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 Tyson Etienne Wichita State Shockers (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
AAC Basketball Tyson Etienne Wichita State Shockers (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

4. Who is the third-best team in the conference?

Watson

Wichita State Head Coach Isaac Brown took over a team in turmoil with just one week to shift the team’s mindset and prepare for the 2020-21 season. Against all odds, the Shockers won the AAC regular season and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. With the interim title now gone, Brown can hopefully pivot from the issues left by his predecessor to developing a program that should be an AAC power for many years to come.

Burgess

Some probably like Wichita State here, but given what they did in the transfer portal, I will take SMU as the third-best team in the conference. The Mustangs return Kendric Davis and add Michael and Marcus Weathers from Texas Southern and Duquesne and Zach Nutall from Sam Houston State.  Former Baylor standout Tristan Clark is also there and the Mustangs can go 10 or 11 deep if Tim Jankovich wants.

Loose

It’s true that Houston and Memphis are who everyone is watching, but look out for UCF too. Teams like Cincinnati and Wichita State are reshuffling their rosters, the Knights bring back their top seven scorers from last year and add a few pieces, including former UNLV big man Cheikh Mbacke Diong.