The AAC is dominating the ESPN airwaves today, with the Game of the Week being North Texas at #22 Florida Atlantic
North Texas (12-6, 5-1) at #22 Florida Atlantic (16-4, 6-1); 1pm (espn2)
SMU (13-6, 4-2) at Wichita State (8-11, 0-6); 3pm (espn2)
#19 Memphis (15-4, 4-2) at UAB (12-7, 4-2); 5pm (ESPN)
Temple (8-12, 1-6) at East Carolina (10-10, 3-4); 5pm (espn2)
Here are my updated rankings headed into today's game:
NCAA Tournament Bound
1. Florida Atlantic (16-4, 6-1); NET: #27 - Owls have now won 5 in a row, and have won 24 of their last 25 home games; Guard Johnell Davis is averaging 19.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 3.7 apg in conference play
2. Memphis (15-4, 4-2); NET: #59 - Tigers have lost 2 in a row by a combined 3 points, and have had to sit around and think about with their last win coming on two weeks ago. Memphis needs to right the ship today at a good UAB team, before fattening up Rice, Wichita State and Temple (on the road)
On the Bubble
3. North Texas (12-6, 5-1); NET: #71 - the Mean Green's win at home against SMU was much needed as their 4 other conference wins were against teams with a combined conference record of 7-21. The Mean Green only allow 59.4 ppg (4th in DI) and can validate their position near the top of the AAC with a win at #22 FAU on Sunday
4. SMU (13-6, 4-2); NET: #33 - The Mustang's NET ranking remained virtually the same despite blowing out Tulsa and losing at North Texas; a late February stretch of games against Memphis, at FAU and at USF - a combined 16-4 in conference - will likely determine their post season fate
NIT Bound
5. Charlotte (13-7, 7-1); NET: #95 - the 49ers play with a slow tempo, averaging 65.3 possessions per game (356th in DI); Charlotte likely isn't going to fade from the conference race as only 3 of their last 10 games are against teams with a winning conference record (at Memphis and home/away against USF), and a record of 20-10 and 14-4 may be good enough to challenge for the regular season title
Post Season Possible
6. South Florida (13-5, 6-1); NET: #116 - Bulls have won 11 of their last 12 and would be ranked higher, but outside of their win at Memphis their other 5 conference wins are against the bottom four teams in the conference, who are a combined 4-24 in conference play; upcoming games against North Texas (road) and Charlotte (home) should be a good barometer of how improved USF really is
7. Tulane (12-8, 3-5); NET: #117 - Green Wave, losers of 5 of their last 7, would likely be higher in the rankings if they could win close games, but 3 of their 5 conferences losses have come by a combined 6 points; with 5 games left against the top 4 teams in the conference Tulane could dramatically lower their NET if they can get hot
8. UAB (12-7, 4-2); NET: #148 - the Blazers have a great opportunity to surge up the rankings with their next two home games are against #19 Memphis and #22 Florida Atlantic with tough road games against SMU and North Texas sandwiched in between
Second Division
9. Tulsa (11-8, 2-5); NET: #179 - Golden Hurricane have won 2 of their last 3, and can get their 3rd win Wednesday at home against Wichita State, then have a 5 game stretch against teams with a combined record of 29-5 in conference
10. East Carolina (10-10, 3-4); NET: #188 - Pirates can get to .500 in conference with a win at home against Temple on Sunday; 5 of East Carolina's 10 losses have been by 5 points are less - they won't be pushovers
11. Wichita State (8-11, 0-6); NET: #160 - The Shockers' 7-1 start to the season is a distant memory
12. UTSA (8-13, 2-6): NET: #279 - The Road Runners have allowed 85.0 ppg - second worst in DI
13. Rice (7-13, 1-6); NET: # 248 - Owls have had a 2nd half lead in 3 of their 6 conference losses
14. Temple (8-12, 1-6); NET: #246 - Owls are shooting 37.4% from the field - 4th worst in DI
All Conference First Team
David Jones, Mem (F) - Player of the Year
Kevin Cross (F) - Tulane
PJ Haggerty, Tulsa (G)
Johnell Davis, FAU (G)
Jason Edwards, North Texas (G) - moved up
All Conference Second Team
RJ Felton, East Carolina (G) - moved down
Max Fiedler, Rice (F)
Hysier Miller, Temple (G)
Vladislav Goldin, FAU (C)
Travis Eeve, Rice (G) - moved up
All Conference Third Team
Colby Rogers, Wichita State (G)
Jaylen Forbes, Tulane (G)
Zhuric Phelps, SMU (G) - moved up
Eric Gaines, UAB (G)
Selton Miguel, USF (G)
North Texas (12-6, 5-1) at #22 Florida Atlantic (16-4, 6-1); 1pm (espn2)
SMU (13-6, 4-2) at Wichita State (8-11, 0-6); 3pm (espn2)
#19 Memphis (15-4, 4-2) at UAB (12-7, 4-2); 5pm (ESPN)
Temple (8-12, 1-6) at East Carolina (10-10, 3-4); 5pm (espn2)
Here are my updated rankings headed into today's game:
NCAA Tournament Bound
1. Florida Atlantic (16-4, 6-1); NET: #27 - Owls have now won 5 in a row, and have won 24 of their last 25 home games; Guard Johnell Davis is averaging 19.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 3.7 apg in conference play
2. Memphis (15-4, 4-2); NET: #59 - Tigers have lost 2 in a row by a combined 3 points, and have had to sit around and think about with their last win coming on two weeks ago. Memphis needs to right the ship today at a good UAB team, before fattening up Rice, Wichita State and Temple (on the road)
On the Bubble
3. North Texas (12-6, 5-1); NET: #71 - the Mean Green's win at home against SMU was much needed as their 4 other conference wins were against teams with a combined conference record of 7-21. The Mean Green only allow 59.4 ppg (4th in DI) and can validate their position near the top of the AAC with a win at #22 FAU on Sunday
4. SMU (13-6, 4-2); NET: #33 - The Mustang's NET ranking remained virtually the same despite blowing out Tulsa and losing at North Texas; a late February stretch of games against Memphis, at FAU and at USF - a combined 16-4 in conference - will likely determine their post season fate
NIT Bound
5. Charlotte (13-7, 7-1); NET: #95 - the 49ers play with a slow tempo, averaging 65.3 possessions per game (356th in DI); Charlotte likely isn't going to fade from the conference race as only 3 of their last 10 games are against teams with a winning conference record (at Memphis and home/away against USF), and a record of 20-10 and 14-4 may be good enough to challenge for the regular season title
Post Season Possible
6. South Florida (13-5, 6-1); NET: #116 - Bulls have won 11 of their last 12 and would be ranked higher, but outside of their win at Memphis their other 5 conference wins are against the bottom four teams in the conference, who are a combined 4-24 in conference play; upcoming games against North Texas (road) and Charlotte (home) should be a good barometer of how improved USF really is
7. Tulane (12-8, 3-5); NET: #117 - Green Wave, losers of 5 of their last 7, would likely be higher in the rankings if they could win close games, but 3 of their 5 conferences losses have come by a combined 6 points; with 5 games left against the top 4 teams in the conference Tulane could dramatically lower their NET if they can get hot
8. UAB (12-7, 4-2); NET: #148 - the Blazers have a great opportunity to surge up the rankings with their next two home games are against #19 Memphis and #22 Florida Atlantic with tough road games against SMU and North Texas sandwiched in between
Second Division
9. Tulsa (11-8, 2-5); NET: #179 - Golden Hurricane have won 2 of their last 3, and can get their 3rd win Wednesday at home against Wichita State, then have a 5 game stretch against teams with a combined record of 29-5 in conference
10. East Carolina (10-10, 3-4); NET: #188 - Pirates can get to .500 in conference with a win at home against Temple on Sunday; 5 of East Carolina's 10 losses have been by 5 points are less - they won't be pushovers
11. Wichita State (8-11, 0-6); NET: #160 - The Shockers' 7-1 start to the season is a distant memory
12. UTSA (8-13, 2-6): NET: #279 - The Road Runners have allowed 85.0 ppg - second worst in DI
13. Rice (7-13, 1-6); NET: # 248 - Owls have had a 2nd half lead in 3 of their 6 conference losses
14. Temple (8-12, 1-6); NET: #246 - Owls are shooting 37.4% from the field - 4th worst in DI
All Conference First Team
David Jones, Mem (F) - Player of the Year
Kevin Cross (F) - Tulane
PJ Haggerty, Tulsa (G)
Johnell Davis, FAU (G)
Jason Edwards, North Texas (G) - moved up
All Conference Second Team
RJ Felton, East Carolina (G) - moved down
Max Fiedler, Rice (F)
Hysier Miller, Temple (G)
Vladislav Goldin, FAU (C)
Travis Eeve, Rice (G) - moved up
All Conference Third Team
Colby Rogers, Wichita State (G)
Jaylen Forbes, Tulane (G)
Zhuric Phelps, SMU (G) - moved up
Eric Gaines, UAB (G)
Selton Miguel, USF (G)
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