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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VILLANOVA, PA – DECEMBER 05: Shizz Alston Jr. #10 and Quinton Rose #1 of the Temple Owls reacts after an offensive foul in the second half against the Villanova Wildcats at Finneran Pavilion on December 5, 2018 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Temple Owls 69-59. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
VILLANOVA, PA – DECEMBER 05: Shizz Alston Jr. #10 and Quinton Rose #1 of the Temple Owls reacts after an offensive foul in the second half against the Villanova Wildcats at Finneran Pavilion on December 5, 2018 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Temple Owls 69-59. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

4) UCF Knights (19-5, 9-3)
LW: 3

It’s generally accepted that UCF is a quality basketball team, but what have they done to really prove that?

The Knights have not beaten a KenPom top 50 team, yet have suffered disappointing losses to FAU, Missouri, Wichita State, and Memphis.

That resume has put them firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble, and they can’t afford a bad loss the rest of the way.

The good news is that UCF will be given plenty of chances to earn a marquee win over these next three weeks. They still face Houston, Temple, and Cincinnati (twice) coming up, and a win or two over those teams would likely secure their place in the field of 68.

3) Temple Owls (19-7, 9-4)
LW: 5

The Owls are in a great position to make the NCAA Tournament but have struggled recently, losing to Tulsa two weekends ago and needing overtime to beat South Florida last weekend.

Shizz Alston Jr. (18.7 ppg, 5.0 apg) is one of the leading candidates for Player of the Year in the American, and the trio he forms with Quinton Rose and Nate Pierre-Louis is capable of playing with anyone.

The key with Temple – as has been the case all year – is whether or not they can get consistent offensive contributions from their supporting cast.

Like UCF, the Owls are on the bubble and likely need another quality win to secure their place in the Big Dance. That opportunity won’t come until the conference tournament, yet beating UCF in their regular season finale would be huge for their chances.