The American 2021-22 predictions: Projecting Memphis' ceiling, and Houston's Final Four encore
As the countdown to the 2021-22 college basketball season continues, ESPN's conference predictions series continues with the AAC.
2022 Schedule
2022 Schedule
8th in American
- 11/10
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - TBD
- 11/18
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 11/27
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 12/1
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 12/4
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - TBD
- TBD
- 12/15
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 12/18
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 12/22
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 12/294
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 1/215
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - TBD
- 1/8
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 1/12
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 1/19
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 1/22
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 1/25
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - TBD
- TBD
- 2/5h:mm a z, US/Eastern
- TBD
- 2/16h:mm a z, US/Eastern
- 2/20h:mm a z, US/Eastern
- 2/2412
h:mm a z, US/Eastern - 2/27h:mm a z, US/Eastern
- 3/315h:mm a z, US/Eastern
- TBD
- Full Schedule
Coaches ID college basketball's top sleeper teams for 2021-22 season
Jeff Borzello surveyed anonymous coaches from each of the top conferences to ID the teams from their leagues that have flown beneath the offseason radar.
Your guide to six early-season 2021-22 college basketball tournaments
The fields for six early-season college basketball tournaments were announced Thursday. Here's your handy guide to each ESPN-aired event.
Sales Pitch discussion -- How does Houston keep it rolling in the AAC, nationally?
ESPN's panel talks AAC recruiting, including Houston's emergence, the league's toughest recruiting spot and its biggest sleeper.
Sales Pitch: Which AAC schools have the most to offer recruits, transfers?
Jeff Borzello talked to anonymous coaches about the American men's basketball programs that have the most and fewest recruiting advantages.
South Florida edges Temple 73-71 in AAC tourney
— David Collins had a season-high 23 points to lead eighth-seeded South Florida to a 73-71 victory over ninth-seeded Temple in the opener of the American Athletic Conference tournament on Thursday.
Castaneda lifts South Florida past Temple 83-76
— Xavier Castaneda had 18 points as South Florida got past Temple 83-76 on Sunday.
Joiner scores 17 to lift Tulsa over Temple 72-66
— Elijah Joiner posted 17 points as Tulsa topped Temple 72-66 on Tuesday night.
Davenport scores 12 to lead Cincinnati over Temple 71-69
— Jeremiah Davenport registered 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists as Cincinnati narrowly beat Temple 71-69 on Friday night.
Last-minute layup leads Wichita St. over Temple
— Tyson Etienne Scored 20 points and converted a go-ahead three-point play with 42 seconds remaining to lead Wichita State to a 70-67 win over Temple on Sunday.
Late basket by DeJulius leads Cincinnati over Temple
— David DeJulius hit a foul shot with 1:58 remaining to give Cincinnati the lead en route to a 63-60 win over Temple on Thursday night.
Temple narrowly misses half-court shot to force OT (0:18)
Forbes scores 23 to lift Tulane over Temple 81-64
— Jaylen Forbes had a career-high 23 points as Tulane topped Temple 81-64 on Sunday.
Temple's John Chaney left an enormous legacy in Philadelphia and throughout college basketball
Legendary Temple coach John Chaney died Friday at age 89. Longtime Philly hoops observer Joe Lunardi assessed his impact.
Longtime Temple coach John Chaney dies at 89 (1:27)
Hall of Fame Temple coach Chaney dies at 89
Hall of Fame coach John Chaney, a zone defense innovator who led Temple to 17 NCAA tournament appearances, has died at the age of 89.
Battle scores 22 to lift Temple past Tulsa 76-67
— Khalif Battle had a career-high 22 points plus 11 rebounds as Temple defeated Tulsa 76-67 on Tuesday.
Sasser, Grimes lead No. 8 Houston past Temple 68-51
— Marcus Sasser and Quentin Grimes each scored 15 points and No. 8 Houston rolled to its sixth straight win, 68-51 over Temple on Saturday.
Dunn scores 20 to lift Temple past Tulane 65-57
— Damian Dunn scored 18 points as Temple beat Tulane 65-57 on Saturday.
Dunn scores 20 to lift Temple past UCF 62-55
— Damian Dunn had a career-high 20 points as Temple got past Central Florida 62-55 on Thursday.
Davis scores 20 to carry SMU past Temple 79-68
— Kendric Davis had 20 points as SMU defeated Temple 79-68 on Monday.
McNeill scores 17 to lift SMU over Temple 79-71
— Darius McNeill had 17 points off the bench to lift SMU to a 79-71 win over Temple on Wednesday.
Grimes scores 22, No. 6 Houston defeats Temple, 76-50
— Quentin Grimes had 22 points and seven rebounds, Justin Gorham had 14 points and 12 boards and No. 6 Houston beat Temple 76-50 on Tuesday night in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
Perry carries Temple past NJIT 72-60
— De’Vondre Perry recorded 12 points and 15 rebounds to carry Temple to a 72-60 win over NJIT in the season opener for both teams on Saturday.
Temple, Butler pausing after COVID-19 positives
Temple and Butler both announced Thursday that their men's basketball teams are pausing activities following positive COVID-19 tests within their programs.
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2020-21 American Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita State | 11-2 | - | 16-6 |
| Houston | 14-3 | +1 | 28-4 |
| Memphis | 11-4 | 1 | 20-8 |
| SMU | 7-4 | 3 | 11-6 |
| Cincinnati | 8-6 | 3.5 | 12-11 |
| UCF | 8-10 | 5.5 | 11-12 |
| Tulsa | 7-9 | 5.5 | 11-12 |
| South Florida | 4-10 | 7.5 | 9-13 |
| Temple | 4-10 | 7.5 | 5-11 |
| Tulane | 4-12 | 8.5 | 10-13 |
| East Carolina | 2-10 | 8.5 | 8-11 |
Team Stats
Points Per Game65.8328th
Rebounds Per Game36.3131st
Assists Per Game13.4181st
Points Allowed68.8
Tournament History
| Final Fours | 2 |
| Tournament Record | 33-33 |
| Championship Seasons | None |
| Tournament Appearances | 33 |