AAC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season

The absence of Houston creates an opportunity for Memphis to seize the AAC crown. A newcomer might make that tricky for Penny Hardaway’s squad.

Last year, the team went 13-5 in AAC play and upset Houston to win their first AAC Tournament trophy. In the NCAA Tournament, they lost to a foe that’s about to become mighty familiar to the Tigers: Florida Atlantic.

Memphis lost a lot from that team, including three key players who ran out of eligibility at long last: Alex Lomax, Kendric Davis and the elderly (by college basketball standards) DeAndre Williams. Hardaway made noise in the transfer portal once again, securing commitments from guards Caleb Mills and Jahvon Quinerly, as well as forward Jordan Brown.

A key part of this team, however, was going to be the recruiting class. It’s the best class in the nation according to multiple outlets, featuring wing Javonte Taylor, point guard Carl Cherenfant, and Penny’s power forward son, Ashton.

But the crown jewel among them was supposed to be viral sensation Mikey Williams, who is instead facing legal trouble before ever suiting up for the Tigers. He’s facing a trial on gun charges and hasn’t been involved with the program due to the outstanding issue. It’s not clear if he’ll ever play for the Tigers at this point.

The unwelcome distraction will hang above the Tigers’ heads until a resolution is reached, one way or another.

Despite being new to the conference, Florida Atlantic starts out the season as the team to beat in the AAC; that’s what happens when you march to the Final Four and return much of that roster. The Owls must beware of the burden of expectations, though.

Guard Michael Forrest’s graduation hurts Dusty May’s team, but that’s the only departure from a team that lost to San Diego State in dramatic fashion in the national semifinals a year ago. Everyone else is still in Boca Raton, looking to see if they can run it back in 2023-24.

Asking another Final Four run of this squad is a lot, but an AAC title should be well within reach. Reigning Conference USA Sixth Player of the Year Johnell Davis was dominant in the NCAA Tournament and should be one of the conference’s best players. Big man Vladislav Goldin was Third Team All-Conference USA as a sophomore, recording a double-double in the team’s NCAA Tournament upset of Kansas State.

And of course there’s Alijah Martin, who averaged 13.4 points per game as a sophomore guard. He’s already one of the top dozen scorers in program history and should continue to score with aplomb in the AAC, as well as grab a handful of rebounds each contest.

The only concern for FAU is whether or not they’ll feel they can coast at times this season, something May is sure to battle against. The Owls’ situation is reminiscent in some ways of North Carolina’s a year ago – fresh off making a big run in the Big Dance and returning much of the roster, everyone expected the Tar Heels to romp back to the Final Four. Instead, they missed the NCAA Tournament entirely.

If Florida Atlantic can handle the heat, they can capture the American title during their first year in the conference.