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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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Jan 31, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Central Florida Knights center Tacko Fall (24) and forward Tanksley Efianayi (13) block out Connecticut Huskies forward Phillip Nolan (middle) during the second half at CFE Federal Credit Union Arena. The Connecticut Huskies won 67-41. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Central Florida Knights center Tacko Fall (24) and forward Tanksley Efianayi (13) block out Connecticut Huskies forward Phillip Nolan (middle) during the second half at CFE Federal Credit Union Arena. The Connecticut Huskies won 67-41. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Central Florida Knights

7th place in the American Conference went to the Knights, who finished the season with a 6-12 record. UCF didn’t post any surprising wins this year, amassing their win total solely against the bottom three of the conference.

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UCF assuredly has the best named player of the tournament in Tacko Fall. Standing at 7’6,” the Senegalese freshman might also be the most enticing player to watch. He’s been getting more comfortable and in better basketball shape as the season has progressed.

In his last three regular season games, he’s averaged 28 minutes, 14 points, and 11 rebounds per game. Fall leads the conference in blocked shots with 2.4 per game and field goal percentage at 75%. Fall has almost surely caught the eye of many pro scouts and will hear his name called at a future NBA Draft if he can keep improving.

Sophomore AJ Davis is a versatile forward who averages 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists per game. Justin McBride rounds out the UCF frontcourt. McBride is a big man in the truest sense at 6’10” and 325 pounds. His size limits his ability to log many minutes, but when he is in, he’s effective.

Senior guard Daiquan Walker controls the UCF backcourt, averaging 4 assists per game. Talented sophomore Adonys Henriquez and junior Matt Williams add further scoring output from this balanced Knights team.

Prediction 

1st Round Win vs. Tulane – Playing this AAC tournament in their home city of Orlando, UCF should move to 3-0 on the season series against Tulane. Their talented big men, again, will prove to be too much for the thin Green Wave frontcourt.

Quaterfinals Loss to Houston – The Achilles heel of the Knights are fast paced teams that are able to get out and run in transition. The UCF centers are just not limber enough to keep up with quicker teams. Houston demonstrated this, sweeping the season series with UCF by 24 and 27 points. The future is bright for UCF, but their 2016 campaign ends at the hands of the red hot Cougars.

Next: 6. Memphis Tigers