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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HARTFORD, CT – JANUARY 25: Bo Zeigler #35 of the South Florida Bulls reacts following a shot in the first half against the Connecticut Huskies during the game at the XL Center on January 25, 2015 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CT – JANUARY 25: Bo Zeigler #35 of the South Florida Bulls reacts following a shot in the first half against the Connecticut Huskies during the game at the XL Center on January 25, 2015 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

First round of the AAC Tournament

No. 8 South Florida vs. No. 9 Connecticut

These two teams split the season series, each team won on their home floor. South Florida won by eight, while Connecticut squeaked out a two-point win. In the first game the Huskies surrendered an eight-point halftime lead and in the rematch, they needed free throws with less than five seconds left to secure the win. Sophomore guard David Collins scored 17 in each of the games for South Florida and UConn went a combined 6-38 from three-point land. I’m not sure holding South Florida to 32% from the field like they did when they won. I think South Florida moves on here. Prediction: South Florida

No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 12 Tulane

The Tulane Green Wave went winless in conference play at 0-18. One of their closest losses was to Memphis where they nearly erased a 15-point halftime deficit, falling 73-69. Jeremiah Martin leads Memphis in scoring with 19.7 per game and the senior guard put up 27 in that game. In the second meeting, Memphis won more comfortably, by 26 and Martin put up 43 more. Tulane will be looking for a league win, but they can’t stop Martin and that win will have to wait until 2019-2020. Prediction: Memphis

No. 7 Tulsa vs. No. 10 SMU

In the lone meeting between these two teams, SMU won by 20 at home. They held a Tulsa team that averages 72 points per game to 57 and the Golden Hurricane to just 35%, ten percentage points lower than their season average. Tulsa’s leading scorers Martins Igbanu and DaQuan Jeffries combined for just 11 points in the game. SMU’s senior guard Jahmal McMurray had 22 and has scored over 20 points in four of his last eight games. But SMU finished the season winning just two games in their last 11 and Tulsa is playing much better, expect the Golden Hurricane to shoot much better and move on. Prediction: Tulsa

No. 6 Wichita State vs. No. 10 East Carolina

Wichita State swept the season series, winning by 16 on the road and 17 at home. ECU shot poorly in both meetings and leading scorer, freshman forward Jayden Gardner scored 16 total points in the two games. For the Shockers, they have the two best players on the floor in my opinion in Markis McDuffie and Samajae Haynes-Jones, the senior duo combined for 55 games in the two games. I think the Shockers beat ECU for the third time and move on to the quarterfinals. Prediction: Wichita State