Summer time means a look ahead to next season!
Each week moving forward, we will preview one conference in college basketball from soup to nuts.
Check below for this week’s breakdown on the American Athletic Conference.
American Athletic Conference Offseason Breakdown
American Athletic Conference Preseason Power Rankings
1. Houston
Projected Starting 5:
G Marcus Sasser
G Kyler Edwards
G Tramon Mark
F Reggie Chaney
C Fabian White
Projected Bench: J’Wan Roberts, Kiyron Powell, Ja’Vier Francis, Ramon Walker, Robbie Armbrester, Josh Carlton, Jamal Shead, Taze Moore
Newcomers: Ja’Vier Francis, Ramon Walker, Robbie Armbrester, Josh Carlton (UConn), Kyler Edwards (Texas Tech), Taze Moore (Cal State Bakersfield)
Losses: DeJon Jarreau, Justin Gorham, Brison Gresham, Cameron Tyson, Quentin Grimes
2. Memphis
Projected Starting 5:
G Alex Lomax
G Lester Quinones
G Landers Nolley
F Earl Timberlake
F DeAndre Williams
Projected Bench: Chandler Lawson, Malcolm Dandridge, Josh Minott, Sam Ayomide, John Camden, Jayden Hardaway, Sam Onu, Tyler Harris, Johnathan Lawson
Newcomers: Earl Timberlake (Miami), Josh Minott, Sam Ayomide, John Camden, Sam Onu, Chandler Lawson (Oregon), Johnathan Lawson, Tyler Harris (Iowa State)
Losses: Boogie Ellis, Damian Baugh, D.J. Jeffries, Moussa Cisse
3. Wichita State
Projected Starting 5:
G Tyson Etienne
G Ricky Council
G Dexter Dennis
F Clarence Jackson
C Morris Udeze
Projected Bench: Craig Porter, Chaunce Jenkins, Matt McFarlane, Joe Pleasant, Qua Grant, Kenny Pohto, Jalen Ricks
Key Newcomers: Matt McFarlane (JUCO), Joe Pleasant (Abilene Christian), Qua Grant, Kenny Pohto, Jalen Ricks
Expected Losses: Alterique Gilbert, Trey Wade, Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler, Josaphat Bilau
4. SMU
Projected Starting 5:
G Kendric Davis
G Emmanuel Bandoumel
G Michael Weathers
F Marcus Weathers
C Isiah Jasey
Projected Bench: Zach Nutall, Tristan Clark, Franklin Agunanne, Stefan Todorovic, Jalen Smith, Zhuric Phelps, Tyler Lundblade
Newcomers: Tristan Clark (Baylor), Michael Weathers (Texas Southern), Marcus Weathers (Duquesne), Zach Nutall (Sam Houston State), Franklin Agunanne (Loyola Chicago), Stefan Todorovic, Jalen Smith, Zhuric Phelps, Tyler Lundblade
Losses: Feron Hunt, Tyson Jolly, Ethan Chargois, Yor Anei, Darius McNeill, Charles Smith IV, William Douglas
5. UCF
Projected Starting 5:
G Darius Perry
G Darin Green Jr.
G Brandon Mahan
F Isaiah Adams
C Cheikh Mbacke Diong
Projected Bench: C.J. Walker, Dre Fuller, Tony Johnson, Jamille Reynolds, Darius Johnson, Ed’Xavior Rhodes, PJ Edwards, Tyem Freeman, Sean Mobley
Newcomers: Darius Johnson, Ed’Xavior Rhodes, PJ Edwards, Tyem Freeman (JUCO), Cheikh Mbacke Diong (UNLV)
Losses: Avery Diggs, Ibrahim Famouke Doumbia
6. Cincinnati
Projected Starting 5:
G Mikey Saunders
G Mika Adams-Woods
G John Newman III
G Jeremiah Davenport
C Abdul Ado
Projected Bench: David DeJulius, Hayden Koval, Ody Oguama, A.J. McGinnis, Jarrett Hensley, Mason Madsen, Victor Lahkin
Newcomers: Abdul Ado (Mississippi State), Hayden Koval (UNC Greensboro), John Newman III (Clemson), Ody Oguama (Wake Forest), A.J. McGinnis (UNC Greensboro), Jarrett Hensley (UNC Greensboro)
Losses: Keith Williams, Tari Eason, Chris Vogt, Mamoudou Diarra, Zach Harvey, Gabe Madsen
7. Tulsa
Projected Starting 5:
G Sam Griffin
G Keyshawn Embery-Simpson
G Curtis Haywood II
F Jeriah Horne
C Rey Idowu
Projected Bench: Darien Jackson, Nikita Konstantynovskyi, Anthony Pritchard, Sterling Gaston-Chapman, Tim Dalger, Josh Earley, Peyton Urbancic, Gavin Elkamil
Newcomers: Jeriah Horne (Colorado), Nikita Konstantynovskyi (JUCO), Tim Dalger (JUCO), Sam Griffin (UT Arlington), Anthony Pritchard, Sterling Gaston-Chapman, Gavyn Elkamil
Losses: Brandon Rachal, Elijah Joiner, Austin Richie, Keyshawn Williams
8. East Carolina
Projected Starting 5:
G Tremont Robinson-White
G Wynston Tabbs
G Tristen Newton
F J.J. Miles
F Vance Jackson
Projected Bench: Brandon Suggs, Ludgy Debaut, Alexis Reyes, Tay Mosher, Marlon Lestin, Russell Felton, Javon Small, Jaquan Scott, Alanzo Frink
Newcomers: Wynston Tabbs (Boston College), Vance Jackson (Arkansas), Alanzo Frink (South Carolina), Alexis Reyes, Tay Mosher, Marlon Lestin, Russell Felton, Javon Small, Jaquan Scott
Losses: Jayden Gardner
9. Temple
Projected Starting 5:
G Khalif Battle
G Damian Dunn
G Jeremiah Williams
F Nick Jourdain
C Jake Forrester
Projected Bench: Sage Tolbert, Tai Strickland, Hysier Miller, Zach Hicks, Emmanuel Okpomo, Arashma Parks, Quincy Ademokoya, Jahlil White
Newcomers: Hysier Miller, Zach Hicks, Emmanuel Okpomo (Wake Forest)
Losses: J.P. Moorman, Dre Perry, Brendan Barry
10. Tulane
Projected Starting 5:
G Jalen Cook
G Jaylen Forbes
G Sion James
F Scott Spencer
C Kevin Cross
Projected Bench: DeVon Baker, Alex Zaccardo, R.J. McGee, Nobal Days, Oton Jankovic, Jadan Coleman, Tylan Pope
Newcomers: Scott Spencer (La Salle), Jalen Cook (LSU), DeVon Baker (UNC Asheville)
Losses: Jordan Walker, Gabe Watson
11. South Florida
Projected Starting 5:
G Javon Greene
G Caleb Murphy
G Jamir Chaplin
F Corey Walker Jr.
C Jalyn McCreary
Projected Bench: Trey Moss, Serrel Smith, Jake Boggs, Sam Hines Jr., Bayron Matos, DJ Patrick, Russel Tchewa,
Newcomers: Trey Moss, Javon Greene (George Mason), Serrel Smith (ETSU), Jalyn McCreary (South Carolina), Jake Boggs (UNC Wilmington), Corey Walker Jr. (Tennessee), Sam Hines Jr. (Denver), Bayron Matos (New Mexico), DJ Patrick (JUCO)
Losses: Alexis Yetna, David Collins, Michael Durr, Xavier Castaneda, Justin Brown, Rashun Williams, Luke Anderson, Prince Oduro, Madut Akec
American Athletic Conference Preseason First Team
Tyson Etienne, Wichita State
Kendric Davis, SMU
Marcus Sasser, Houston
Landers Nolley, Memphis
DeAndre Williams, Memphis
American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year
Tyson Etienne, Wichita State
American Athletic Conference Preseason Sleeper
UCF
5 American Athletic Conference Breakout Players
* In no particular order
Tramon Mark, Houston
Ricky Council IV, Wichita State
Isaiah Adams, UCF
Mikey Saunders, Cincinnati
Sion James, Tulane
10 Impact American Athletic Conference Transfers
* In no particular order
Kyler Edwards, Houston (Texas Tech)
Earl Timberlake, Memphis (Miami)
Chandler Lawson, Memphis (Oregon)
Abdul Ado, Cincinnati (Mississippi State)
John Newman III, Cincinnati (Clemson)
Michael Weathers, SMU (Texas Southern)
Marcus Weathers, SMU (Duquesne)
Jeriah Horne, Tulsa (Colorado)
Wynston Tabbs, East Carolina (Boston College)
Vance Jackson, East Carolina (Arkansas)
5 Under-The-Radar American Athletic Conference Transfers
* In no particular order
Josh Carlton, Houston (UConn)
Hayden Koval, Cincinnati (UNC Greensboro)
Zach Nutall, SMU (Sam Houston State)
Cheikh Mbacke Diong, UCF (UNLV)
Jalen Cook, Tulane (LSU)
5 Impact American Athletic Conference Freshmen
*In no particular order
Josh Minott, Memphis
Sam Ayomide, Memphis
Stefan Todorovic, SMU
Ramon Walker, Houston
Darius Johnson, UCF