AAC offseason storylines: UConn, Cincy are the clear front-runners and top-25 worthy
CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein looks at some of the American Conference's interesting offseason storylines
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6 min read
The American Athletic Conference is still searching for an identity.
This league doesn't have the tradition of the Big East or the overall competition level of a power-five conference, but it still boasts several quality programs that are among the best in college basketball.
Check out our breakdown below for multiple story lines to watch in the American Athletic Conference heading into the 2016-17 college basketball season.
1. UConn-Cincinnati rivalry continues to grow
The Huskies and Bearcats had their share of quality games when they did battle in the old Big East, but these two programs have really become fierce competitors since the creation of the American Athletic Conference prior to the 2013-14 season.
UConn and Cincinnati have played a total of nine times in the last three years with the Huskies winning five, but it can't be understated how hard fought and close the games have been.
The total combined score in the nine games that these teams have played over the past few years is 565-564 in favor of UConn -- that's amazing.
Things should be very similar again next season.
Both of these teams are slated to be top-25 caliber and should anchor the American Athletic Conference from a national perspective.
It remains to be seen how many teams that this league puts into the 2017 NCAA Tournament after having four in the field of 68 last March, but it seems pretty safe to say that both UConn and Cincinnati have an excellent chance of playing the duration of next season with a ranking next to their names.
2. Kevin Ollie is back to having a pure point guard or two
The 43-year old head coach spent 13 years as a floor general in the NBA and he'll be thrilled to again have legitimate play makers at his disposal.
UConn has had both Ryan Boatright and Sterling Gibbs as its primary facilitators the past two seasons, but neither of those players are the traditional type of point guard that Ollie craves to coach.
Jalen Adams (7.3 points, 2.4 assists in 2015-16) was inserted into the Huskies' starting lineup midway through last season as a freshman and should be one of America's breakout players as a sophomore. He'll likely be joined in the backcourt by Alterique Gilbert, a McDonald's All-American who will be set to make a major impact as a freshman.
Ollie coached UConn to a national title in 2014 when he played Shabazz Napier and Boatright together as interchangeable pieces in the back court and you better believe that he's planning to do the same thing next year with Adams and Gilbert.
The Huskies' ball security and ability to generate high percentage shots should be much better next season than it's been the past two.
3. Mick Cronin is looking to get offensive
Cincinnati has played in each of the last six NCAA Tournaments thanks its ferocious defense and ability to turn every game it played into a backyard brawl.
But don't be surprised if the Bearcats out score some teams next season -- seriously.
Cronin returns a pair of all-league players in Troy Caupain (13.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists in 2015-16) and Gary Clark (10.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks in 15-16) while sophomore Jacob Evans is on the heels of a 26-point, nine-rebound performance in an NCAA Tournament loss to Saint Joseph's.
Add NC State transfer Kyle Washington along with four-star recruit Jarron Cumberland and Cincinnati has legitimate options for the first time in a long time on the offensive side of the floor.
A word to the wise: keep an eye on Washington.
The 6-9 lefty averaged 6.8 points and 4.1 rebounds in 17.8 minutes two years ago with the Wolfpack and has a will to get better each time he takes the floor.
A relentless worker, Washington has a legitimate chance to be the best offensive big man that Cronin has coached at Cincinnati.
4. Temple will limp into fall practice
Fran Dunphy has pulled rabbits out of his hat many times during his legendary coaching career, but next season he may have to call Harry Houdini.
The all-time winningest coach in the history of the Big Five has been hit with Murphy's Law at the highest level during the offseason and there's no sign that it's going to get any better when the season starts.
Just months after winning the American Conference regular season title outright, Dunphy lost two starters -- Josh Brown (achilles) and Trey Lowe (spine) -- indefinitely and there's no sign that they're both locks to play next season.
What does that mean for the Owls?
Freshman point guard Alani Moore will be thrown to the fire early in Brown's place and guys like Levan "Shizz" Alston, Daniel Dingle, and Obi Enechionyia all have to make massive jumps in production if Temple is to have a fighting chance once conference play starts.
If Brown and Lowe don't return, next season could very well be one of the toughest challenges that Dunphy has endured during his two-decade plus career as a head coach.
5. Memphis -- yes, Memphis -- looks like a sleeper
It's weird to think of the Tigers' program in that type of a light, but despite the hiring of Tubby Smith last spring, Memphis is slightly off-the-radar in terms of being mentioned as one the top teams of the American Athletic Conference next season.
That won't last once people are reminded of what Dedric Lawson is capable of.
The 6-8 power forward averaged 15.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks last year as a freshman and is clearly the best returning player in the American Conference.
Lawson's brother K.J. is also back after playing just 10 games last year as a freshman and boasts all-league caliber potential as a sophomore.
If Smith can get guys like Markel Crawford, Nick Marshall, Jeremiah Martin, and Coppin State transfer Christian Kessee (88 made three-point shots in 2015-16) just to be capable role players, then Memphis may have a real chance to be better than people anticipate.
The Tigers now have a coach who's won a national title and a player in Lawson that's better than anyone else they'll face in conference play this season.
Those two factors alone will make them a tough out in 2016-17.
This and That
- There's a growing sentiment among SMU's staff that Duke transfer Semi Ojeleye will lead the Mustangs in scoring next season. A former top-50 recruit, Ojeleye redshirted last year after transferring from the Blue Devils' program in 2015. The 6-8 forward never got an opportunity to play consistent minutes in Durham, but should give SMU the type of front court scoring threat it needs to complement sophomore guard Shake Milton on the perimeter.
- Houston may have the American Athletic Conference's best pure point guard (Galen Robinson), pure scorer (Rob Gray), and two-way wing (Damyean Dotson) entering next season. Those reasons alone plus Kelvin Sampson on the sidelines should put the Cougars in position to compete for an NCAA berth in 2017.
- Looking for an under-the-radar transfer in the American Conference? Try Tulsa's Junior Etou. The 6-7 forward averaged 7.4 points and 6.6 rebounds two years ago at Rutgers and should be a major piece to Frank Haith's puzzle next season. The addition of Etou gives the Golden Hurricane another potential all-league player to go with Pat Birt (12.0 points in 2015-16).
- South Florida only won eight games last season, but Orlando Antigua has signed several key players who will instantly augment the Bulls' talent base. Penn State transfer Geno Thorpe (8.7 points in 2014-15) figures to be an immediate starter in the back court next to Jahmal McMurray while freshmen Troy Baxter and Tulio Da Silva also should assume major roles out of the gate. The 6-8 Baxter was a four-star recruit out of high school.
- Tulane's hiring of Mike Dunleavy Sr. didn't get the same type of media attention that was attached to SMU's hiring of Larry Brown in 2012, but the model is very similar. It's all going to come down to one thing to get the Green Wave program competitive: players.
- Could next season's Cincinnati team be the best offensive group that Mick Cronin has ever coached? Find out on this week's College Hoops Today Podcast.
