Busting Brackets
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AAC Basketball: 5 key questions and storylines for 2021-22 season

By Tristan Freeman

Ypsi Prep forward Emoni Bates (21) celebrates a play against SPIRE Academy during the second half at Central Academy in Ann Arbor, Saturday, March 13, 2021.
Ypsi Prep forward Emoni Bates (21) celebrates a play against SPIRE Academy during the second half at Central Academy in Ann Arbor, Saturday, March 13, 2021. /
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AAC Basketball Houston Cougars (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
AAC Basketball Houston Cougars (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

3. Has Houston become a top-10 program nationally? If not, what would they need to do to get there?

Watson

My preferred time span for judging a program as a whole might go back further than most, which effectively bumps Houston out of the top 10. If this were limited to the last five years then yes, they are a top 10 program. If we go back 10 or even 20 years, which seems ideal, then they drop down significantly. It’s not what any Houston fan wants to hear, but what they need is time—to sustain this level of success for another five to 10 years.

Burgess

Houston has been the most consistent team in the AAC both offensively and defensively. The Cougars are probably just outside the top-10, but not because of anything they have or can do, more than likely it’s just a result of power-5 schools and conferences being more highly thought of than the AAC, but another trip to the Elite Eight or better will start to open eyes to the Cougars’ consistency.

Loose

You wouldn’t think it, but it’s hard to argue against a team with a Final Four, Sweet Sixteen, and 84 wins in the last three seasons. Houston is undoubtedly the AAC’s best program, but it will probably take another deep postseason run (or two) for most of the nation to realize what Kelvin Sampson has built with the Cougars.