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AAC Basketball: 5 key storylines to watch this 2023 offseason

By Jason Burgess

Mar 12, 2023; Fort Worth, TX, USA; A view of the American Athletic Conference Tournament logo during the game between the Houston Cougars and the Memphis Tigers at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2023; Fort Worth, TX, USA; A view of the American Athletic Conference Tournament logo during the game between the Houston Cougars and the Memphis Tigers at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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AAC Basketball
AAC Basketball Memphis Tigers forward Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu (5) blocks a shot by Tulane Green Wave forward Tylan Pope Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

AAC Basketball’s flagship program, Houston, has built a national brand over the last half of a decade or so. Kelvin Sampson’s team has amassed multiple 30-win seasons, and NCAA Tournament appearances, and this past season earned a No. 1 seed. With few exceptions, it has been the Memphis Tigers that have been trying to chase down the Cougars, but Houston now leaves the American for the Big 12 along with league brethren Cincinnati and Central Florida.

The league will have a whole new look in 2023-24 as it welcomes six new members to replace the departed and expands to 14 teams for the coming year. A whole lot of questions about the league and what it is going to look like moving forward abound as we head into the summer. With Houston gone, the league certainly becomes more wide open, with any number of teams able to make a case for being the top team in the conference.

Despite Houston’s strength, the conference hasn’t had much March success outside of the Cougars. Memphis was the only other team from the league to make the tournament this past season, and they were only a No. 8 seed who lost to Florida Atlantic in the first round. In fact, no member of the conference besides Houston has made the Sweet Sixteen since the UConn Huskies took home the title in 2014.

With so many changes to the league this coming year, there are plenty of things to consider when examining the new-look AAC. Here are five key offseason storylines for the American.