Busting Brackets
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AAC Basketball: Tournament preview and predictions

By Steven Massucci

Mar 15, 2015; Hartford, CT, USA; The Southern Methodist Mustangs celebrate after defeating the Connecticut Huskies during the final round of the American Conference Tournament at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports at XL Center.
Mar 15, 2015; Hartford, CT, USA; The Southern Methodist Mustangs celebrate after defeating the Connecticut Huskies during the final round of the American Conference Tournament at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports at XL Center. /
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Mar 6, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Mick Cronin reacts from the bench against the Southern Methodist Mustangs in the first half at Fifth Third Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Mick Cronin reacts from the bench against the Southern Methodist Mustangs in the first half at Fifth Third Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

With multiple teams squarely on the bubble, the AAC basketball tournament promises to feature a number of hotly contested games. 

Defending champ SMU may have entered as the prohibitive favorites to repeat as American Athletic Conference champs. However, the NCAA levied a ban on postseason play for the program in September due to academic violations.

Despite this, the 2016 American Conference tournament promises to be hard fought and very dramatic. Four teams have more work to do to strengthen their tournament resume and secure a spot in the Big Dance. Tulsa, UConn, Cincinnati, and Temple all will be extremely nervous on Selection Sunday if they can’t lock down an automatic bid by taking the tournament crown.

This will lead to some tightly contested contest with some talented and experienced teams leaving it all on the court. ESPN’s Myron Metcalf put it perfectly by comparing the AAC tournament to the popular TV show Survivor.

The first of such matchups, between No. 5 UConn and No. 4 Cincinnati, will be played on Friday at 2 p.m. This is essentially an elimination game. Many believe that the winner will be all but locked into the tournament field while the loser will be out of consideration altogether.

No. 6 Memphis could also spoil the season for the country’s most senior-laden group in Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane try to avenge a recent loss to Memphis by 10. Another loss to Memphis likely will signify the end of the season for Tulsa.

Looking to crash the entire party, the red hot Houston Cougars enter the tournament as a two seed and 9-2 in their last 11 games. Their play as of late has Kelvin Sampson’s team believing that they can run the table and sneak into the NCAA tournament.

Next: 10. Tulane Green Wave