ON DECK IN THE AMERICAN
With three more weeks of the regular season, the chase for first place is heating up. Saturday will feature another pivotal game as second place Rice (9-4 American) takes on fifth place UAB (8-5) in Birmingham at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Owls sit just one game back from North Texas for first place.
RIM PROTECTORS
The American features five teams in the Top 55 in blocks per game. UTSA leads the way at 22nd in the NCAA with 4.9 blocks per game, followed by East Carolina at 4.8 bpg (26th), Memphis with 4.6 bpg (36th), Tulsa at 4.4 bpg (46th) and South Florida at 4.2 bpg (55th).
FIRST TO 20
North Texas looks to be the first team in The American to reach 20 total wins this season. At 19-5 on the year, they need just one more win. They would be the first Mean Green squad to hit the 20-win total since 2001-02 when they went 21-9. It would be just the fourth 20-win season in program history.
STINGY DEFENSE
The American features three schools ranked in the Top 50 of the NCAA in field goal percentage defense. UTSA leads the way at 29th (..368), followed by Tulsa at 31st in the NCAA (.370) and North Texas at 41st in the NCAA, while allowing opposing teams to shoot just .373 from the field.
THE AMERICAN IN THE NET
North Texas (84) sits atop the NET rankings in The American. Rice (95), Temple (104), East Carolina (105), South Florida (107) and Tulsa (115) follow the Mean Green in the rankings.
SCHEDULE & RESULTS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13
South Florida 79, Wichita State 57
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14
Charlotte 65, Memphis 56
SMU 63, Tulane 53
Temple 86, UAB 72
North Texas 67, Florida Atlantic 57
Tulsa 74, UTSA 70
Rice 75, East Carolina 57
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Rice at UAB* (ESPN+)_______________________________ 2 p.m.
Memphis at East Carolina** (ESPN+)_________________ 2 p.m.
Tulsa at Wichita State* (ESPN+)_____________________ 3 p.m.
Florida Atlantic at South Florida** (ESPN+)____________ 7 p.m.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18
UTSA at North Texas* (ESPN+)_______________________ 3 p.m.
Charlotte at SMU* (ESPN+)__________________________ 6:30 p.m.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19
Tulane at Temple* (ESPN+)__________________________ 7 p.m.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20
Rice at Memphis* (ESPN+)__________________________ 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21
South Florida at East Carolina* (ESPN+)______________ 6 p.m.
Charlotte at North Texas* (ESPN+)___________________ 7:30 p.m.
UAB at Tulsa* (ESPN+)______________________________ 7:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22
Temple at UTSA* (ESPN+)___________________________ 7:30 p.m.
* American Athletic Conference Game
All times Eastern and subject to change
