2021-22 Basketball happenings around the American Athletic!

[WuShock Reaper]

AAC Basketball: Top 10 impact transfers heading into 2021-22 season - FanSided Sports

https://bustingbrackets.com/2021/08/31/aac-basketball-top-10-impact-transfers-heading-2021-22-season/

by Matt Melton
08/31/21, 5:50pm CST

"The AAC as a whole had success during both the 2020-21 regular season and postseason. After Wichita State took home the regular-season crown with an 11-2 record in conference play, the postseason was dominated by the Houston Cougars who won the 2021 AAC Tournament and rode that success all the way to the Final Four.

Fast forward to the offseason, and while multiple teams saw some roster turnover due to players leaving for the NBA and transfers, the news has been dominated recently by Memphis. Not only did the Tigers have success in the Transfer Portal, but they’ve obviously dominated college basketball news recently with the additions of top-rated freshmen Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren.

When it comes to solely the incoming transfers for the conference, was Memphis still the clear winner? As you’ll see, multiple AAC teams had success in the Transfer Portal this offseason and may be some of the favorites to challenge the Tigers for the 2021-22 AAC Basketball crown.

As we inch closer to tip-off for the 2021-22 season, here are the top 10 AAC.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
HM. F Taze Moore – Houston Cougars
HM. G Javon Greene – South Florida Bulls
HM. G Sam Griffin – Tulsa Golden Hurricane
HM. G Tyler Harris – Memphis Tigers
HM. F Vance Jackson – East Carolina Pirates
HM. F Josh Carlton – Houston Cougars
HM. F Tristan Clark – SMU Mustangs

Other Notables:
G Jake Boggs – South Florida Bulls
F Sam Hines – South Florida Bulls
F Ody Oguama – Cincinnati Bearcats
F Jalyn McCreary – South Florida Bulls
G John Newman III – Cincinatti Bearcats
F Chandler Lawson – Memphis Tigers

10. F Cheikh Mbacke Diong – UCF Knights (Previous School: UNLV)
9. F Jeriah Horne – Tulsa Golden Hurricane (Previous School: Colorado)
8. F Abdul Ado – Cincinnati Bearcats (Previous School: Mississippi State)
7. G Kyler Edwards – Houston Cougars (Previous School: Texas Tech)
6. G Wynston Tabbs – East Carolina Pirates (Previous School: Boston College)
5. G DeVon Baker – Tulane Green Wave (Previous School: UNC-Asheville)
4. G Michael Weathers – SMU Mustangs (Previous School: Texas Southern)
3. F Earl Timberlake – Memphis Tigers (Previous School: Miami (FL))
2. F Marcus Weathers – SMU Mustangs (Previous School: Duquesne)
1. G Zach Nutall – SMU Mustangs (Previous School: Sam Houston State)..."

[Onegreatracer]

AAC Basketball: Top 10 impact transfers heading into 2021-22 season - FanSided Sports

https://bustingbrackets.com/2021/08/31/aac-basketball-top-10-impact-transfers-heading-2021-22-season/

by Matt Melton
..."

Joe Pleasant not on the list very much surprises me.

[TheShocktocles]

Joe Pleasant not on the list very much surprises me.

Who is Joe Plesant? He didn't even make Honorable Mention .or Other Notables. Joe and Shocker fans must learn to accept the opinions of sports writers that are not WSU cheerleaders. Matt Meltom knows basketball and we must bow down to his wisdom.

[SB Shock]

Memphis is out-recruiting the blue bloods. They hired Larry Brown. How long until some of the blue bloods get tired of losing their recruiting targets, and ask for a little "assistance" from the NCAA to limit Memphis' ability to recruit?

They are not going to need any assistance from the NCAA. They just need to up their game in the NIL field. Memphis is paying $1 million per year for their top tier recruits. Blue bloods can and will do better in the future.

[MikeKennedyRulZ]

AAC Basketball: Top 10 impact transfers heading into 2021-22 season - FanSided Sports

https://bustingbrackets.com/2021/08/31/aac-basketball-top-10-impact-transfers-heading-2021-22-season/

by Matt Melton
08/31/21, 5:50pm CST

"The AAC as a whole had success during both the 2020-21 regular season and postseason. After Wichita State took home the regular-season crown with an 11-2 record in conference play, the postseason was dominated by the Houston Cougars who won the 2021 AAC Tournament and rode that success all the way to the Final Four.

Fast forward to the offseason, and while multiple teams saw some roster turnover due to players leaving for the NBA and transfers, the news has been dominated recently by Memphis. Not only did the Tigers have success in the Transfer Portal, but they’ve obviously dominated college basketball news recently with the additions of top-rated freshmen Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren.

When it comes to solely the incoming transfers for the conference, was Memphis still the clear winner? As you’ll see, multiple AAC teams had success in the Transfer Portal this offseason and may be some of the favorites to challenge the Tigers for the 2021-22 AAC Basketball crown.

As we inch closer to tip-off for the 2021-22 season, here are the top 10 AAC.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
HM. F Taze Moore – Houston Cougars
HM. G Javon Greene – South Florida Bulls
HM. G Sam Griffin – Tulsa Golden Hurricane
HM. G Tyler Harris – Memphis Tigers
HM. F Vance Jackson – East Carolina Pirates
HM. F Josh Carlton – Houston Cougars
HM. F Tristan Clark – SMU Mustangs

Other Notables:
G Jake Boggs – South Florida Bulls
F Sam Hines – South Florida Bulls
F Ody Oguama – Cincinnati Bearcats
F Jalyn McCreary – South Florida Bulls
G John Newman III – Cincinatti Bearcats
F Chandler Lawson – Memphis Tigers

10. F Cheikh Mbacke Diong – UCF Knights (Previous School: UNLV)
9. F Jeriah Horne – Tulsa Golden Hurricane (Previous School: Colorado)
8. F Abdul Ado – Cincinnati Bearcats (Previous School: Mississippi State)
7. G Kyler Edwards – Houston Cougars (Previous School: Texas Tech)
6. G Wynston Tabbs – East Carolina Pirates (Previous School: Boston College)
5. G DeVon Baker – Tulane Green Wave (Previous School: UNC-Asheville)
4. G Michael Weathers – SMU Mustangs (Previous School: Texas Southern)
3. F Earl Timberlake – Memphis Tigers (Previous School: Miami (FL))
2. F Marcus Weathers – SMU Mustangs (Previous School: Duquesne)
1. G Zach Nutall – SMU Mustangs (Previous School: Sam Houston State)..."

Dang. What complete BS!

[TheShocktocles]

Coach Brown thinks Pleasant is good, but Milton and others do not see it that way. They see Pleasant as a player that was NOT ranked high out of high school. Probably not even top 500. A player that is midmajor type, that played for a midmajor school Abilene Christian, in a midmajor conference and shooting less than 50% from the free throw line. Pleasant is not in the top 100 transfers of the country or the top transfers in the AAC. The AAC is not a midmajor conference. The AAC is a very athletic league with big strong front lines. Based on what outsiders see they do not see Plesant as much of an impact. The reputation of WSU soft and weak frontline continues.

I think he is a good recruit,, but he has got to shoot better than 50% from the free throw line. Time will tell if Coach Brown is better at evaluating talent than Milton and others. Go Shocks.

[ShockingButTrue]

Let me ask you guys this...
If the money is "right" for some if not all the L8 from an ESPN TV contract...is the L8 or some of the remaining schools simply uptight or timid to be under the American Conference moniker??? I guess what I'm asking is does the remaining L8 schools just want to keep the Big-8 (or12) name and that's their big issue to not want to join forces with the teams in the American???

They're are probably just that hard-headed; keep the name at all costs by God (that'll show 'em)!

If they bring in BYU or Boise St. (or both, likely) they would definitely be the b8 (10, 12 or whatever) in name only. That wouldn't be a "Football Conference" any longer, at least by Today's standards. Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas and OU are long gone.

They'd lose much more than 50% of their value (without Texas & OU): Boise St. vs. K-State is not pushing the meter North.

[MikeKennedyRulZ]

Coach Brown thinks Pleasant is good, but Milton and others do not see it that way. They see Pleasant as a player that was NOT ranked high out of high school. Probably not even top 500. A player that is midmajor type, that played for a midmajor school Abilene Christian, in a midmajor conference and shooting less than 50% from the free throw line. Pleasant is not in the top 100 transfers of the country or the top transfers in the AAC. The AAC is not a midmajor conference. The AAC is a very athletic league with big strong front lines. Based on what outsiders see they do not see Plesant as much of an impact. The reputation of WSU soft and weak frontline continues.

I think he is a good recruit,, but he has got to shoot better than 50% from the free throw line. Time will tell if Coach Brown is better at evaluating talent than Milton and others. Go Shocks.

Maybe I am not looking at all the metrics and optics right, but sure looks like he shot over 50% each of the last three years with a pretty paltry 3 point % as well.

Capture.JPG

[Kung Wu]

For some of you older gurus that are out there -- how did it go down in the Missouri Valley Conference? Was it a slow death with heavy hitters leaving one at a time over many years, or did a bunch of heavy hitters all leave within a couple/few years of each other?

[WstateU]

Maybe I am not looking at all the metrics and optics right, but sure looks like he shot over 50% each of the last three years with a pretty paltry 3 point % as well.

Capture.JPG

He was pretty solid here with a lot on the line…

[ShockTalk]

For some of you older gurus that are out there -- how did it go down in the Missouri Valley Conference? Was it a slow death with heavy hitters leaving one at a time over many years, or did a bunch of heavy hitters all leave within a couple/few years of each other?

Scroll down to the Membership Timeline: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missou...ley_Conference

The "Valley of Death" actually "died" in fairly short order with several "newer" members leaving with less than 15 years total in the conference.

[Kung Wu]

Scroll down to the Membership Timeline: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missou...ley_Conference

The "Valley of Death" actually "died" in fairly short order with several "newer" members leaving with less than 15 years total in the conference.

Wow cool timeline! Thanks!

[WuTheOne]

From reports I've seen from marketing guys who watch FB brands, that 50% revenue loss from OU and UT leaving is the most optimistic outlook for the L8. The least optimistic outlook is a 75% reduction in revenue. A75% revenue loss would put the per school revenue in the L8 just barely above the current AAC revenue per school.

If adding Memphis, Cincy, and Houston 5 years ago wasn't going to increase per school revenue 5 years ago, it's unlikey it would increase revenues this year.

Looking at it long-term, the AAC has HUGE markets with all the urban schools. That hasn't resulted in HUGE TV audiences, but there is a lot more long-term potential with teams in Houston, Cincy, Memphis, Orlando, etc than with teams in Manhattan, KS, Waco, TX , etc. The mouse probably figures it can leverage the situation and promote in ways to attract more viewers in large markets if the AAC brings the L8 to their party rather than the other way around.

[pinstripers]

https://www.al.com/uab/2021/08/with-uab-big-12-can-plant-flag-on-sec-doorstep.html?fbclid=IwAR2WtJd5_LyAunx_NIcasdv37FlsEHL6eyqZbo57xNriPkgLsxgswdpKzQg

nice read.... B8...UAB

[RoyalShock]

https://www.al.com/uab/2021/08/with-...kgLsxgswdpKzQg

nice read.... B8...UAB

I can't see the L8 bringing in UAB just because the SEC office is across the street. They would bring in less revenue potential, despite their increasing profile, than any of the AAC teams being discussed. UAB is the kind of school the AAC would bring in should we lose someone to the L8.

That article is a nice audition for an AAC invite, however.