From SMU Rivals site...
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1. SMU (24-6, 15-3). In a showdown for the conference title, SMU shot ahead of Tulsa with a close win, 67-62. The victory secures a spot in the NCAA tournament for the Mustangs, who were left devastated last year without a bid. They are now the clear favorite to win the AAC tournament after sweeping Tulsa. The only question left for SMU in the AAC is whether they can beat Cincinnati if the two meet again. Regardless, the Mustangs are back to the big dance, and could be a popular sleeper pick.
2. Tulsa (21-9, 14-4). The biggest criticism of Tulsa during AAC play was that it couldn't beat the other top teams in the conference. That comes up again after a loss to SMU that leaves the Golden Hurricane currently without a tournament bid. An upset in the first round of the AAC tournament could leave Tulsa right where SMU was last year - in the NIT.
3. Cincinnati (22-9, 13-5). This is the team nobody wants to play. The Bearcats have quietly kept hanging around the top of the conference. They've swept SMU and landed big wins over Tulsa and Memphis this past week, giving them a five-game winning streak. The experience on this team makes them a perfect candidate to take the AAC tournament trophy.
4. Temple (22-9, 13-5). The Owls finished their regular season with double-digit wins over East Carolina and UConn. This team needs a good showing in the AAC tournament in order to snag an at-large bid for the big dance. It hasn't been the most consistent team this year, but it's absolutely a threat to also win the conference tournament.
5. Connecticut (17-13, 10-8). The Huskies had a fantastic win over SMU, but then couldn't keep things going this week against Memphis or Temple. The one point loss to the Tigers especially hurts. The reigning national champs know their only way into the NCAA tournament is by winning the conference tournament. They've got the talent and coaching to make the necessary run, but Ryan Boatright's supporting cast needs to play more consistently.
6. Memphis (18-13, 10-8). The Tigers put a stop to any momentum UConn built after its win over SMU. A win over Cincy would've been huge going into the conference tourney, but the Bearcats prevailed. Still, this is a team that nobody wants to play in AAC tournament. The team is loaded with talent, and Shaq Goodwin and Austin Nichols can give problems to any team.
7. Tulane (15-15, 6-12). After seeming to be in contention for the middle of the conference at the beginning of the season, Tulane has dropped significantly. The team finished the regular season with two of it's easiest games this year on paper. The Green Wave lost to Houston and then only beat USF by four. It's been a disappointing season, however Tulane is not a team to overlook in the first round of the AAC tournament.
8. East Carolina (13-18, 6-12). The Pirates had a less than mediocre season, but they've been able to have a some good moments. Their win over Cincy was surely their most meaningful this year. However, a loss to Houston reminds them and everyone else that they are still in the bottom tier of the AAC.
9. Houston (12-18, 4-14). The Cougars finish the regular season off positively with a double-digit win over ECU. Now on a three-game winning streak, they have potential to pull off a big upset in the AAC tournament.
10. UCF (12-17, 5-13). The Knights suffered a devastating loss to end their disappointing season. Their foes from South Florida defeated them 74-45. Right when they seemed to be getting some things right, the regular season ends on a bad note with a four-game losing streak. It goes to show that a fancy court can't add to the win column.
11. USF (9-22, 3-15). In a surprising turn of events, the Bulls defeated UCF by 29 points this week. They shocked everyone with a powerful when over a UCF team that had picked things up recently. The Bulls also narrowly lost to Tulane by four points. The team now has something meaningful to take into the conference tournament.
TheHillTopics.com
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1. SMU (24-6, 15-3). In a showdown for the conference title, SMU shot ahead of Tulsa with a close win, 67-62. The victory secures a spot in the NCAA tournament for the Mustangs, who were left devastated last year without a bid. They are now the clear favorite to win the AAC tournament after sweeping Tulsa. The only question left for SMU in the AAC is whether they can beat Cincinnati if the two meet again. Regardless, the Mustangs are back to the big dance, and could be a popular sleeper pick.
2. Tulsa (21-9, 14-4). The biggest criticism of Tulsa during AAC play was that it couldn't beat the other top teams in the conference. That comes up again after a loss to SMU that leaves the Golden Hurricane currently without a tournament bid. An upset in the first round of the AAC tournament could leave Tulsa right where SMU was last year - in the NIT.
3. Cincinnati (22-9, 13-5). This is the team nobody wants to play. The Bearcats have quietly kept hanging around the top of the conference. They've swept SMU and landed big wins over Tulsa and Memphis this past week, giving them a five-game winning streak. The experience on this team makes them a perfect candidate to take the AAC tournament trophy.
4. Temple (22-9, 13-5). The Owls finished their regular season with double-digit wins over East Carolina and UConn. This team needs a good showing in the AAC tournament in order to snag an at-large bid for the big dance. It hasn't been the most consistent team this year, but it's absolutely a threat to also win the conference tournament.
5. Connecticut (17-13, 10-8). The Huskies had a fantastic win over SMU, but then couldn't keep things going this week against Memphis or Temple. The one point loss to the Tigers especially hurts. The reigning national champs know their only way into the NCAA tournament is by winning the conference tournament. They've got the talent and coaching to make the necessary run, but Ryan Boatright's supporting cast needs to play more consistently.
6. Memphis (18-13, 10-8). The Tigers put a stop to any momentum UConn built after its win over SMU. A win over Cincy would've been huge going into the conference tourney, but the Bearcats prevailed. Still, this is a team that nobody wants to play in AAC tournament. The team is loaded with talent, and Shaq Goodwin and Austin Nichols can give problems to any team.
7. Tulane (15-15, 6-12). After seeming to be in contention for the middle of the conference at the beginning of the season, Tulane has dropped significantly. The team finished the regular season with two of it's easiest games this year on paper. The Green Wave lost to Houston and then only beat USF by four. It's been a disappointing season, however Tulane is not a team to overlook in the first round of the AAC tournament.
8. East Carolina (13-18, 6-12). The Pirates had a less than mediocre season, but they've been able to have a some good moments. Their win over Cincy was surely their most meaningful this year. However, a loss to Houston reminds them and everyone else that they are still in the bottom tier of the AAC.
9. Houston (12-18, 4-14). The Cougars finish the regular season off positively with a double-digit win over ECU. Now on a three-game winning streak, they have potential to pull off a big upset in the AAC tournament.
10. UCF (12-17, 5-13). The Knights suffered a devastating loss to end their disappointing season. Their foes from South Florida defeated them 74-45. Right when they seemed to be getting some things right, the regular season ends on a bad note with a four-game losing streak. It goes to show that a fancy court can't add to the win column.
11. USF (9-22, 3-15). In a surprising turn of events, the Bulls defeated UCF by 29 points this week. They shocked everyone with a powerful when over a UCF team that had picked things up recently. The Bulls also narrowly lost to Tulane by four points. The team now has something meaningful to take into the conference tournament.
TheHillTopics.com
