AAC Basketball: Biggest strengths/weaknesses of each team in 2021-22

Tulane: Rebounding.

The Green Wave rank in the bottom 20% of the nation in all rebounding aspects. Tulane is grabbing just 45.3% of all available caroms. Overall, the Green Wave is getting outrebounded by over six rebounds a game. The Green Wave’s biggest issue is keeping opponents off the offensive glass as they allow almost 12.0 offensive rebounds a game. Meanwhile, they are averaging just 7.3 offensive boards themselves.

Wichita State: Scoring/ Efficiency

The Shockers have just two players in double-figures, led by Travis Etienne, but they rank 255th in the country in offensive efficiency as they average 69.0 points per game. Wichita State has scored over 70 points just five times with two of their three highest-scoring games coming against Alcorn State and Prairie View. WSU ranks 266th in the nation in true shooting percentage (51.6%) and 286th in effective field goal percentage (47,8%) as they average just 1.18 points per shot.

SMU: Inside Scoring/Height

SMU is one of the shortest teams in the conference. The Mustangs’ average height is 6-4 as just four of their 14 players are 6-9 or taller. SMU takes nearly 41% of their shot attempts from beyond the arc and 56.8% of their scoring comes from beyond the arc and the free-throw line. Davis, who is just 5-11, leads the team with 4.1 made 2-pointers while 6-11 forward Tristin Clark is averaging less than seven points a game on just 4.1 field goal attempts.

UCF: Interior Defense

The Knights rank in the top third of the nation in defensive efficiency at 93.1 as they are holding their opponents to under 41% shooting from the field. While UCF has done a fantastic job at defending the 3-point line, they are allowing their opponents to make 52% of their 2-point shots (303rd). The biggest issue for UCF is defending the paint as the Knights are allowing 23 paint points a game or approximately 74.1% of their opponents’ 2-point shots.

Memphis: Turnovers

Memphis likes to play fast, sometimes too fast and careless. The Tigers top the nation with 18.4 turnovers. The Tigers have not turned the ball over fewer than 11 times a game and they have committed 20 or turnovers on four occasions.

Point guard Alex Lomax turns the ball over nearly three times a game in 24 minutes of action while Emoni Bates, Deandre Williams, and Jalen Duren also commit over two turnovers a contest.