This one is from Memphis Commercial Appeal...
1. SMU (8-0): The Mustangs, ranked No. 18 in The Associated Press poll, haven't missed a beat with coach Larry Brown serving a nine-game, NCAA-imposed suspension and the team banned from the postseason this year. SMU's last three victories have come by 54, 24 and 44 points.
2. Connecticut (6-3): Sophomore swingman Daniel Hamilton is averaging 13.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and an AAC-leading 5.2 assists for the No. 25-ranked Huskies, who beat Ohio State by 20 at home Saturday.
3. Cincinnati (9-2): Yes, the Bearcats are ranked higher in The AP poll than UConn at No. 23. But they're 1-2 against teams ranked in the top 100 at Kenpom.com and six of their wins have come against teams ranked 204 or lower.
4. Tulsa (7-3): Though it's lost at home to Arkansas-Little Rock and Oral Roberts, Tulsa still has a signature victory over then-No. 9 Wichita State in November and two other top-100 victories (at Oklahoma State and over Iona).
5. Memphis (7-2): Freshman forward Dedric Lawson ranks fourth in the AAC in scoring (15.9 points per game) and fourth in rebounding (9 rpg). He's the only player in the league ranked in the top five in both categories.
6. Houston (7-1): The Cougars' lone loss came at Rhode Island. Sophomore guard Rob Gray's AAC-leading 18.9 points per game leads a high-octane Houston team averaging 86.1 points.
7. Temple (4-5): A brutal nonconference schedule has seen the Owls lose to North Carolina, Butler, Utah, Wisconsin and Saint Joseph's. Still, expect Temple to make some noise in league play.
8. UCF (5-3): The Knights have won four straight, including a 67-63 home victory this month over UMass. Freshman Tacko Fall, the team's 7-6, 300-pound center, is ranked second in the AAC in field-goal percentage (.702).
9. East Carolina (7-4): After a 2-3 start to the season, the Pirates have won five of their past six games.
10. Tulane (6-5): The Green Wave opens AAC play Dec. 29 at Memphis.
11. South Florida (3-8): Former Tigers assistant Orlando Antigua is still trying to get things turned around in his second season as head man of the Bulls.
1. SMU (8-0): The Mustangs, ranked No. 18 in The Associated Press poll, haven't missed a beat with coach Larry Brown serving a nine-game, NCAA-imposed suspension and the team banned from the postseason this year. SMU's last three victories have come by 54, 24 and 44 points.
2. Connecticut (6-3): Sophomore swingman Daniel Hamilton is averaging 13.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and an AAC-leading 5.2 assists for the No. 25-ranked Huskies, who beat Ohio State by 20 at home Saturday.
3. Cincinnati (9-2): Yes, the Bearcats are ranked higher in The AP poll than UConn at No. 23. But they're 1-2 against teams ranked in the top 100 at Kenpom.com and six of their wins have come against teams ranked 204 or lower.
4. Tulsa (7-3): Though it's lost at home to Arkansas-Little Rock and Oral Roberts, Tulsa still has a signature victory over then-No. 9 Wichita State in November and two other top-100 victories (at Oklahoma State and over Iona).
5. Memphis (7-2): Freshman forward Dedric Lawson ranks fourth in the AAC in scoring (15.9 points per game) and fourth in rebounding (9 rpg). He's the only player in the league ranked in the top five in both categories.
6. Houston (7-1): The Cougars' lone loss came at Rhode Island. Sophomore guard Rob Gray's AAC-leading 18.9 points per game leads a high-octane Houston team averaging 86.1 points.
7. Temple (4-5): A brutal nonconference schedule has seen the Owls lose to North Carolina, Butler, Utah, Wisconsin and Saint Joseph's. Still, expect Temple to make some noise in league play.
8. UCF (5-3): The Knights have won four straight, including a 67-63 home victory this month over UMass. Freshman Tacko Fall, the team's 7-6, 300-pound center, is ranked second in the AAC in field-goal percentage (.702).
9. East Carolina (7-4): After a 2-3 start to the season, the Pirates have won five of their past six games.
10. Tulane (6-5): The Green Wave opens AAC play Dec. 29 at Memphis.
11. South Florida (3-8): Former Tigers assistant Orlando Antigua is still trying to get things turned around in his second season as head man of the Bulls.
