News from Knoxville

[EricLA]

Cal, USC, and Oregon State were all ranked at some point this past season, IIRC, and in recent years Arizona State and UCLA have been quite good. It's just that we don't hear a lot about the Pac-10 that makes it seem like there's only one good team in the league. In the AAC, however, after Louisville and Rutgers leave, the next best team will be USF or maybe Temple.

Do we really think Temple is ready to make the next step? I don't recall seeing Tonya landing any recruits of note over the past few years. USF (not that they've landed big time recruits) has done quite well even making it to the semi's of the NIT this past year.

 

[HuskyNan]

Do we really think Temple is ready to make the next step? I don't recall seeing Tonya landing any recruits of note over the past few years. USF (not that they've landed big time recruits) has done quite well even making it to the semi's of the NIT this past year.

That's kind of my point. It's UConn, USF and then maybe Temple? not exactly the Big East. I freely admit I wrote Temple with my heart not my head. SMU could well be the third best AAC team next year.

 

[EricLA]

That's kind of my point. It's UConn, USF and then maybe Temple? not exactly the Big East.

Oh gotcha. I think Memphis could make some noise too. they bring back most of their top scorers and were fairly young last year. SMU unfortunately loses their 2 top performers to graduation so I don't think they will be improved at all. Tulane will be very interesting as their top 3 scorers were all juniors this year. Wouldn't surprise me to see them as the #3 or even #2 team in the conference next year... ECU will be another interesting team - their top 3 players consisted of 2 juniors and 1 sophomore. But Tulsa will be dreadful.

I could see this order - UCONN, Tulane, USF, ECU, then maybe Memphis or Temple... USF loses Orekhova, but brings back their #1 and #3 scorers (both sophomores). Just a very rough analysis based on what they have going into next year.

 

[j66kicker]

Oh gotcha. I think Memphis could make some noise too. they bring back most of their top scorers and were fairly young last year. SMU unfortunately loses their 2 top performers to graduation so I don't think they will be improved at all. Tulane will be very interesting as their top 3 scorers were all juniors this year. Wouldn't surprise me to see them as the #3 or even #2 team in the conference next year... ECU will be another interesting team - their top 3 players consisted of 2 juniors and 1 sophomore. But Tulsa will be dreadful.

I could see this order - UCONN, Tulane, USF, ECU, then maybe Memphis or Temple... USF loses Orekhova, but brings back their #1 and #3 scorers (both sophomores). Just a very rough analysis based on what they have going into next year.

OMG we have to get out of here

 

[Vowelguy]

That's kind of my point. It's UConn, USF and then maybe Temple? not exactly the Big East. I freely admit I wrote Temple with my heart not my head. SMU could well be the third best AAC team next year.

The American will be almost as bad as the Old Dominion-dominated Colonial of the 90s. The Monarchs won a bazillion conference games in a row.

It will be amazing if even one of those teams can make it to the NCAAs.

 

[jdubct]

The American will be almost as bad as the Old Dominion-dominated Colonial of the 90s. The Monarchs won a bazillion conference games in a row.

It will be amazing if even one of those teams can make it to the NCAAs.

True. Rutgers had to go to the NIT. Even the #2 team in the league will have major challenges to make the NCAA tournament next year.