Top five MBB teams to watch in the American Conference

There are four weeks left until the college basketball season officially kicks off. Throughout the offseason, countless teams have retooled rosters, hired new coaches and feasted in the transfer portal. The 13 teams within the American Athletic Conference are no exception. Each has carefully constructed a team built to hoist the conference trophy and punch its ticket to the NCAA tournament. While every team is loaded with potential, there are a few slated to make a serious run at the conference crown. With that being said, these are the top five American Athletic Conference teams headed into the season.

Wichita State University 

Finishing second in the American last year, Wichita State University looks poised to take full command of the number one spot this season. Unlike most teams in the conference, head coach Paul Mills retained a majority of his roster while adding the offensive firepower necessary to make the Shockers a formidable NCAA foe.

Among his 10 retentions is graduate guard Kenyon Giles, who led the team with 19 points per game and first-team All-Conference honors last year. His return solidifies him as one of the best guards in the American, as Giles can score efficiently at all three levels of the game. Backing him will be the likes of senior forward Karon Boyd, who should be a monster in the paint and a double-double threat every time he is on the court. Sophomore forward Dillon Battie is also expected to leap forward this season. Battie improved by four points per game last season, shooting 55% from the floor in 17 minutes of play. His role will likely see an increase, leading to a higher offensive output to back up Giles.

Rounding out the offensive prowess is the addition of former Dayton guard Bryce Heard, who transferred to Wichita State in the offseason. Heard only averaged six points in his Dayton tenure, yet shot nearly 38% from beyond the arc. Placed in Mills’ high-paced, spread-out offensive system, Heard will shine on the perimeter, serving as the perfect catch-and-shoot threat. The retention of talent paired with Mills’ effective coaching philosophy makes the Shockers the number one threat to the American crown this season.

University of South Florida

Of all the teams in the American, none possess more potential upside than the defending conference champion University of South Florida. Coming off a dominant 15-3 conference record and an NCAA tournament berth, the Bulls have completely retooled the roster after some departures through the transfer portal.

The team brought in former Charleston head coach Chris Mack and added 10 transfer pickups. The additions were made to combat the departure of five double-digit scorers, including former guard Wes Enis, who scored a team-leading 16 points per game last year. With Mack at the helm, the university targeted consistent high-scoring threats. The standout additions include former Toledo point guard Sonny Wilson and Coastal Carolina two-guard AJ Dancler. Averaging 17 points and 4.6 assists last year, Wilson will be the premier initiator for the Bulls this season. His quickness and elite handle will allow him to break down defenses, opening up opportunities for himself as well as others.

Likely backing him is Dancler, who proved to be a perimeter threat that demands attention. Dancler averaged 15.6 points per game, along with 5.5 rebounds in the previous season. His sub-40 % three-point shooting will make him the perfect pairing with Wilson, as the guard routinely looks for open opportunities at the three-point line. The Bulls have also added four double-digit scorers through the portal. Their roster is littered with top-tier talent and more than capable of capturing the American crown for the second year in a row. The Bulls will likely be the conference title favorite, as they possess the fewest weaknesses of any other team. 

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Similar to South Florida, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte possesses a massive amount of potential on paper. Despite posting a sub .500 record last year at 17-17, the 49ers have turned nearly everything around in just one offseason.

Charlotte’s rebuild kicked off with the hiring of former Cincinnati coach Wes Miller. The addition was much needed, as Miller brings a veteran presence and coaching stability necessary to improve the team’s culture. Under his supervision, the university has added eight new players to its roster, including three from Miller’s former school. Among those transfers are high-level talents who will give a new identity to Charlotte men’s basketball.

Guard Dorian Finister, formerly of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, averaged 14.9 points, four rebounds and 1.9 assists for the Ragin’ Cajuns last year. The guard will likely be the number one option for Charlotte, as he is more than capable of heating up for 20-point performances. Former Cincinnati Bearcats guard Jizzle James posted 10 points and two assists in just 21 starts. The experienced guard will be a backcourt safety blanket, as he has had his fair share of experience in high-leverage moments. Forward Dylan Grant signed with the team after a nine-point, four-rebound season with Rutgers University. Grant proved to be a formidable frontcourt player in the Big Ten last year and will undoubtedly see a vast improvement coming into the American.

On paper, the 49ers should be one of the best teams in the conference. The team possesses top-ranked talent and coaching. In a shortened offseason, chemistry and team gelling will be make-or-break for Charlotte this season. 

The University of Memphis

In the previous season, the University of Memphis posted a 13-19 record, including 8-10 in conference play. Inconsistencies and defensive miscues held the team back in its pursuit of a conference title and tournament appearance. The team looked nothing like a conference contender, losing eight of its last nine games to end the season. This year, head coach Penny Hardaway and his Tigers look to turn that narrative around. In the offseason, the Tigers acquired an immense amount of scoring talent to maximize their offensive potential. Losing four key rotation players, Memphis decided to go all in on a score-first system.

The Tigers brought in five key players through the portal. Of the five, junior forward Tylik Weeks stands tall. The former Southern Miss Golden Eagle averaged 19 points, five rebounds and two assists in 34 games last year. Weeks is a bona fide star wing, capable of getting to his spots and scoring on defenders with ease. Paired up with him on the perimeter will be transfer guard Luke Almodovar. The senior averaged 14 points per game at Southeast Missouri State University and gives the Tigers another tall athletic guard who can slash to the basket and finish high at the rim.

The Tigers are loaded offensively, though there are questions as to whether its defense can withstand such a highly skilled conference. Adding a high caliber of offense without a strong focus on the defensive side of the court could hinder Memphis in the long run. The Tigers will need to utilize all of its offensive potential if it is to win back the American. A task Memphis is surely up to. 

Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University has the potential to be a top five team in the conference. Third-year coach John Jakus and his staff have added a plethora of players through the portal, carefully constructing the roster with a dynamic backcourt and experienced wings. The team has always had a steady guard presence, and this year is no different. In bringing back Player of the Year candidate Kanaan Carlyle, who averaged 14 points and three assists last season, the Owls already possess something that most teams do not — an experienced guard familiar with the offensive system. Carlyle ranks among the best point guards in the conference. His ability to deliver in the clutch will make him an immense offensive threat.

His two wings, Jelani Hamilton and Braeden Speed, are the perfect running mates to maximize the Owl’s scoring output. Hamilton, a former Georgia State Panther, averaged nearly 18 points per game while Speed put up 15 points and three assists at Loyola University Maryland. The pairing, plus Carlyle, will make FAU’s backcourt an elite one. Their defensive potential is also incredibly high heading into the season, as the Owls are tall, athletic and extremely versatile. The only concern or hindrance to the team will be an inexperienced frontcourt. The Owls have former University of North Florida forward Josh Harris, along with two freshman transfers to fill their frontcourt positions. Harris is an established player, averaging 13 points per game for the Ospreys. His presence will be much needed for the Owls, as both freshmen transfers are seemingly unproven.

If the Owls can create a solid foundation in their frontcourt, the team will be as deadly as any within the American. 

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