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AAC Basketball Power Rankings: UCF on top as UConn, others rise

ByBrian Rauf|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 15: Christian Vital #1 of the Connecticut Huskies takes the ball down the court in the second half of the game against Syracuse Orange during the 2k Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 15: Christian Vital #1 of the Connecticut Huskies takes the ball down the court in the second half of the game against Syracuse Orange during the 2k Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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HARTFORD, CT – MARCH 11: Head coach Johnny Dawkins of the UCF Knights looks on during the first half against the Southern Methodist Mustangs during the semifinal round of the AAC Basketball Tournament at the XL Center on March 11, 2017 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CT – MARCH 11: Head coach Johnny Dawkins of the UCF Knights looks on during the first half against the Southern Methodist Mustangs during the semifinal round of the AAC Basketball Tournament at the XL Center on March 11, 2017 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

AAC Basketball is stronger than many expected in 2018-19. How do the conference’s 12 teams stack up against each other? Find out in our power rankings.

The AAC was expected to take a step back in 2018-19 given the amount of talent that left the conference but, thanks to some home run coaching hires, the conference has shown off more depth than expected early in the season.

Dan Hurley has turned UConn around in just a few short months and has them looking like one of the most dangerous teams in the conference, while Penny Hardaway has also shown promise at his alma mater of Memphis.

At the same time, several other programs are headed in the wrong direction. Two of the conference’s usual NCAA Tournament contenders, SMU and Wichita State, have gotten off to disappointing 2-3 starts. There’s also Cincinnati who, while good, continue to demonstrate the offensive issues that feel like have plagued the program forever.

There’s still a long way to go this season but, though the first couple of weeks of the season, we’re already starting to see two distinct classes in the American – one featuring NCAA Tournament contenders and one featuring teams that are really going to struggle this year.

So, how do all 12 teams stack up against each other right now? Here’s our first AAC Power Rankings of the season.