AAC basketball: Five teams that can win the 2017 title

Feb 1, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats forward Kyle Washington (24) pulls down a rebound as Tulsa Golden Hurricane guard Sterling Taplin (4) defends during the second half at Donald Reynolds Center. Cincinnati won 57-55. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /

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Feb 8, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats forward Kyle Washington (24) reacts in the second half at Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats won 60-50. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Cincinnati Bearcats

Cincinnati is one of the geographically closest teams to Hartford and that could end up working as an essential home arena throughout the tournament. They finished the season at 27-4 and 16-2 in AAC play. They also have an AP ranking of 18 heading into the AAC Tournament.

The Bearcats split the regular season series with SMU and are a complete team on both ends of the floor. Of the four losses, three were against ranked teams. Three of those losses were on the road, and two were by five or fewer points. They have three wins over ranked opponents and should be able to handle most of the AAC competition.

The Bearcats will matchup with Tulane or Tulsa for the first game, and then UConn, USF, or Houston. No matter who they play in the first two games they have not lost to any of them.

Troy Caupain runs a very organized and efficient offense. With the help of Kyle Washington in the paint and behind the arc, the Bearcats can spread the ball around. They get high percentage shots from all over. They are a smart team that doesn’t give the ball away and forces teams to take bad shots.

Additionally, the Bearcats are one of the best shot-blocking teams in the country. They can gain a lot of confidence by swatting shots early on. With veteran starters with NCAA Tournament experience, they are a dangerous team in the AAC Tournament.