What about the contenders to be the contenders?
Cincinnati and SMU are two elite defensive teams that will square off on Wednesday in each team's conference opener, and while both squads are still somewhat unproven, playing each of them will be worse than going through a root canal.
If you haven't seen SMU yet, you're missing out on one of the elite interior defenses in the country.
The Mustangs have two high-level big men in Yanick Moreira and Markus Kennedy that make it virtually impossible to get a high percentage look around the basket.
Larry Brown also has a gem of lead guard in Illinois State transfer Nic Moore, a heady player that's averaging 13.8 points and 4.5 assists per game while shooting a phenomenal 55 percent from three-point range.
Brown has also used hockey-like substitutions early in an effort to wear out the opponent, and has 10 players averaging in double-figure minutes for SMU, who is 10-2 after 12 games.
This league was initially thought to be an afterthought in college basketball this season.
That couldn't be further from the truth now.
There will be no coronation for Louisville before they move on to greener pastures.
In fact, the Cards will likely be a bit black and blue once they get there.
With the teams that comprise the top of the American this year, it would be hard to expect anything less.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24392116/aac-is-up-for-grabs-after-louisville-loses-chane-behanan
