Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: Ranking the top 8 conferences for 2018-19

By Adam Childs

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers cuts down the net after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 71-63 during the championship game of the 2018 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 10, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers cuts down the net after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 71-63 during the championship game of the 2018 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 10, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 16: Jarron Cumberland #34 of the Cincinnati Bearcats drives to the basket against Malik Benlevi #2 of the Georgia State Panthers during the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 16: Jarron Cumberland #34 of the Cincinnati Bearcats drives to the basket against Malik Benlevi #2 of the Georgia State Panthers during the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

6. American Athletic Conference

2017 Tournament Teams – (3) Cincinnati, Houston, Wichita State

The American conference had a good overall year last year sending three teams to the big dance and nearly getting two into the Sweet 16. Wichita State was a big disappointment in losing to Marshall in the first round in a shocking upset. Cincinnati blew a huge lead in losing to Nevada and Houston would have knocked off eventual national runner-up Michigan had it not been for a long buzzing beating three-pointer.

Despite the crushing losses in the tournament this conference performed well throughout the year and showed they could compete on the national level. Tulsa looks to be improving and Memphis just hired Penny Hardaway as their new coach and the excitement is building there. Wichita State lost a lot of talent, but the rest of the conference could make up for their down year.

This conference looks like it could be very competitive at the top and they are going to be teams that will not be an easy out come tournament time. Cincinnati should continue to be very good and Houston showed a lot at the end of last season and into the tournament. Kelvin Sampson has that team headed in the right direction.

Look for this conference to continue to improve with Cincinnati, Houston and maybe Memphis climbing into the polls throughout the year.

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