American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Bracket
The American Athletic Conference (AAC) Men's Basketball Tournament is an annual postseason college basketball tournament that brings together the top 12 teams from the American Athletic Conference. The tournament, which began in 2014, determines the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. This year's tournament will take place March 11-14, 2021, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Top Seeds
The top four seeds in the tournament are the Wichita State Shockers, the Houston Cougars, the Memphis Tigers, and the SMU Mustangs.
The Shockers finished the regular season with a 13-4 record in conference play and a 16-4 record overall. They are led by head coach Isaac Brown and senior guard Tyson Etienne, who was named the AAC Player of the Year. The Shockers are seeking their first AAC tournament championship.
The Cougars finished the regular season with a 14-3 record in conference play and a 21-3 record overall. They are led by head coach Kelvin Sampson and senior guard Quentin Grimes, who was named to the All-AAC First Team. The Cougars won the tournament in 2019 and are looking to repeat as champions.
The Tigers finished the regular season with a 11-7 record in conference play and a 15-7 record overall. They are led by head coach Penny Hardaway and sophomore forward Precious Achiuwa, who was named to the All-AAC First Team. The Tigers won the tournament in 2019 and are hoping to win it again this year.
The Mustangs finished the regular season with a 11-5 record in conference play and a 11-4 record overall. They are led by head coach Tim Jankovich and sophomore guard Kendric Davis, who was named to the All-AAC First Team. The Mustangs are seeking their first AAC tournament championship.
The Rest of the Field
The rest of the field includes the Cincinnati Bearcats, the UCF Knights, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, the East Carolina Pirates, the Temple Owls, the South Florida Bulls, and the Tulane Green Wave.
The Bearcats finished the regular season with a 9-9 record in conference play and a 10-10 record overall. They are led by head coach John Brannen and sophomore guard Jeremiah Davenport, who was named to the All-AAC Second Team. The Bearcats have won the tournament nine times, more than any other team in the conference.
The Knights finished the regular season with a 8-12 record in conference play and a 8-12 record overall. They are led by head coach Johnny Dawkins and junior guard Darin Green Jr., who was named to the All-AAC Second Team. The Knights are seeking their first AAC tournament championship.
The Golden Hurricane finished the regular season with a 7-11 record in conference play and a 10-11 record overall. They are led by head coach Frank Haith and senior forward Brandon Rachal, who was named to the All-AAC First Team. The Golden Hurricane won the tournament in 2016 and are hoping to win it again this year.
The Pirates finished the regular season with a 4-10 record in conference play and a 8-9 record overall. They are led by head coach Joe Dooley and freshman forward Jayden Gardner, who was named to the All-AAC Second Team. The Pirates are seeking their first AAC tournament championship.
The Owls finished the regular season with a 4-10 record in conference play and a 5-10 record overall. They are led by head coach Aaron McKie and senior guard Khalif Battle, who was named to the All-AAC Second Team. The Owls have won the tournament twice, in 2008 and 2016.
The Bulls finished the regular season with a 4-9 record in conference play and a 8-12 record overall. They are led by head coach Brian Gregory and senior guard David Collins, who was named to the All-AAC First Team. The Bulls are seeking their first AAC tournament championship.
The Green Wave finished the regular season with a 4-13 record in conference play and a 9-12 record overall. They are led by head coach Ron Hunter and junior guard Jaylen Forbes, who was named to the All-AAC Second Team. The Green Wave are seeking their first AAC tournament championship.
Predictions and Projections
Based on their regular season performance and seeding, the Wichita State Shockers and the Houston Cougars are the favorites to meet in the championship game. However, Memphis and SMU are both talented teams that could make a deep run in the tournament if they get hot at the right time.
Other teams to keep an eye on include the Cincinnati Bearcats, who have a history of success in the tournament, and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, who won the tournament in 2016 and could be a surprise contender this year.
Ultimately, the tournament is unpredictable and any team has a chance to make a run and win it all. Fans can tune in to the games on ESPN and ESPN+ to see which team comes out on top.
Conclusion
The American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament is a highly-anticipated event that brings together 12 of the top teams in the AAC. With the top four seeds being the Wichita State Shockers, the Houston Cougars, the Memphis Tigers, and the SMU Mustangs, this year's tournament promises to be full of exciting matchups and intense competition. Fans can tune in to see which team will come out on top and earn a spot in the NCAA tournament.