FOR STARTERS
Ten American Athletic Conference squads open their 2023-24 campaigns at home on Monday, November 6, including reigning American Champion Memphis hosting Jackson State at 8 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.
NEW ERA COMMENCES
Starting this season, The American will have 14 teams competing in men’s basketball with the six additions of UAB, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice and UTSA joining continuing members, East Carolina, Memphis, South Florida, SMU, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa and Wichita State.
IN THE RANKINGS
Florida Atlantic has been tabbed No. 10 in the Associated Press Men’s Basketball Preseason Top 25. In addition, FAU has been ranked No. 9 in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll.
The Owls become the fourth American Athletic Conference squad to be named in the AP preseason top 10, joining Louisville (No. 3 in 2013-14), Wichita State (No. 7 in 2017-18) and Houston (No. 3 in 2022-23).
In addition to Florida Atlantic, Memphis received votes in both polls. The Owls and Tigers were ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches poll.
HEAD COACHING CHANGES
Five American Athletic Conference squads have new head coaches for 2023-24:
School New Coach
Charlotte Aaron Fearne
North Texas Ross Hodge
South Florida Amir Abdur-Rahim
Temple Adam Fisher
Wichita State Paul Mills
DAVIS, MARTIN LEAD PRESEASON HONORS
A pair of Florida Atlantic Owls share the title of American Preseason Player of the Year, junior guards Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin, while a pair of Memphis Tigers were selected Preseason Rookie of the Year, guard Carl Cherenfant and forward JJ Taylor.
Davis, the 2023 Conference USA Sixth Player of the Year, averaged 13.8 points and 5.4 rebounds for the Owls. Martin, the 2023 CUSA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and a First-Team All-Conference selection, averaged 13.4 points and 5.3 rebounds for Florida Atlantic.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC NAMED AMERICAN
PRESEASON FAVORITE
On the heels of its historic Final Four run from 2023, Florida Atlantic has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2023-24 American Athletic Conference men’s basketball title in voting done by the league’s head coaches.
Florida Atlantic, entering its first year in The American, received 11 first-place votes and a total of 167 points. Memphis, which won its first American Athletic Conference Championship in 2023, was tabbed second with three-first place votes and 159 total points.
Tulane is third with 142 points, followed by UAB, which was the 2023 NIT runner-up, with 128 points. East Carolina is fifth with 105 points, followed by the 2023 NIT champion, North Texas, in sixth with 100 points. SMU is seventh with 97 points, followed by Wichita State (90), South Florida (62), Tulsa (59), Rice (56), Temple (49), Charlotte (46) and UTSA (14).
TRIO NAMED TO PRESEASON WATCH LISTS
Memphis’ Jahvon Quinerly has been named to the 2024 Bob Cousy Award Watch List for the top point guard in Division I men’s college basketball.
Florida Atlantic’s Johnell Davis was named to the watch list for the 2024 Jerry West Award for the top shooting guard.
Memphis’ Jordan Brown was selected to the 2024 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List for the top center.
DICKIES ARENA TO HOST CHAMPIONSHIP
Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, is set to be the site of the American Men’s Basketball Championship for the fourth consecutive season. The 2024 tournament expands to 14 teams and will run Wednesday, March 13 to Sunday, March 17.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6
Maine at Charlotte (ESPN+)……………………………… 7 p.m.
Ferrum at East Carolina (ESPN+)……………………. 7 p.m.
UMES at Temple (ESPN+)…………………………….. 7:30 p.m.
Lipscomb at Wichita State (ESPN+)……….. 7:30 p.m.
Western Illinois at UTSA (ESPN+)………………….. 8 p.m.
Bradley at UAB (ESPN+)……………………………………… 8 p.m.
Central Arkansas at Tulsa (ESPN+)………………. 8 p.m.
Jackson State at Memphis (ESPN+)…………….. 8 p.m.
SW Assemblies of God at SMU (ESPN+).. 8:30 p.m.
Nicholls at Tulane (ESPN+)……………………………….. 9 p.m.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7
St. Thomas (TX) at Rice (ESPN+)…………………….. 8 p.m.
Northern Iowa at North Texas (ESPN+)………. 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8
Florida Atlantic at Loyola Chicago………………… 7 p.m.
Western Illinois at SMU (ESPN+)……………………. 7 p.m.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9
SC State at South Florida (ESPN+)………………… 7 p.m.
Northwestern State at Tulane (ESPN+)………. 7 p.m.
W. Kentucky at Wichita State (ESPN+)….. 7:30 p.m.
Lamar at SMU (ESPN+)……………………………………….. 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Charlotte vs. Liberty…………………………………….. 4:30 p.m.
UTSA at Minnesota (Peacock)………………….. 7:30 p.m.
Harvard at Rice (ESPN+)…………………………………….. 8 p.m.
Temple at Navy (CBSSN)…………………………….. 8:30 p.m.
Memphis at Missouri (SEC Network)………….. 9 p.m.
UAB vs. Clemson (ESPN+)……………………………. 9:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Incarnate Word at Tulsa (ESPN+)………………….. 3 p.m.
Campbell at East Carolina (ESPN+)……………….. 4 p.m.
Omaha at North Texas (ESPN+)……………………… 8 p.m.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12
UAB vs. Maryland/Davidson…………………………………. TBD
Friends at Wichita State (ESPN+)………………….. 2 p.m.
All times ET and subject to change
