Bracketology 2021: Texas, Tulsa, and Clemson among biggest winners

Tulsa Golden Hurricanes

Though they weren’t exactly a force in the conference, the departure of Connecticut from the AAC does change the dynamic of the conference. In recent seasons, Cincinnati and Houston have been the driving force in the league, while programs like Wichita State and SMU have also played a significant role in the AAC standings. However, there’s another team with intrigue to consider.

They certainly weren’t on anyone’s radar in building their bracket, but Tulsa picked up a pair of solid wins to help build that resume this week. First, they knocked off #5 Houston, giving the Cougars their first loss of the season right before the New Year. Then, Brandon Rachal delivered his second 20-point performance of the week as the Golden Hurricane went to Cincinnati and departed with a 4-point victory.

Tulsa’s start to the season is working against them, as a 1-3 stretch included losses to Tulsa, South Carolina, and Wichita State. They sit at just 66th in the NET rankings and have a lot of work ahead of them, but their performance this past week is the best start they could have had. If they can go on another run in conference play, like last season, then this Tulsa team can actually make some noise and get themselves onto the brackets in the coming weeks.

That being said, there aren’t the same amount of opportunities to prove themselves in the AAC as there are in a league like the Big Ten or Big 12. Tulsa needs to keep winning games and to avoid losing to some of the weak conference teams, or they can kiss their chances at an at-large bid goodbye.