Busting Brackets
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AAC Basketball: Can league get 5 teams into Big Dance for first time ever?

By Daniel Benjamin

WICHITA, KS - MARCH 17: Galen Robinson Jr.#25 of the Houston Cougars drives against Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman #12 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena on March 17, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
WICHITA, KS - MARCH 17: Galen Robinson Jr.#25 of the Houston Cougars drives against Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman #12 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena on March 17, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 08: Justin Jenifer #3 of the Cincinnati Bearcats reacts after a three-point basket in the first half of the game against the Xavier Musketeers at Fifth Third Arena on December 8, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati won 62-47. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 08: Justin Jenifer #3 of the Cincinnati Bearcats reacts after a three-point basket in the first half of the game against the Xavier Musketeers at Fifth Third Arena on December 8, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati won 62-47. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

The AAC has received at least three NCAA Tournament bids three times since the the league took shape in 2013-14. However, the conference could currently be in a position to set a record for the number of Big Dance invites.

The American Athletic Conference is very much underappreciated in the basketball landscape. Yes, it is the seventh-best league in the country, but in comparison to the Power-5 conferences, the league has yet to totally earn respect despite having a national champion in UConn (2013-14).

Since the 2014-15 season, the AAC has had at least four teams win 20 or more games as well as one team ranked in the top-25 of in the AP’s final poll. This includes last season when three teams — No. 6 Cincinnati, No. 16 Wichita State, and No.21 Houston — finished ranked in the top-25 and four teams reached 20 victories while two other squads had 19 wins. In addition, the conference posted a league record 224 wins as eight teams finished the campaign with a winning record.  Yet, they still only managed to get three teams into the NCAA tournament and one team into the NIT.

The AAC has never received more than four NCAA Tournament bids. While there were thoughts that 2018-19 season could be the year of a breakout, it doesn’t seem that way now. Currently, nine of the 12 teams own a winning record. And all but two teams have reached the 10-win mark, although East Carolina needs just one more victory.

Right now, Cincinnati and Houston are the only two programs guaranteed a Tournament berth. The 12th-ranked Cougars (21-1, 8-1) are on a six-game winning streak. Their only loss has been a four-point set back to Temple in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the No. 25 Bearcats (19-3, 8-1) ran their winning streak to seven in a row with a victory 73-69 victory over SMU on Saturday.

Temple (16-6, 6-3) is likely in the “Big Dance” if they don’t collapse while UCF (16-4, 6-2) and USF (15-6, 5-4) still have some work to do. Memphis (13-9, 5-4) is squarely on the bubble.

Overall, the conference owns a 161-97 record through Feb. 5. The 12 teams own a 102- 43 non-conference record, although the league went just 2-8 against teams ranked in the top-25 during the non-league play.