Busting Brackets
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AAC Basketball Tournament: Houston and Cincinnati favored

By Jason Burgess

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 07: (L-R) Fabian White Jr. #35, Dejon Jarreau #13, Nate Hinton #11 and Armoni Brooks #3 of the Houston Cougars look on in the closing moments of the game at Fertitta Center on March 07, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 07: (L-R) Fabian White Jr. #35, Dejon Jarreau #13, Nate Hinton #11 and Armoni Brooks #3 of the Houston Cougars look on in the closing moments of the game at Fertitta Center on March 07, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 16: Jeremiah Martin #3 of the Memphis Tigers looks on in the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during their Gotham Classic game at Madison Square Garden on December 16, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 16: Jeremiah Martin #3 of the Memphis Tigers looks on in the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during their Gotham Classic game at Madison Square Garden on December 16, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Players to watch in the AAC Tournament

JR Armoni Brooks-Houston

2018-19 stats: 13.7 points, 6.5 rebounds

After losing Rob Gray to graduation, there was a question who would step up to replace that kind of production. Brooks is one of those that stepped up. After averaging over nine points per game last season, he is up to 13.7 points per game this year, as well as nearly doubling his rebounding production, from 3.7 last year to 6.5 this year. The 6-foot-3 guard is also efficient shooting the ball all over the floor, shooting better from three (40.7%) than he does overall (40.6%).

JR Jarron Cumberland-Cincinnati

2018-19 stats: 18.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists

Cumberland is third in the conference in scoring with 19.9 points per game, he is 3rd on the team in rebounding, pulling down 4.4 and he also dishes out 3.5 assists per game. Cumberland has been consistent all year long, but since a win over Xavier in early December, he has scored over 20 points in 12 of the Bearcats’ remaining games. In that time, his rebounds and assist production also increased. Cincinnati has a good chance at defending their tournament title, and if they do it will probably be on the back of Cumberland.

JR Aubrey Dawkins-Central Florida

2018-19 stats: 15.4 points, 5.1 rebounds

Dawkins is a 6-foot-6 guard who is an efficient scorer at all three levels for the Knights. He is second on the team in scoring with 15 points* while also grabbing five rebounds per game. He is also efficient at all three levels, shooting 46% from the field, 82% from the line, and 40% from beyond the arc. After coming over from Michigan, Dawkins has excelled in an increased role this season, having recorded double-digit points in all but three games this season.

SR Shizz Alston, Jr.-Temple

2018-19 stats: 19.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.1assists, 1.5 steals

The 6-foot-4 native of Philadelphia is the Owls’ leading scorer with 19.7 points per game and his 5.1 assists are third among the conference teams. Temple enters the AAC tournament fighting for an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament and Alston will need to be a big part of it. He had 12 points, six rebounds, and six assists in their win over Houston, and since losing the return match to Houston, Alston has been a menace to opposing teams, averaging 23.5 points per game.

SR Jeremiah Martin-Memphis

2018-19 stats: 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.2 steals

The AAC tournament is being hosted at FedEx Forum in Memphis and the Tigers could be in for some home cooking led by the Memphis native Martin. His 23.2 points per game lead the AAC and his 4.7 assists per game are 4th-best in the conference. He has attempted and made more field goals than anyone on the team by a large margin and the same can be said for his numbers at the free throw line. The Tigers ended the season winning six of their last eight and Martin took charge over the last eight games, scoring 28.2 points per game.