As the AAC regular season comes to a close, there is still plenty to look forward to. Not only are two or three teams from the conference likely going to the NCAA Tournament, but we still have the conference tournament on deck. The AAC Tournament will be held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas from March 10-13.
Will Houston be able to win both the regular season and tournament title this season? Will SMU and Memphis solidify their NCAA Tournament at-large bids? Could a dark horse get hot at the right time and steel a bid from under everyone else’s nose? With so many questions left to be answered and the entire conference in play, this week is set up to be the best week of the season.
AAC Basketball Weekly Headlines
Memphis’ Depth Proves Pivotal
The Tigers have arguably the most talented roster in the conference. Even without freshman forward Emoni Bates, the Tigers have plenty of playmakers and scorers. Unfortunately for Memphis, they have often had to rely on one or two players to “take over” to win games. Against Houston, the Tigers’ spread-out attack gave Houston little chance to compete.
Only three players scored in double-figures for Memphis. Tyler Harris came off the bench to contribute 15 points while starters Landers Nolley II and Lester Quinones both pitched in 11 of their own. Not only did all the others step up, but they were efficient as well. The three other starters for Memphis all pitched in eight points with the other four bench players pitching in an additional 14 points. If Memphis basketball can find efficient play from here on out, they may be a dark horse for a run in the NCAA Tournament.
AAC Tournament Field Set
After Sunday’s games, the seeding and matchups for the AAC Tournament are set. While Houston and Memphis seem to be locks, according to college basketball analysts, SMU still has some work to do. Outside of those three, every other team in the AAC needs to win the conference’s automatic bid to have any chance of making the NCAA Tournament.
For teams like Wichita State, Cincinnati and Tulane, who have dropped many close contests, this is their chance to prove they can hang with the best of the best. Even teams that have struggled mightily such as Tulsa and South Florida have a chance to make the big dance. With the way this season has gone in the AAC, absolutely anything is possible.
Updated AAC Basketball Standings
| Team | Conference Record | Overall Record |
|---|---|---|
| Houston | 15-3 | 26-5 |
| SMU | 13-4 | 22-7 |
| Memphis | 13-5 | 19-9 |
| Temple | 10-7 | 17-11 |
| Tulane | 10-8 | 13-14 |
| UCF | 9-9 | 17-11 |
| Wichita State | 6-9 | 15-12 |
| Cincinnati | 7-11 | 17-14 |
| East Carolina | 6-11 | 15-14 |
| Tulsa | 4-14 | 10-19 |
| South Florida | 3-15 | 8-22 |
Upcoming AAC College Basketball Games to Note
With the AAC Tournament starting this week, there is plenty to watch. Here are the biggest matchups to watch this week.
Wichita State at Tulsa
Date: Thursday, Mar. 10
Time: 3 pm EST
TV Coverage: ESPNU
Houston vs Cincinnati/East Carolina
Date: Friday, Mar. 11
Time: 1 pm EST
TV Coverage: ESPN2
AAC Semifinals
Date: Saturday, Mar. 12
Time: 3 pm EST & 5 pm EST
TV Coverage: ESPN2
AAC Championship Game
Date: Sunday, Mar. 13
Time: 3:15 pm EST
TV Coverage: ESPN
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