AAC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 23: Bryan Greenlee #4 and Alijah Martin #15 of the Florida Atlantic Owls celebrate after defeating the Tennessee Volunteers in the Sweet 16 round game of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 23, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

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AAC Basketball Hysier Miller #3 of the Temple Owls (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

After winning the CBI Tournament last year – the program’s first postseason title – Charlotte enters a new conference with a new coach. A learning curve can be expected.

Despite the postseason title, the 49ers had a losing record in conference play and a losing record over Ron Sanchez’s five seasons at the helm. The coach wasn’t forced out, but decided to go become an associate head coach under Tony Bennett at Virginia.

Assistant Aaron Fearne had the interim head coaching job for a week after Sanchez’s departure before being elevated to full-time. While the 49ers are his own collegiate stop, he has a long coaching history in Australia, winning NBL Coach of the Year in 2015.

Several of last year’s CBI champs transferred to bigger programs, including Brice Williams heading to Nebraska. Replacements include center Dishon Jackson from Washington State and forward Dean Reiber from Rutgers.

Scoring should be evenly distributed among Charlotte’s top players. One to look out for is former Missouri State guard Lu’Cye Patterson, who was an All-CUSA Honorable Mention after averaging 10.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game during his first season with the 49ers.

454. . . . Owls . 9. team

After four unfruitful seasons as head coach of his alma mater, Aaron McKie shifted from the bench to a role in Temple’s athletic department. It was an offseason of change for the Owls, a once-proud program that should finish closer to the bottom of the new-look AAC.

Former Penn State associate head coach Adam Fisher takes over for a team that finished .500 last season, failing to meet expectations. This is the Pennsylvania native’s first head coaching job, though his bosses have included some well-respected coaches, including Micah Shrewsberry and Jim Larranaga.

Last year’s team scattered to the wind, seeing the exodus of star guards Khalif Battle and Damian Dunn to Arkansas and Houston, respectively. There’s no way for the Owls to replace that production in 2023-24.

That won’t stop Temple from trying. Philadelphia native Hysier Miller returns to the Owls after flirting with the transfer portal. The full-time starter averaged 8.6 points per game last season and led the team with 3.8 assists per contest.

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