Busting Brackets
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AAC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

By Ben Andreatta

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 11: The AAC Championship trophy to be presented to the Cincinnati Bearcats after the final game of the 2018 AAC Basketball Championship against Houston Cougars at Amway Center on March 11, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 11: The AAC Championship trophy to be presented to the Cincinnati Bearcats after the final game of the 2018 AAC Basketball Championship against Houston Cougars at Amway Center on March 11, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 20: Head coach Ron Hunter of the Tulane Green Wave (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 20: Head coach Ron Hunter of the Tulane Green Wave (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

. . Green Wave . 11. team. 2116.

Yikes. That’s the word I’d use to describe this off-season for the Tulane Green Wave. The team that was dead last in the AAC this past season lost just about all of their big impact players from last season including TeShaun Hightower.

Hightower made headlines this off-season after being charged with murder for a shooting back in April, Hightower was dismissed from the university immediately and with that, Tulane now returns just one of their top six scorers. The Green Wave will have no seniors this season and will be one of the youngest teams in the country, there’s a lot of inexperience but a lot of chances for some development of the young guys.

Perhaps the lone bright spot for Tulane this offseason is the addition of a few different transfers in Jaylen Forbes and Kevin Cross. Forbes appeared in 30 games this past season for the Crimson Tide but came off the bench. A change of scenery and moving to Tulane should make him a focal point for this team moving forward. There are a lot of believers in him and he should have an immediate positive impact.

Kevin Cross joins the Green Wave as a transfer from Nebraska. Cross appeared in 32 games this past season with the Huskers and made two starts. He should also have a big role in this Tulane team, his presence download and on the glass will be a big boost. The transfer route looks to be a focal point as Tulane also added Gabe Watson and Oton Jankovic from Southern Miss and Vanderbilt.

I still believe in Ron Hunter but he’s got his work cut out for him again this season. For Tulane to not finish last in the AAC would be a solid achievement, this is another culture-changing year for the Green Wave, we’ll see what Hunter can get done on the recruiting trail as he tries to steer the program in the right direction.