AAC Basketball: 2024 conference tournament preview and predictions
Key Players
F David Jones, Memphis (Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 21.7 ppg, 7.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists
David Jones is the best player in the AAC. His 21.7 points per game is one of the best scoring averages in the nation and he's also a strong shooter and rebounder. He's got 10 double-doubles and is a finalist for the 2024 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. This will likely be Jones' last go-around at the college level and the best way he can ensure it ends in the NCAA Tournament is by carrying the Tigers to the conference tournament title.
F Kevin Cross, Tulane (Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 17.8 ppg, 7.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists
Kevin Cross is arguably the best all-around player in the conference, able to contribute to every facet of the game. He doesn't need to score a ridiculous amount of points to contribute, though he sometimes does anyway (see: Tulane's regular season finale). Cross can be a bit turnover-prone, but his other contributions make it easy to look past that. The Green Wave has been a big disappointment this year, but Cross and Jaylen Forbes still make Tulane dangerous in the tournament.
G Johnell Davis, Florida Atlantic (Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 18.2 ppg, 6.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists
The return of most of last year's Final Four core is what led to outsized expectations for Florida Atlantic as they transitioned to the AAC. Johnell Davis is one of the key players back from that squad. He's averaging 18.2 points per game, is one of the conference's top players in a number of categories, and has consistently popped up on Wooden Award watchlists. FAU's march to another big month starts with Davis and his microwave-scoring capabilities.
F Igor Milicic Jr., Charlotte (Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 13.0 ppg, 8.2 rebounds, 1.1 blocks
Croatian big man Igor Milicic Jr. is making his presence felt in his second season at Charlotte after transferring from Virginia. The 6-foot-10 forward regularly flirts with double-doubles, averaging 13 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while also blocking a shot per contest. He's a major reason for Charlotte's surprise leap to the top of the conference.