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 16, 2016; Dayton, OH, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane head coach Frank Haith looks on during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines in the First Four of the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament at Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2016; Dayton, OH, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane head coach Frank Haith looks on during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines in the First Four of the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament at Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Tulsa Golden Hurricane

2015-16 record: 20-11 overall, 12-6 AAC, lost in NCAA Tournament First Four

Head coach: Frank Haith

Key returning players: Pat Birt, Sterling Taplin

Newcomers: Three-star SF Travis Atson, three-star C Martin Igbanu, non-ranked SG Lawson Korita, non-ranked C Will Magnay, non-ranked SG Joseph Battle, JUCO SG Jaleel Wheeler, JUCO PF Geno Artison, JUCO SG Corey Henderson Jr., Rutgers transfer F Junior Etou

Tulsa had EIGHT seniors on their roster last season, including James Woodard and Shaquille Harrison (the team’s two best players).

Related Story: Mike Dunleavy Sr., Johnny Dawkins big hires for AAC

They will be an awfully young team in 2016-17 and it will likely take them a majority of the season to gell together as a group.

The best returnee is senior guard Pat Birt, who averaged 12.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season. He was the team’s third leading scorer even though his shooting percentages dropped mightily from his first season at UIC.

Birt will likely average close to 18 points a game this year and will have the ball in hands the majority of the time on the offensive end of the floor.

Tulsa doesn’t bring in an excellent recruiting class, but they do add two three-star talents, 6’5″ Travis Atson and undersized center Martin Igbanu. Both players will contribute large minutes that otherwise wouldn’t have been expected of them if eight seniors didn’t depart from the team.

The biggest addition though is former Rutgers big man Junior Etou. The 6’7″ forward desperately needs to improve his efficiency, but he is a solid rebounder and a decent scorer in the paint. He should compliment Birt nicely in the starting lineup, possibly creating a pick-and-roll combo.

Finally, head coach Frank Haith did a nice job of filling out the roster with experienced junior college prospects. Jaleel Wheeler averaged 22.3 points a game last year, Geno Artison is a solid interior scorer and rebounder, and Corey Henderson Jr. played one season at Wichita State before one year of junior college.