Busting Brackets
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AAC Basketball: The conference runs through UConn and Cincinnati

By Carmine Carcieri

Mar 13, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Kevin Ollie cuts the net defeated the Memphis Tigers 72-58 to win the AAC Conference tournament at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Kevin Ollie cuts the net defeated the Memphis Tigers 72-58 to win the AAC Conference tournament at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 13, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; The Connecticut Huskies celebrate after winning the AAC Conference tournament over the Memphis Tigers 72-58 at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; The Connecticut Huskies celebrate after winning the AAC Conference tournament over the Memphis Tigers 72-58 at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Over the next few weeks, we will preview the best conferences heading into the 2016-17 season. Let’s continue with AAC basketball.

The SMU Mustangs were the best team in the AAC last season, but the team was unable to participate in March Madness due to the NCAA implementing a postseason ban on their program.

A year later, head coach Larry Brown has dashed from Texas after rejecting a short term contract extension and AAC Player of the Year Nic Moore graduated in May. This means that new head coach Tim Jankovich will be leading a mostly unproven roster that is not expected to compete for the league’s regular season and conference tournament titles.

Even though the Mustangs have fallen off a bit, the AAC still maintains two potential top-25 programs in UConn and Cincinnati.

And more importantly, the league looks deeper than it has been in years past.

Houston returns good chunk of their roster. Memphis could have the league’s Player of the Year in Dedric Lawson and now have an elite coach in Tubby Smith. SMU has a breakout candidate at point guard. Temple has been decimated by injuries but will still be competitive under Fran Dunphy. Tulsa brings in a brand new core but Pat Birt is still in the fold. Even USF will be better because of the presences of Penn State transfer Geno Thorpe and leading scorer Jahmal McMurray.

While the AAC lacks the sizzle to make them a major storyline nationally, they still possess enough intrigue for college basketball fanatics to get excited about.