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We are materially ahead of Cincinnati in RPI, BPI, Sagarin. We won our conference regular season and tourney and ended the season ranked at 18. Assuming we don't lose material ground, talent wise, what in the world would lead anyone to believe that Cincinnati would be preseason favorite for next year?

Well I've got SMU on paper too but perhaps because they don't graduate anybody significant

I like the frosh we have coming in too. But experience has taught me that it takes time for frosh to develop into legit college difference-makers (unless you are bringing in one-and-done guys like UK). So for me it boils down to who returns for us. If Nic, MK, and Keith all come back and play in the Fall, we're in good shape from the get-go, and will get stronger when Semi becomes eligible. If MK does not come back, however, then we are going to be woefully thin up front until at least December (and probably longer, because it will take Semi some time to fully ramp up). If that's the case, then I don't see us winning the conference. At best, I see us rounding into shape late in the year and maybe making a run at the conference tourney.

Might be unduly pessimistic. Just my thoughts.

Assuming we remain intact SMU and Cincinnati are definitely one and two in some order.

we are losing three of our very best rebounders. If you look at games we lost - including the last one, a big factor is being even or worse than our opponent at rebounding. We didn't have the shooting to make up for average rebounding. Given that reality I would say we will not be the favorite - but should be in the hunt. We might get some rebounding help - Semi and Tolbert - but it is a big question mark - perhaps the biggest.

Assuming Nic and Markus stay and all other players/coaches behave predictably:

1. SMU
2. Cincinnati
3. Connecticut
4. Temple
5. Memphis
6. Tulsa
7. Houston
8. UCF
9. Tulane
10. USF
11. ECU

SMU would probably drop to a roughly five-way tie with Connecticut, Temple, Memphis, and Tulsa if Nic or Markus leave and just below that group if both were to leave.

SMU Section F wrote:Assuming Nic and Markus stay and all other players/coaches behave predictably:

1. SMU
2. Cincinnati
3. Connecticut
4. Temple
5. Memphis
6. Tulsa
7. Houston
8. UCF
9. Tulane
10. USF
11. ECU

SMU would probably drop to a roughly five-way tie with Connecticut, Temple, Memphis, and Tulsa if Nic or Markus leave and just below that group if both were to leave.

USF has a solid class coming in, they could surprise some teams at home. I think this next year though the aac will be a 4/5 bid league which is nice.

Pony_Law wrote:

SMU Section F wrote:...

USF has a solid class coming in, they could surprise some teams at home. I think this next year though the aac will be a 4/5 bid league which is nice.

I agree. I stand by my ranking above, but there is definitely potential for surprise there.

The cynic in me thinks we'll have five teams that should get bids, but only three that actually get bids. Definitely a better conference next year though.

You'd like to think 4-5 bids. Based on the lack of respect the AAC has been shown the last 2 seasons, however, as well as our dismal performance in the NCAA tourney this year, I'll believe 4-5 bids when I see it.

1983 Cotton Bowl wrote:You'd like to think 4-5 bids. Based on the lack of respect the AAC has been shown the last 2 seasons, however, as well as our dismal performance in the NCAA tourney this year, I'll believe 4-5 bids when I see it.

We'll keep getting a team with a 34 RPI left out in favor of a crap 47 RPI P5 team until Aresco get's off his [deleted], throws a hissy fit, and gets someone to represent us on the freaking committee.

Jon Rothstein
‏@JonRothstein
VCU will host Cincinnati on Saturday 12/19/15 at the Siegel Center, source told @CBSSports. Return game of home-and-home series.

Would love to get VCU on the schedule as well. The more opportunities for quality wins, the better. We need some quality wins outside of our conference next year.

gostangs wrote:we are losing three of our very best rebounders. If you look at games we lost - including the last one, a big factor is being even or worse than our opponent at rebounding. We didn't have the shooting to make up for average rebounding. Given that reality I would say we will not be the favorite - but should be in the hunt. We might get some rebounding help - Semi and Tolbert - but it is a big question mark - perhaps the biggest.

Yes, we will be way undersized compared to this past season.

Cincinnati was too young of a team this year. We should have won the regular season title this year but lost two head scratching games to Tulane and ECU. We are returning all our top players are probably going to add an impact transfer with our open scholarship. SMU and Cincinnati should be ranked in the pre-season next year. UConn and Tulsa will be pretty good. Temple and Memphis have a chance to be in the mix too.

Any word on Cronin's status? I hope he's back at 100% next season.

Really good coach and his presence is good for the conference

Back next year