2022-2023 College Basketball Convention Preview: AAC Fantasy Outlook – RotoWire

The AAC had an especially memorable finish to the 2021-2022 season. Houston and Memphis every made their mark within the NCAA match and are primed to return to The Large Dance. 

Houston is gearing up for doubtlessly its greatest season in years, with most of the high playmakers returning, together with Marcus Sasser, who missed nearly all of final season after struggling a toe damage. The guard was eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft, however in the end determined to return for yet one more yr with the Cougars. Sasser’s return, together with key additions of Jarace Walker and Mylik Wilson, have the Cougars eyeing a championship run. 

Houston defeated Memphis 71-53 within the AAC championship sport final season — a blowout win that really confirmed this system’s separation from the remainder of the convention. It’s going to probably be one other season of Houston dominating the convention, with Memphis and Cincinnati primed to be the most important opponents to the reigning champs. 

This season marks the final yr that Houston, UCF, and Cincinnati will compete within the AAC earlier than making the swap to the Large 12. The convention realignment consists of the addition of six groups to the AAC, making it a 15-team convention. All six of the colleges shifting to the AAC for the 2023-24 season are Convention USA groups that embrace: FAU, North Texas, UAB, Charlotte, Rice, and UTSA. With all of the realignment coming to the AAC following the season, who will make their mark? Will Memphis take the following step? Will Houston

The AAC had an especially memorable finish to the 2021-2022 season. Houston and Memphis every made their mark within the NCAA match and are primed to return to The Large Dance. 

Houston is gearing up for doubtlessly its greatest season in years, with most of the high playmakers returning, together with Marcus Sasser, who missed nearly all of final season after struggling a toe damage. The guard was eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft, however in the end determined to return for yet one more yr with the Cougars. Sasser’s return, together with key additions of Jarace Walker and Mylik Wilson, have the Cougars eyeing a championship run. 

Houston defeated Memphis 71-53 within the AAC championship sport final season — a blowout win that really confirmed this system’s separation from the remainder of the convention. It’s going to probably be one other season of Houston dominating the convention, with Memphis and Cincinnati primed to be the most important opponents to the reigning champs. 

This season marks the final yr that Houston, UCF, and Cincinnati will compete within the AAC earlier than making the swap to the Large 12. The convention realignment consists of the addition of six groups to the AAC, making it a 15-team convention. All six of the colleges shifting to the AAC for the 2023-24 season are Convention USA groups that embrace: FAU, North Texas, UAB, Charlotte, Rice, and UTSA. With all of the realignment coming to the AAC following the season, who will make their mark? Will Memphis take the following step? Will Houston stay as much as their excessive expectations? Let’s dive into the 2022-2023 convention preview.

High Gamers

General: Marcus Sasser, G, Houston

In three seasons with Houston, Sasser has steadily elevated his offensive output with the group, going from beginning 17 video games as a freshman, to being the Cougars’ main scorer as a sophomore and junior. The guard averaged 17.7 factors, 2.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a pair of.2 steals per sport in 12 contests final season earlier than having his season ended early by a toe damage. Sasser is again with the group for his senior season after initially testing the NBA Draft waters. This yr, Sasser has a really actual probability at being a season-long Participant of the 12 months candidate, in addition to a possible All-American end as one of many nation’s greatest guards. 

Additionally Thought of: Jalen Cook, G, Tulane; Kendric Davis, G, Memphis; Jarace Walker, F, Houston

Scoring: Jalen Cook, G, Tulane

Prepare dinner transferred to Tulane following his freshman season at LSU. The guard instantly began final season, averaging a team-leading 18.0 factors per sport. Prepare dinner completed because the second-leading scorer within the AAC final season, in the end throwing his title into the NBA Draft pool earlier than deciding to return to Tulane. Prepare dinner has a reputable probability to complete as an AAC first-team member in his second season with the Inexperienced Wave, a unit with the expertise to complete as a top-five group within the convention. 

Additionally Thought of: Marcus Sasser, G, Houston; Kendric Davis, G, Memphis; DeAndre Williams, F, Memphis

Rebounding: DeAndre Williams, F, Memphis

Williams completed the 2021-2022 marketing campaign as a second group All-AAC honoree, averaging 11.1 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 blocks per sport final season, beginning in 25 of 26 appearances. The 6-foot-9 ahead entered his title into the NBA Draft throughout the offseason, however determined to make use of his last yr of eligibility and return to the Tigers. His 11.1 factors and 5.8 rebounds per sport ranked No. 2 on the group final season behind Jalen Duren. Memphis will closely lean on Williams within the frontcourt this season after shedding Jalen Duren and Emoni Bates. 

Additionally Thought of: Malcolm Dandridge, C, Memphis; J’Wan Roberts, F, Houston; Jarace Walker, F, Houston; Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiog, F, Memphis

Assists: Jamal Shead, G, Houston

Shead led the way in which for the Cougars, alongside Kyler Edwards, after Marcus Sasser went down with a season-ending damage. Averaging 5.8 assists per sport final season, Shead finds himself in a spot to potential repeat because the group’s chief in assists. Shead had a breakout sophomore season by the hands of the Sasser damage, which allowed for the guard to see a big bump in minutes. Shead averaged 30.9 minutes per sport final season, ending the season top-15 in assists per sport. The Cougars are primed for a giant season with Sasser and Tramon Mark returning to the squad. Shead has a singular alternative to tally loads of assists with all the scoring choices on the Houston roster.

Additionally Thought of: Kendric Davis, G, Memphis; Alex Lomax, G, Memphis; Marcus Sasser, G, Houston; Tramon Mark, F, Houston; DeAndre Williams, F, Memphis, Elijah McCadden, G, Memphis

Middle: Malcolm Dandridge, C, Memphis

Dandridge is coming into his fourth season on Memphis after experiencing many highs and lots of lows over his collegiate profession. The middle has been unable to stay constantly wholesome for a lot of his profession, although he has an opportunity to face out within the 2022-2023 season. Dandridge traces up alongside DeAndre Williams, who is probably going the perfect ahead within the AAC. If Dandridge is unable to remain on the court docket, Memphis’ depth at ahead/middle might go him up totally, although his four-star expertise may actually be a distinction maker within the Tigers’ success this season. With Jalen Duren gone, Dandridge is getting into a big function on the group, a task the Tigers relied closely on with Duren’s rebounding and defensive presence. 

Additionally Thought of: Russel Tchewa, C, South Florida; Mo Njie, C, SMU; Kenny Pohto, C, Wichita State

Freshman: Jarace Walker, F, Houston

Getting into as a real freshman, the previous five-star recruit has an opportunity to make his title recognized early with the Cougars this season. Walker obtained affords from Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State, Florida and Michigan amongst others, however selected to decide to Kelvin Sampson and the Cougars. The 6-8 ahead is the highest-ranked recruit in Houston basketball historical past and can probably begin out of the gates this season, offering the Cougars with a stud within the frontcourt. 

Additionally Thought of: Taylor Hendricks F, UCF; Josh Reed, G, Cincinnati; Terrance Arceneaux, F, Houston

Sleepers

Rob Phinisee, G, Cincinnati

Phinisee may have additionally gone within the “transfers” part, as he spent his first 4 years with the Hoosiers, together with his first three as a starter. In his greatest yr, he averaged 7.3 ppg on 37.4 % taking pictures — numbers that ought to improve in his transfer outdoors a conventional “energy” convention. Below coach Wes Miller, the Bearcats performed at a sooner tempo than Indiana in 2021-22. Additionally they lose key contributors Mike Saunders (7.3 ppg) and John Newman (6.9 ppg). The door is open for Phinisee to be a main possibility, particularly if he can enhance from three-point vary after taking pictures barely over 26 % his final two seasons.

Taylor Hendricks, C, UCF

Hendricks is a 6-9, former four-star recruit who will probably make an instantaneous impression for the Knights this season as a freshman. The Knights will depend on Hendricks and CJ Walker within the frontcourt this season after shedding Cheikh Mbacke Diong at middle, placing Hendricks in an ideal spot to begin as a real freshman this season. Hendricks obtained affords from Memphis, LSU, Iowa State, Florida State and Florida amongst others, in the end deciding to remain in state and play for UCF. Because the Knights regroup this season, they might battle to make noise within the convention, however anticipate Hendricks to be a vibrant spot on the squad this season.

Transfers

Kendric Davis, G, Memphis

Davis finds himself in a fairly distinctive place on Memphis this season. The guard led the AAC in scoring final season, averaging 19.4 factors per sport for SMU. Following the yr’s conclusion, Davis introduced his resolution to switch to Memphis, a group in a determined want for a lead guard following the lack of Landers Nolley and Tyler Harris. The previous AAC Participant of the 12 months was the highest total switch throughout the 2022 offseason. His taking pictures means ought to enable for the Tigers to make one other NCAA Event run below coach Penny Hardaway. 

Landers Nolley, F, Cincinnati

Nolley left Memphis following its loss to Gonzaga within the spherical of 32 in final season’s NCAA Event. The ahead will probably be an instantaneous starter for the Bearcats this season. Nolley averaged 9.8 factors, 3.9 rebounds and a pair of.8 assists per sport final season for Memphis, beginning nearly all of video games he appeared in. The 6-7 senior offers vary for the Bearcats offense as properly. Nolley has averaged over 1.0 threes made per sport in all three of his seasons at Memphis, together with a profession excessive 2.3 threes made per sport in 2020. Nolley seems to be to assist lead the Bearcats to the NCAA match together with the likes of Rob Phinisee and Kalu Ezikpe, who each transferred to Cincinnati over the offseason as properly. 

Brandon Suggs, F, UCF

Suggs was Japanese Carolina’s third-leading scorer final season, averaging 10.1 factors per sport to associate with 4.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per sport. Transferring to convention rival UCF will open the door for Suggs to see a constant beginning function with the Knights and be a serious piece for UCF in his senior season. The Knights will probably characteristic a new-look beginning 5, giving Suggs all of the extra cause to offer a serious function on the group.

Additionally Thought of: Rob Phinisee, G, Cincinnati; Tyler Harris, G, South Florida; Ithiel Horton, G, UCF, Keyshawn Bryant, F, South Florida

High-10 Gamers

1. Marcus Sasser – Houston
2. Kendric Davis – Memphis
3. Jalen Cook – Tulane
4. Deandre Williams – Memphis
5. Jarace Walker – Houston
6. Brandon Suggs – East Carolina
7. Tyler Harris – South Florida
8. Craig Porter Jr. – Wichita State
9. Taylor Hendricks – Central Florida
10. Landers Nolley – Cincinnati

*Be aware: These rankings are on the discretion of the article writer, and should not essentially correspond with different 2022-23 rankings/projections instruments displayed on the RotoWire web site.

Projected Workforce Standings

1. Houston
2. Memphis
3. Cincinnati
4. Tulane
5. Temple
6. UCF
7. South Florida
8. SMU
9. Wichita State
10. East Carolina
11. Tulsa

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