AAC Basketball: 2021 Conference Tournament preview and predictions

Quentin Grimes – Houston

2020-2021 stats: 17.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.2 SPG

The former Kansas standout has etched a new role in H-Town and has elevated Houston to a consistent Top 10 team this season. He flashed potential in Lawrence but never had a significant role with the Jayhawks in his first and only year with the Jayhawks.

Since transferring to Houston, Grimes is coming off the best season of his collegiate career. He’s shooting nearly 39% from beyond the arc and at 6’5, grabs rebounds at an elite level for a guard.

His defense has also been a main stable, ranking sixth in the conference in defensive rating at 88.1.

Grimes is among the most nationally recognizable names in the conference. For good reason, with  Houston consistently being ranked so highly throughout the season. He has been a huge part of the renovation and can lead the Cougars to their first-ever AAC Tournament Championship.

Jayden Gardner – East Carolina

2020-2021 stats: 18.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.3 APG.

Quite possibly the best overall scorer in the conference, Gardner carries the load for a rather underwhelming Pirates offense.

In this clip, Gardner is able to use his wide and tall frame to bully his way to the basket. It looks like an easy basket but required so much defense to even attempt to limit him.

When it comes to the team scoring as a whole, East Carolina does not get a ton of consistent production after Gardner. The Pirates rank second to last in conference play, with 62.8 points per contest, while shooting an abysmal 27.9% from beyond the arc.

Gardner has had to carry the load for the majority of the season. However, that is not new to the member of the 2019-2020 All-AAC and AAC All-Freshman team. Over the course of three seasons, Gardner has been averaging 18.1 points on 50% shooting from the field. At 6’7 235 lbs., the 6-7 forward from Wake Forest, NC does not get enough national recognition and when hot, can create havoc for opposing defenses.

Kendric Davis – SMU

2020-2021 stats: 17.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 7.6 APG.

The best facilitator in the conference, Davis has elite skills of scoring inside the arc, an excellent free throw shooter, as well as, amazing distributor of the ball. His 7.6 assists per game leads the conference and ranks fourth nationally.

The transfer from TCU had high praise coming into the season, being selected on the American Conference Preseason First-Team. It’s well deserved, with his 6.7 assists last season on shooting 44.9% from the field.

Davis is very undersized at just 5-11, but when SMU is able to play, is extremely effective.

How the tournament will go for SMU is key as they’ve had to deal with the worst layoff of any team in College Basketball.

Moussa Cisse – Memphis

2020-2021 stats: 7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.9 BPG, 54.8% FG%.

A bonafide First Team All-Conference, Cisse is the best shot-blocker in the conference and grabs rebounds at a rapid rate. The clear-cut favorite to win newcomer of the year in the conference leads the conference in blocks and third in total rebounds, with 146 on the season.

The expectation for the program was sky-high just 16 months ago, with James Wisemen entering the program and a ton of pre-season hype. The Tigers have had a bounce-back year in 2020-2021 and Cisse has been a key factor behind the Tigers.

The freshman had a four-game stretch of 10+ rebounds, including 10 in their December 12 game against Auburn. Memphis comes into the AAC Tournament winners of six of their last seven. Cisse is a big reason why the Tigers are playing well at the right time.

Tyson Etienne – Wichita State

2020-2021 stats: 16.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.6 APG

The rise of Wichita State this season doesn’t just come from their head coach. Etienne has elevated his play this season, to the point where Wichita State has performed like one of, if not, the best team in the conference.

The sophomore from Englewood, New Jersey’s production has jumped from his freshman year. After starting for half of the season, he has gotten the green light and has become a lethal scorer, more so from beyond the arc.

He ranks third in the conference, connecting on 39.1% in that area, and has the lowest turnover rate in the conference at just 7%.

Wichita State is a good rebounding team and can get to the free throw line often. However, their go-to specialist in getting a bucket will be Etienne, if they want to win their first AAC Championship.