Busting Brackets
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AAC Basketball Power Rankings: Conference shows depth with strength in middle

By Brian Rauf

VILLANOVA, PA - DECEMBER 05: Shizz Alston Jr. #10 of the Temple Owls high fives De'Vondre Perry #22 in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats at Finneran Pavilion on December 5, 2018 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
VILLANOVA, PA - DECEMBER 05: Shizz Alston Jr. #10 of the Temple Owls high fives De'Vondre Perry #22 in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats at Finneran Pavilion on December 5, 2018 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 01: Head coach Penny Hardaway of the Memphis Tigers reacts against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the HoopHall Miami Invitational at American Airlines Arena on December 1, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 01: Head coach Penny Hardaway of the Memphis Tigers reacts against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the HoopHall Miami Invitational at American Airlines Arena on December 1, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

6) Memphis Tigers (16-11, 8-6)
LW: 7

Memphis has been up and down in head coach Penny Hardaway’s first season, but have mostly taken care of business to this point.

UCF is the best team they’ve beaten as they’ve routinely come up short against teams at the top of the standings, but Tigers fans can take some solace in the fact that they’ve only lost to one team (Tulsa) ranked below them on this list.

Hardaway is working with a roster that does not have the talent to compete with the elite teams in the AAC but has done an excellent job of getting the most out of them thanks to his up-tempo, pressing style. This has helped turn Jeremiah Martin into a star, as he has scored over 40 points twice this month.

The future is bright for Memphis and the groundwork for what should be a great season next year has been laid.

5) South Florida Bulls (17-8, 7-6)
LW: 5

South Florida has quietly been one of the better teams in the American and will put themselves in the bubble conversation with another win over one of the teams ranked ahead of them on this list.

They’ll get those chances with Houston and UCF up next on their schedule and, if the Bulls continue to play their tough brand of defense (35th nationally in efficiency), winning one of those games is a very real possibility.

David Collins (15.4 ppg) and LaQuincy Rideau (13.8 ppg, 5.7 apg) largely determine how well USF plays. If they’re scoring at a high level offensively, the Bulls are tough to beat. However, if they’re off, South Florida is lucky to break 60.

The good news for the Bulls is that TJ Lang is the only rotation player they’re guaranteed to lose next year. South Florida could be a team to watch out for in 2020.