Busting Brackets
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Houston Basketball: Preview of Cougars 2019-20 season

By Ben Andreatta

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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TULSA, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 22: Breaon Brady #24 and Fabian White Jr. #35 of the Houston Cougars celebrate a basket against the Georgia State Panthers during the first half in the first round game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 22, 2019 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
TULSA, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 22: Breaon Brady #24 and Fabian White Jr. #35 of the Houston Cougars celebrate a basket against the Georgia State Panthers during the first half in the first round game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 22, 2019 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

AAC Outlook

Memphis are the team everyone seems to be picking to win the American Athletic Conference this season after one of the most impressive recruiting classes of all time. The number one player in the country James Wiseman is primed to tear this conference up and will be a matchup nightmare for every team. Quite a few talented freshman and returners make the Tigers dangerous. It looks to be a three-horse race with Memphis, Houston, and Cincinnati.

Cincinnati brings in a new head coach with John Brannen but brings back AAC Player of the Year Jarron Cumberland. The Bearcats will pick up where they left off and should reach an impressive 10th consecutive year. With grad transfer, Jaevin Cumberland and the addition of top 50 freshman Zach Harvey the Bearcats are going to be players in the AAC. Houston won both regular-season matchups but fell in the AAC title game. Something I’m sure the returners haven’t forgotten.

Other teams that could be a challenge in the AAC, South Florida. The Bulls have a very intriguing squad with three really good returners including Alexis Yetna, Brian Gregory and company should not be taken lightly. As always Wichita State is going to prove to be a difficult team to deal with and are likely to fly under the radar. A lot of unanswered questions with Wichita as their top two scorers have graduated but Greg Marshall is one of the best coaches in this conference and will have his team ready.