American Conference Men's Basketball Release - November 2

SEASON COMMENCES MONDAY

The 2025-26 season commences on Monday, November 3 with seven American squads in action. Florida Atlantic hosts Boston College on ESPNU at 7 p.m. Eastern.

MEMPHIS NAMED PRESEASON FAVORITE

Defending American Conference regular season and tournament champion Memphis has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2025-26 American men’s basketball title in voting done by the league’s head coaches.

Memphis received 11 first-place votes and total of 143 points to be named first, while South Florida, which earned the final two first-place votes, was selected second with 128 points. Tulane was picked third with 122 points, while UAB (98 points) and Wichita State (93) rounded out the top five. Florida Atlantic was selected sixth with 80 points, followed by North Texas (77), Tulsa (74), Temple (65), East Carolina (53), UTSA (32), Rice (27) and Charlotte (22).

BRUMBAUGH LEADS PRESEASON HONORS

Tulane redshirt junior guard Rowan Brumbaugh, the lone returning all-conference first-team member, was named the American Preseason Player of the Year and was unanimously selected to the Preseason All-Conference First Team. Brumbaugh averaged 15.7 points and 4.8 assists for the Green Wave in 2024-25. Florida Atlantic guard Josiah Parker was named the American’s Preseason Freshman of the Year.

Brumbaugh was joined on the Preseason All-Conference First Team by East Carolina senior guard Jordan Riley (14.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg), a Memphis duo of junior forward Aaron Bradshaw (6.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg for Ohio State) and senior guard Dug McDaniel (11.4 ppg, 4.9 apg for Kansas State) and Wichita State senior guard Kenyon Giles (15.3 ppg for UNCG).

MEMPHIS’ CONSISTENCY

Memphis is one of three programs in the nation that have won at least 18 games in each of the last 24 seasons starting in 2000-01 (Kansas, Gonzaga).

Memphis is the ONLY program in the country to have produced one of the nation’s top-10 leading scorer in each of the last three seasons: Kendric Davis (21.9 – 8th), David Jones (21.8 – 6th), PJ Haggerty (21.7 – 3rd).

ROBINSON ERA BEGINS IN DENTON

Daniyal Robinson was named the 20th head coach for North Texas in April. Prior to taking over the UNT program, Robinson spent three years at Cleveland State (2022-25) as the Vikings’ head men’s basketball coach. In his first head coaching job, Robinson led the Vikings to three straight 20-win seasons and a 65-42 (.607) overall combined record. CSU won at least 11 Horizon Conference games each season under Robinson and went a combined 39-21 (.650) in league games over his three seasons.

HODGSON TAKES THE REINS IN TAMPA

Bryan Hodgson was named South Florida’s 12th head coach in March. He came to Tampa from Arkansas State, where he spent two seasons as head coach. He guided the Red Wolves to two of the most successful seasons in program history, with back-to-back 20-win seasons, including a 25-11 record last season, which included a Sun Belt regular season title and an NIT bid.

NEW CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT

Beginning this season, the American Men’s Basketball Championship will feature the top 10 teams in a new five-day bracket format. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will advance directly to the semifinals, while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will maintain byes to the quarterfinals. The No. 5 and No. 6 seeds will receive byes to the second round. The 2026 Championship will run Wednesday through Sunday, March 11-15 at the Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama.

SCHEDULE

Monday, November 3

Boston College at Florida Atlantic (ESPNU).. 7 p.m.

Mississippi Valley State at UAB (ESPN+) 7:30 p.m.

Indiana State at Charlotte (ESPN+)………….. 8 p.m.

Oklahoma Christian at Tulsa (ESPN+)……….. 8 p.m.

Florida A&M at South Florida (ESPN+)……….. 8 p.m.

New Mexico Highlands at North Texas (ESPN+)…. 8:30 p.m.

Samford at Tulane (ESPN+)…………………… 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, November 4

Georgia Southern at East Carolina (ESPN+)… 7 p.m.

UNC Asheville at Wichita State (ESPN+)… 7:30 p.m.