior Etou, if this team can pull of some upsets it will be because of him.  Also, Tulsa does not have one senior on this team so he is the oldest player.