Winners & Losers: AAC Tournament Bracket Draw
The American conference tournament will kick off on Thursday from Orlando as the bracket was officially set on Sunday night. Here is who I think got a better draw than others as March is finally upon us.
WINNERS
Cincinnati - After their win on Sunday over Wichita, the Bearcats clinched the #1 seed which means that they will avoid Houston or Wichita State until the championship game. Cincinnati went 16-2 in the conference, loosing a game each to both Wichita and Houston. They would also avoid Temple in the quarterfinal, a team who had them beat, but blew a late lead. I would not expect Cincinnati to have any trouble getting past the Owls, but comparing instead Cincinnati will get the winner of UConn/SMU, two teams they easily beat combined 4 times.
South Florida - The Bulls finished last in the conference at 3-15, but have won two in a row and despite being the last seed in the tournament, they will play a team they just beat by 22 points on the road in the first round. As far as first round competition goes, USF got a pretty good draw. Unfortunately, USF won't be winning more than 1 game in this tournament.
UCF - They enter as the 6 seed and they will get ECU in the first round who just had one of their best players in Kentrell Barkley kicked off the team. Then they will face a Houston team who they played very well against, but lost 69-65 and that was with BJ Taylor playing hurt and now where near 100%. If the Knights were too upset the Cougars, then they would probably get Wichita who they just took to overtime on Thursday night. It's a slime chance, but they certainly got a better draw then being on Cincinnati's side of the bracket.
LOSERS
Wichita State - With their loss on Sunday, not only will Wichita likely meet Houston in the semi-finals, a team who beat them pretty soundly, but they also get a harder quarterfinal match-up. The Shockers await the winner of Temple/Tulane, who both gave WSU some fits. Temple beat Wichita in Philly in January and then went into the roundhouse and led 56-42 at the half, but couldn't hang on. Tulane then made the trip up to Wichita where they were able to put up 86 points on the road against the Shockers. Wichita hung on 93-86, but it wasn't one of their best performances. I think they would handle both teams, but it's just a harder draw then most would face in the quarters.
SMU - Tim Jankovich's team could catch a break all year, and they still can't. They will face a UConn team in the first round who beat them pretty soundly before they lost everyone, (including Shake Milton). If the Mustangs can manage to get by UConn they would have the #1 seed Cincinnati Bearcats waiting for them, who they trailed by 32 points on their home court just a few weeks ago.