Busting Brackets
Fansided

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. /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 11
Next
Mar 6, 2016; Storrs, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies seniors guard Omar Calhoun (21) and forward Phillip Nolan (0) and forward Nnamdi Amilo (23) along with graduate students guard Sterling Gibbs (4) and forward Shonn Miller (32) pose for a picture with head coach Kevin Ollie before the start of the game against the UCF Knights at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2016; Storrs, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies seniors guard Omar Calhoun (21) and forward Phillip Nolan (0) and forward Nnamdi Amilo (23) along with graduate students guard Sterling Gibbs (4) and forward Shonn Miller (32) pose for a picture with head coach Kevin Ollie before the start of the game against the UCF Knights at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Connecticut Huskies

Perhaps the most underachieving team in the American, UConn was picked to finish second in the AAC preseason poll, but ended up in 6th with an 11-7 record. With a solid non-conference win at Texas, Joe Lunardi pegs UConn as one of the first 4 out as they enter AAC tournament play.

The Huskies landed a number of key offseason commitments. They landed a high profile recruit in Jalen Adams, the 5th ranked point guard in the class of 2015. Further, graduate students Shonn Miller of Cornell and Sterling Gibbs of Seton Hall decided to spend their 5th year of eligibility in Storrs.

Two key contributors from UConn’s 2014 national championship team still remain on the roster. Amida Brimah, a 7-foot junior, is a major presence down low, blocking 2.5 shots per game. Phil Nolan, who played an important role as a big body down low on the 2014 team, comes off the bench in a minor role for this year’s squad.

NC State transfer Rodney Purvis had to sit out the 2013-2014 season as Coach Kevin Ollie‘s “Ferrari in the garage” and watch his teammates take the crown. “The Ferrari” has been on the road for two years now, showing vast improvement in his three point shooting but demonstrates a growing tentativeness in his driving ability.

Sophomore guard/forward combo Daniel Hamilton might be the most versatile player in the AAC. He averages 12 points per game, is 2nd in the league in assists with five per game, and 4th in rebounding at almost nine per game.

Defense is the strong suit of this group of Huskies, ranking 9th in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency ratings. Brimah went down with a broken finger in the middle of December and was forced to miss 11 games.

This forced the rest of the UConn big men to improve their defense. UConn’s depth and length in the backcourt makes their defense very balanced and able to defend most clubs.

Prediction

Quarterfinals Loss to Cincinnati  – Connecticut is 0-2 in the season series against Cincinnati and will move to 0-3 if they can’t make adjustments against the hard-nosed Bearcats. The first loss came at home without Brimah. However, he played in the second loss and Cincy basically led wire to wire, controlling the pace of the game.

The Cincinnati frontcourt has been able to prevent UConn from penetrating the paint. Unless Purvis or Hamilton can find a way to get through the Bearcats defense, Mick Cronin’s squad will essentially eliminate UConn from NCAA Tournament contention.

Next: 4. Houston Cougars