Busting Brackets
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2017 American Athletic Conference: Five bold predictions for tournament

By Daniel Benjamin

Feb 25, 2017; Hartford, CT, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs guard Shake Milton (1) works the ball against Connecticut Huskies guard Christian Vital (1) in the second half at XL Center. SMU defeated UConn 69-61. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Hartford, CT, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs guard Shake Milton (1) works the ball against Connecticut Huskies guard Christian Vital (1) in the second half at XL Center. SMU defeated UConn 69-61. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 22, 2017; Memphis, TN; Memphis Tigers forward Jimario Rivers (2) battles UCF Knights guard/forward A.J. Davis (left) and center Tacko Fall (middle) and guard/forward Tank Efianayi (0) for a rebound during the first half. Memphis won 70-65. Mandatory Credit: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal via USA TODAY NETWORK
Jan 22, 2017; Memphis, TN; Memphis Tigers forward Jimario Rivers (2) battles UCF Knights guard/forward A.J. Davis (left) and center Tacko Fall (middle) and guard/forward Tank Efianayi (0) for a rebound during the first half. Memphis won 70-65. Mandatory Credit: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal via USA TODAY NETWORK /

3. Tacko Fall  will average a double-double to go along with five block shots for tourney

Tacko Fall has grown so much much in a year and is a major reason why the UCF Knights have 20 wins for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign. The 7’6″ 350-pound sophomore is averaging 11.5 points along with 9.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks while shooting 72.8% from the field. He has recorded 11 double-doubles on the season.

Fall has been very effective against Memphis this season, UCF’s opening tournament opponent. Fall is averaging 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks against the Tigers in 2016-17. He also has been highly efficient, making 12-of-21 shots (57.1%) from the field in the two contests.

Fall, who was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday, set a UCF record with 77 blocks. UCF leads the nation in defensive field goal percentage and is fifth in the country in scoring defense.

Fall should have his way against the Tigers yet again. Memphis has no player remotely close to the mammoth center’s size, but no one else does either. The Tigers biggest players are 6’11” senior Chad Rykhoek and 6’11” Egyptian Karim Sameh Azab. Rykhoek has seen sparse action while Azab has not appeared in a  game this season. That means 6’9″ sophomore sensation Dedric Lawson will be the tallest player on the court most of the time for Memphis.

While my prediction is for the whole tournament there is no guarantee that UCF will get past Memphis in the opening round. The fifth-seeded Tigers and fourth-seeded Knights split their regular season matchups.