2024 Preview
Superlatives:
Best Overall Team: Memphis
Best Overall Player: Yaxel Lendeborg, UAB
Best Shooter: Damari Mansato, UTSA
Best Defenseman: Quincy Ballard, WSU
Sleeper Team (Conference): Tulane
Sleeper Team (March): UAB
UAB Forward Yaxel Lendeborg; UAB Athletics1. UAB Blazers
2023 Record: 23-12
Behind a strong returning core and a bevy of imports ready to score at will, the Blazers look to build off an impressive run in 2024 which resulted in the program’s second NCAAT appearance in three seasons. With the conference’s best overall player and double double machine Yaxel Lendeborg back, UAB has one of the tentpoles required to make a deep conference run — a reliable rebounder who can have an impact on both sides of the court. The emergence of Efrem Johnson last season gives UAB a beacon of light in the backcourt, which needs to improve on a dreadful campaign from behind the arc in 2024.
2. Memphis Tigers
2023 Record: 22-10
The Tigers fumbled away the 2023 season with inconsistent play, spotty offense and at times horrid defense. The backcourt was upgraded with the addition of two highly-coveted scorers in PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter, both of whom can assume lead roles offensively and act as efficient distributors. Hunter, in particular, was one of the top five highest priority transfers on Magic Ball Sports’ transfer board this off season. The frontcourt was also reworked with the additions of Tyreek Smith and Moussa Cisse, who look to improve Memphis’ lowly efforts on the defensive glass last season. Forming an identity rebounding the basketball should be the Tigers’ top priority.
3. Florida Atlantic Owls
2023 Record: 25-9
Qualified replacement head coach John Jakus inherited little to nothing from now Michigan head coach Dusty Maye. Almost all of FAU’s 2023 Final Four lineup is gone, including all key contributors and most reserves. Jakus turned to the portal to rebuild the Owl roster, nabbing high profile scorers such as Baba Miller, Ken Evans Jr. and Kaleb Glenn to become starters. The roster is made up mostly of high-major reserves looking for leading roles or low-major scorers looking to elevate their game.
4. Witchita State Shockers
2023 Record: 15-19
Coach Paul Mills finally has his team — and not that of his predecessor — as the second year man looks to reshape a lost Shockers identity in 2024. Mills upgraded in the backcourt, bringing in Justin Hill from Longwood and AJ McGinnis from Lipscomb to become the lead scorers from behind the line. Quincy Ballard is a force inside and will pair nicely with Matej Bosnjak. The Shockers must improve its shooting numbers from a year ago, ranking in the bottom three of field goal percentage in conference play.
5. Charlotte 49ers
2023 Record: 19-12
Behind a nice blend of effective three point shooting and bottlenecking defense, the 49ers finished third in the AAC regular season standings in year one under coach Aaron Fearne. Leading guard Isaiah Folkes is back as one of only two returning starters, and will likely pair with Coastal Carolina transfer Kylan Blackmon to form a dynamic pair of distributors. The frontcourt is made up of proven transfers such as Giancarlo Rosado (FAU) and Aleks Szymczyk (Florida) who will look to improve the 49ers somewhat dilapidated rebounding attack.
6. North Texas Mean Green
2023 Record: 19-15
Stripped of a majority of its scoring from last season — over 90% to be exact — the Mean Green must now turn to the portal to find continued success in Ross Hodge’s second season at the helm. One notable transfer in who should help immediately on offense is former Drake starter and arc-angel Atin Wright, who will more than likely end up on an All-AAC team himself. Jasper Floyd is a creative point guard from Fairfield who will more than likely pair with Wright in the backcourt, and Latrell Johnson (SFA) gives the Mean Green a dynamic third option off the bench. Finding a frontcourt presence will be key in North Texas’ success in 2024.
7. South Florida Bulls
2023 Record: 25-8
The tragic and unexpected loss of head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim will inevitably set the Bulls back both emotionally and physically — the former Bulls’ coach was one of the best in the conference and had given USF a regular season conference title in his first season. Star guard Chris Youngblood is also gone, along with top-tier scorer Kasean Pryor to Louisville. Point guard Jayden Reid is a bright spot amongst a line of returnees, alongside Kobe Knox on the wing. The nethered De’Ante Green can play a multi-dimensional role for the Bulls as well.
8. Tulsa Golden Hurricane
2023 Record: 16-15
Departing guard PJ Haggerty leaves a crater in the Golden Hurricane offense, one that will direly need to be patched. A plethora of newcomers, including Braeden Carrington, Dwan Odom and Tyshawn Archie will likely compensate for the loss of scoring, as the trio includes multi-year starters and proven late game scorers. Outside of that, Tulsa lacks depth and will need to display toughness under the backboard in order to compete in a very competitive AAC this year.
9. Temple Owls
2023 Record: 16-20
The Owls’ surprise run to the AAC Championship game was the highlight of an otherwise forgettable — and shady — season. Three starters are gone, including leading scorer Hysier Miller, but Temple returns savvy Steve Settle III down low. The real boon of the off season was Jamal Mashburn Jr., who transferred from New Mexico after garnering NCAA Tournament experience last March. Temple must improve offensively, which all starts with improving its dreadful 46.1% two-point field goal numbers. Finding another scorer next to Mashburn will be crucial, with St. Joseph’s transfer Lynn Greer likely to step into the role.
10. Tulane Green Wave
2023 Record: 14-17
Behind one of the worst defenses in the conference — and in the country — Tulane plummeted to a 14-17 record and lost most of its core from last season. The culprit for its defensive struggles can be found on the other end of the court, as the Green Wave’s lightning quick offense was turnover prone and hence susceptible to many fast break points. Michael Eley is the strongest candidate to assume the leading scoring role. Former four star Kam Williams left Indiana for New Orleans this off season and will have the opportunity to blossom under a new system.
11. UTSA Roadrunners
2023 Record: 11-21
The downwinded pace brought in by new head coach Austin Claunch will look to hastily sweep the last few years of Roadrunners basketball under the rug. UTSA finished with one of the worst records in the conference last season and were at the bottom of many offensive statistics. Notable additions via the portal include Wake Forest transfer Damari Monsato and Jonnivius Smith, who comes in from Buffalo after a top season in the MAC last year. Improvement in any area will be improvement much needed for the Roadrunners, who have limped through AAC play each of the last four seasons.
12. Rice Owls
2023 Record: 11-21
The top three scorers are gone from a team who won just 11 games in 2023 — perhaps a blessing in disguise — as the Owls look to build from the ground up under new coach Rob Lanier. The lone returning starter is forward Alem Huseinovic, who dominated from behind the arc last season and will look to continue his serge as one of the best shooters in the AAC. Guard Aaron Powell can be a difference maker if given the chance, but finding a reliable third option for one of the worst shooting offenses in the conference last season will be at the top of Lanier’s priority list.
13. East Carolina Pirates
2023 Record: 15-18
The Pirates look to turn the corner in year three under coach Michael Schwartz, finishing slightly below .500 in both of his first two seasons. Luckily, the lone returning starter is one of the team’s best overall players from last season in guard RJ Felton, who is one of the better shooters for the Pirates. The frontcourt will need to be completely rebuilt after all major contributors left. Look for transfer Yann Farrell to step into an immediate impact role down low and the Pirates to be a top-heavy, depth-lacking squad built around effective shooting.