American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Release – March 8

IN THE RANKINGS

South Florida is ranked No. 24 in both the AP Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches Poll. Last week was the first time the Bulls have been nationally ranked in men’s basketball.

FORGET THE PRESEASON RANKINGS

Picked ninth in the American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll by the league’s head coaches, South Florida has clinched the regular season title and the No. 1 seed for the 2024 American Men’s Basketball Championship.

BULLS RIDING HIGH

South Florida has won 15 consecutive games and is 16-1 in league action, the best start in league play in program history. The 15-game win streak in conference play is the longest in program history and is the longest in the nation (James Madison and Tarleton State are tied for second-longest at 10 games).

MEMPHIS’ BIG COMEBACK

Memphis defeated UAB, 106-87, on March 3 after coming back from a 22-point deficit, it’s largest comeback under head coach Penny Hardaway.

The Tigers became just the second NCAA Division I team since 2010-11 to win a game by 15 or more points after trailing by 20 or more points.

FORBES BREAKS 3-POINT RECORD

Tulane’s Jaylen Forbes hit seven 3-pointers against South Florida on March 5 and now has 294 during his time with the Green Wave, a new American Athletic Conference record. He broke the previous set by Tyler Harris, who hit 290 3-pointers with Memphis and South Florida from 2018-23.

COMPETITIVE CONFERENCE PLAY

The American has had 35 of the 117 conference games in the 2023-24 season either finish within three and/or gone to overtime. The percentage of close games, 29.4 percent, is the highest amongst Division I conferences.

SCHEDULE/RESULTS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28

North Texas 80, Tulane 76

Wichita State 74, UAB 66

UTSA 89, Tulsa 73

Temple 65, Rice 43

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29

Memphis 82, East Carolina 58

SATURDAY, MARCH 2

Florida Atlantic 79, Tulane 73

Tulsa 72, Temple 67

UTSA 77, SMU 73

No. 25 South Florida 76, Charlotte 61

Wichita State 87, Rice 66

SUNDAY, MARCH 3

North Texas 84, East Carolina 69

Memphis 106, UAB 87

TUESDAY, MARCH 5

No. 24 South Florida 85, Tulane 72

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6

Charlotte 69, Rice 64

Florida Atlantic 80, North Texas 76

SMU 80, East Carolina 77 (OT)

THURSDAY, MARCH 7

UAB 100, Temple 72

FRIDAY, MARCH 8

Wichita State at Tulane (ESPN2)…………………… 9 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

Memphis at Florida Atlantic (CBS)………………… Noon

No. 24 South Florida at Tulsa (ESPN+)………… 3 p.m.

Charlotte at East Carolina (ESPN+)………………. 4 p.m.

North Texas at Rice (ESPN+)……………………………. 8 p.m.

SUNDAY, MARCH 10

SMU at UAB (ESPN+)……………………………………………. 3 p.m.

Temple at UTSA (ESPN+)……………………………………. 3 p.m.

All times ET and subject to change