Busting Brackets
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AAC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2022-23 season

By Holden Walter-Warner

Mar 14, 2021; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Houston Cougars players and coaches celebrate as confetti falls after defeating the Cincinnati Bearcats in the American Athletic Conference tournament final at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ben Ludeman-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2021; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Houston Cougars players and coaches celebrate as confetti falls after defeating the Cincinnati Bearcats in the American Athletic Conference tournament final at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ben Ludeman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tulane Green Wave guard Jalen Cook Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Tulane Green Wave guard Jalen Cook Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /

2116. . . . Green Wave . 4. team

Tulane as a top-four team in the conference? You heard that right – the Green Wave is rolling into town.

The Green Wave finished with an overall losing record season, but that betrays the fact that they finished with a winning record in AAC play and the fifth spot in the conference standings. The team topped Temple en route to the conference tournament semifinals, where they were buzzed by Houston.

Tulane will be trotting out some of the most electric players not only in the conference but in the entire country. Jordan “Jellybean” Walker left for UAB more than a year ago, but Jaylen Forbes and Jalen Cook have done plenty to pick up the slack.

Forbes averaged more than 16 points per game for the second straight season last year. The former Alabama transfer led the conference in minutes per game for the second straight year and led the AAC effective field goal percentage. The three-point shooting ace should be one of the conference’s best.

Louisiana native Cook proved to be another one of the league’s best during his first season after transferring from LSU, averaging 18 points per game while hitting 39.1 percent of his threes. He finished First Team All-AAC and led the conference in usage percentage.

Continuity is going to be big for Tulane. The team returns its top four scorers. In addition to Forbes and Cook, Sion James and Kevin Cross also return. The group combined to average a whopping 55.8 points per game last season.

Calling for a leap by the Green Wave is risky. Ron Hunter hasn’t had a winning season with Tulane in his three years at the helm. In fact, Tulane hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament in the 21st century, last appearing in 1995.

But the time is now for Tulane to finally join the upper echelon of the AAC.