Memphis Basketball: Overall impact of James Wiseman leaving to go pro

PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 12: James Wiseman #32 of the Memphis Tigers walks up court during the first half of the game against the Oregon Ducks between the Oregon Ducks and Memphis Grizzlies at Moda Center on November 12, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

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ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 10: Jarron Cumberland #34 of the Cincinnati Bearcats (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Does this change the entire AAC landscape for the year?

It has been an up and down year so far for the American Athletic Conference. After finishing 6th in Conference RPI last season, they are now down to 8th. Last year’s cream of the crop, Houston and Cincinnati have both struggled out of the gate. There has been lots of turnover in the league as well. Mick Cronin moved out west. Tacko Fall and Aubrey Dawkins graduated for UCF. Shizz Alston and DaQuan Jeffries departed after starring for Temple and Tulsa respectively.

Despite that, youth was ready to take over the conference. Houston got former 5-star recruit Quentin Grimes from Kansas, Wichita State’s extremely young roster from the year prior had gained experience, Dan Hurley’s recruiting was making an impact for UConn. However, most importantly, Memphis had drawn the nation’s top recruiting class led by the #1 overall player in Wiseman.

With the departure of Wiseman, the AAC loses its biggest name in a down year for the league. It is certainly a blow for a conference with a ton of pride and previous success. They lack high-end players and high-end teams in a year that seems to be devoid of it across the nation. Memphis with Wiseman was an opportunity for a truly elite roster to come out of the American this year, and that hope seems to be diminished after Thursday’s news.

Next. AAC power rankings. dark

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has only Memphis and Wichita State dancing in his most recent Bracketology, and Wichita State barely makes the field. Teams like Houston and Cincinnati can still play their way in, but playing a Memphis team without Wiseman doesn’t look as good on a resume as playing against the 7’1 Center. The AAC will be fine, but it certainly is a missed opportunity with James Wiseman leaving Memphis.