IN THE RANKINGS
Memphis is ranked 19th in the AP Top 25 this week and No. 22 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, while Florida Atlantic is up one spot to No. 22 in the AP Poll and reenters the coaches poll at No. 24.
COMPETITIVE CONFERENCE PLAY
The American has had 17 of the 45 conference games in the 2023-24 either finish within three and/or gone to overtime. The percentage of close games, 37.8 percent, is the highest amongst major conferences (next closest is the Big 12 at 26.8 percent).
BULLS RIDING HIGH
South Florida has won four consecutive games in American Athletic Conference play and is 5-1 in league action. It is tied for the best start in conference play in program history (2000-01 season).
GREEN WAVE PARTYING LIKE IT’S 1999
Tulane defeated then-No. 10 Memphis, 81-79, on January 21, recording its first victory over a top 25 opponent since 1999 when the Green Wave defeated No. 25 North Carolina State 73-62. The win also marked the Green Wave’s first win over a team ranked in the top 10 since 1983. With the win, Tulane snapped a 53-game losing streak to ranked opponents.
PUTTING THE BALL IN THE BUCKET
Memphis’ David Jones leads The American and is seventh in the nation in scoring at 21.7 points per game.
Tulsa’s PJ Haggerty is the nation’s leading freshman scorer at 19.2 points per game, and ranks eighth overall in the nation with 125 made free throws.
49ERS ON A ROLL
Charlotte is on a 6-game winning streak, all of which has been during American Athletic Conference play. It marks the 49ers first 6-game win streak in conference play since 2009-10.
CRANKING UP THE DEFENSE
North Texas ranks fourth in the country in scoring defense at 58.7 points per game allowed, while SMU is ranked ninth at 62.7 ppg allowed. In field goal percentage defense, the Mustangs are third (37.4 percent) and the Mean Green are 10th (38.6 percent). SMU is third in 3-point field goal percentage defense, at 26.5 percent.
SCHEDULE/RESULTS
SATURDAY, JANUARY 20
Rice 69, Temple 66
UAB 69, East Carolina 61
SMU 103, Tulsa 70
Charlotte 56, North Texas 44
SUNDAY, JANUARY 21
Tulane 81, No. 10 Memphis 79
South Florida 72, Wichita State 68
No. 23 Florida Atlantic 112, UTSA 103 (OT)
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23
Charlotte 76, UAB 70
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24
South Florida 75, Temple 69
East Carolina 54, Wichita State 52
No. 22 Florida Atlantic 69, Rice 56
UTSA 89, Tulane 88
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25
North Texas 68, SMU 66
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27
UTSA at South Florida (ESPN+)……………………….. 4 p.m.
Charlotte at Tulane (ESPNU)…………………………… 4 p.m.
Tulsa at Rice (ESPNU)………………………………………… 8 p.m.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 28
North Texas at No. 22 Florida Atlantic (ESPN2) 1 p.m.
SMU at Wichita State (ESPN2)……………………….. 3 p.m.
No. 19 Memphis at UAB (ESPN)………………………. 5 p.m.
Temple at East Carolina (ESPN2)………………….. 5 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31
South Florida at East Carolina (ESPN+)………. 7 p.m.
Wichita State at Tulsa (ESPNU)……………………… 7 p.m.
Rice at Memphis (ESPN+)…………………………………. 8 p.m.
UAB at North Texas (ESPNU)…………………………… 9 p.m.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1
Tulane at SMU (ESPN2)………………………………………. 7 p.m.
All times ET and subject to change
