2022–23 American Athletic Conference men's basketball season

The 2022–23 American Athletic Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2022, followed by the start of the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season on November 7, 2022. Conference play began December 27, 2022, and concluded with the 2023 American Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament, held March 9–12, 2023, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

2022–23 American Athletic Conference men's basketball season
LeagueNCAA Division I
SportBasketball
DurationNovember 2022
through March 2023
Number of teams11
TV partner(s)CBS, ESPN, ESPN+
Regular season
Season championsHouston
Season MVPMarcus Sasser, Houston
Tournament
ChampionsMemphis
  Runners-upHouston
American Athletic Conference men's basketball seasons
2022–23 American Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 2 Houston 17 1   .944 33 4   .892
No. 24 Memphis 13 5   .722 26 9   .743
Tulane 12 6   .667 20 11   .645
Cincinnati 11 7   .611 23 13   .639
Temple 10 8   .556 16 16   .500
Wichita State 9 9   .500 17 15   .531
UCF 8 10   .444 19 15   .559
South Florida 7 11   .389 14 18   .438
East Carolina 6 12   .333 16 17   .485
SMU 5 13   .278 10 22   .313
Tulsa 1 17   .056 5 25   .167
2023 AAC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

Scheduling stayed in the current format: an 18-game schedule in which every team in The American played eight of its 10 conference opponents twice and the other two opponents once—one at home and one on the road.[1]

Previous season

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Houston won the regular season championship. The 2022 American Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament was held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, where it was also won by Houston. Houston and Memphis received bids to the NCAA tournament. Memphis lost in the second round to Gonzaga, while Houston advanced to the Elite Eight before losing to Villanova. The conference finished 4–2 overall. SMU received a bid to the 2022 National Invitation Tournament. SMU lost to Washington State in the second round. The conference went 1–1 overall in the NIT.

Kendric Davis from SMU was named the AAC Player of the Year. Houston's Kelvin Sampson was named Coach of the Year.[2]

Coaches

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Coaching changes

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Coach School Reason Replacement
Joe Dooley East Carolina East Carolina fired Dooley after 4 seasons on March 11, 2022. It was his second stint with the program, having previously been the head coach from 1995–1999.[3] Michael Schwartz.[4]
Frank Haith Tulsa On March 12, 2022, Haith announced that he was resigning after 8 seasons.[5] Eric Konkol.[6]
Tim Jankovich SMU Jankovich announced his retirement after 6 seasons on March 22, 2022.[7] Rob Lanier.[8]

Head coaches

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Note: Stats are through the beginning of the season. All stats and records are from time at current school only.

Team Head coach Previous job Years at school Overall record AAC record AAC titles NCAA tournaments* NCAA Final Fours NCAA Championships
Cincinnati Wes Miller UNC Greensboro 1 18–15 7–11 0 0 0 0
East Carolina Michael Schwartz Tennessee
(asst.)
0 0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0
Houston Kelvin Sampson Houston Rockets
(asst.)
8 199–70 100–43 3 4 1 0
Memphis Penny Hardaway East HS 4 85–43 45–24 0 1 0 0
SMU Rob Lanier Georgia State 0 0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0
South Florida Brian Gregory Michigan State
(advisor)
5 65–89 26–61 0 0 0 0
Temple Aaron McKie Temple
(asst.)
3 36–40 20–29 0 0 0 0
Tulane Ron Hunter Georgia State 3 36–46 18–34 0 0 0 0
Tulsa Eric Konkol Louisiana Tech 0 0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0
UCF Johnny Dawkins Stanford 6 112–72 57–51 0 1 0 0
Wichita State Isaac Brown Wichita State (asst.) 2 31–19 17–11 1 1 0 0

Notes:

  • Overall and AAC records are from time at current school and are through the end of 2021–22 season. NCAA records include time at current school only.
  • AAC records only, prior conference records not included.
  • *In current job

Preseason

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Recruiting classes

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2022 Recruiting classes rankings
Team ESPN[9] Rivals[10] 247 Sports[11] Signees
Cincinnati - No. 39 No. 35 3
East Carolina - - No. 139 6
Houston - No. 16 No. 30 3
Memphis - - - -
SMU - - - -
South Florida - No. 73 No. 138 2
Temple - No. 97 No. 134 1
Tulane - - No. 110 1
Tulsa - No. 58 No. 115 3
UCF - No. 52 No. 60 2
Wichita State - - - -

Preseason watchlists

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Below is a table of notable preseason watch lists.

Wooden[12] Naismith[13] Cousy[14] West[15] Erving[16] Malone[17] NABC[18] Abdul-Jabbar[19]
Kendric Davis, Memphis  Y  Y  Y  Y
Marcus Sasser, Houston  Y  Y  Y  Y
Jarace Walker, Houston  Y
DeAndre Williams, Memphis  Y

Preseason media poll

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On October 12, The American released the preseason Poll and other preseason awards.[20]

Coaches Poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Houston 100 (10)
2 Memphis 87 (1)
3 Cincinnati 82
4 Tulane 74
5 Temple 66
6 UCF 51
7 SMU 43
8 Wichita State 35
9 South Florida 33
10 Tulsa 21
11 East Carolina 13

Preseason All-AAC

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Honor Recipient
Preseason Player of the Year Marcus Sasser, Houston
Preseason Rookie of the Year Jarace Walker, Houston*
Preseason All-AAC First Team
Marcus Sasser, Houston*
Kendric Davis, Memphis*
DeAndre Williams, Memphis
Damian Dunn, Temple
Jalen Cook, Tulane*
Preseason All-AAC Second Team
David DeJulius, Cincinnati
Jamal Shead, Houston
Khalif Battle, Temple
Kevin Cross, Tulane
Jaylen Forbes, Tulane
*Unanimous selections

Regular season

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Conference matrix

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This table summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference play.

  Cincinnati East Carolina Houston Memphis SMU South Florida Temple Tulane Tulsa UCF Wichita State
vs. Cincinnati 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–1 0–2 0–1
vs. East Carolina 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1
vs. Houston 0–2 0–1 0–2 0–2 0–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2
vs. Memphis 0–2 0–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 0–1 1–1 0–2
vs. SMU 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–1 2–0 0–2 1–0 2–0
vs. South Florida 2–0 0–2 1–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–0 0–2 0–2 2–0
vs. Temple 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–0 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–0
vs. Tulane 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–1 0–2 1–1 0–1 1–1
vs. Tulsa 1–0 2–0 2–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0
vs. UCF 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 0–2 0–2
vs. Wichita State 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–1 1–1 0–2 2–0
Total 11–7 6–12 17–1 13–5 5–13 7–11 10–8 12–6 1–17 8–10 9–9

Player of the week

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Throughout the regular season, the American Athletic Conference named a player and rookie of the week.

Week Player of the week Freshman of the week Ref.
Week 1 – Nov 14 David DeJulius, Cincinnati Jarace Walker, Houston [21]
Week 2 – Nov 21 Marcus Sasser, Houston Taylor Hendricks, UCF [22]
Week 3 – Nov 28 Kendric Davis, Memphis Taylor Hendricks (2), UCF [23]
Week 4 – Dec 5 Khalif Battle, Temple Taylor Hendricks (3), UCF [24]
Week 5 – Dec 12 Kendric Davis (2), Memphis Taylor Hendricks (4), UCF [25]
Week 6 – Dec 19 Kendric Davis (3), Memphis Jarace Walker (2), Houston [26]
Week 7 – Dec 26 Zhuric Phelps, SMU Emanuel Sharp, Houston [27]
Week 8 – Jan 2 Kendric Davis (4), Memphis Taylor Hendricks (5), UCF [28]
Week 9 – Jan 9 Jaylen Forbes, Tulane Jarace Walker (3), Houston [29]
Week 10 – Jan 16 Kendric Davis (5), Memphis
Jaylen Forbes (2), Tulane
Taylor Hendricks (6), UCF [30]
Week 11 – Jan 23 DeAndre Williams, Memphis Jarace Walker (4), Houston [31]
Week 12 – Jan 30 Kendric Davis (6), Memphis
Khalif Battle (2), Temple
Jarace Walker (5), Houston [32]
Week 13 – Feb 6 Jalen Cook, Tulane Jarace Walker (6), Houston [33]
Week 14 – Feb 13 DeAndre Williams (2), Memphis Taylor Hendricks (7), UCF [34]
Week 15 – Feb 20 Jalen Cook (2), Tulane Ezra Ausar, East Carolina [35]
Week 16 – Feb 27 DeAndre Williams (3), Memphis Taylor Hendricks (8), UCF [36]
Week 17 – Mar 6 Jamal Shead, Houston Taylor Hendricks (9), UCF [37]

All-AAC Awards and teams

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Honor Recipient
Player of the Year Marcus Sasser, Houston
Coach of the Year Kelvin Sampson, Houston
Freshman of the Year Jarace Walker, Houston
Defensive Player of the Year Jamal Shead, Houston
Most Improved Player J'Wan Roberts, Houston
Sixth Man of the Year Reggie Chaney, Houston
Sportsmanship Award Ludgy Debaut, East Carolina
Sion James, Tulane
All-AAC First Team
Landers Nolley II, Cincinnati
Marcus Sasser, Houston*
Kendric Davis, Memphis*
DeAndre Williams, Memphis
Jalen Cook, Tulane
All-AAC Second Team
Taylor Hendricks, UCF
Jamal Shead, Houston
J'Wan Roberts, Houston
Jarace Walker, Houston
Jaylen Forbes, Tulane
All-AAC Third Team
David DeJulius, Cincinnati
Tyler Harris, South Florida
Damian Dunn, Temple
Kevin Cross, Tulane
Craig Porter Jr., Wichita State
All-Freshman Team
Taylor Hendricks, UCF*
Ezra Ausar, East Carolina*
Jarace Walker, Houston*
Terrance Arceneaux, Houston
Emanuel Sharp, Houston
*Unanimous selections

Source:[38]

Postseason

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American Athletic Conference tournament

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* – Denotes overtime period

First round
Thursday, March 9
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 10
Semifinals
Saturday, March 11
Championship
Sunday, March 12
1 Houston 60
8 South Florida 58 9 East Carolina 46
9 East Carolina 73 1 Houston 69
4 Cincinnati 48
4 Cincinnati 84
5 Temple 54
1 Houston 65
2 Memphis 75
2 Memphis 81
7 UCF 76 7 UCF 76
10 SMU 70 2 Memphis 94
3 Tulane 54
3 Tulane 82
6 Wichita State 81 6 Wichita State 76
11 Tulsa 63

NCAA tournament

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Seed Region School First Four First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four Championship
1 Midwest Houston N/A defeated (16) Northern Kentucky, 63–52 defeated (9) Auburn, 81–64 eliminated by (5) Miami (FL), 75–89
8 East Memphis N/A eliminated by (9) Florida Atlantic, 65–66
W–L (%): 0–0 (–) 1–1 (.500) 1–0 (1.000) 0–1 (.000) 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) Total: 2–2 (.500)

National Invitation tournament

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Seed Bracket School First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
4 Rutgers Cincinnati defeated Virginia Tech, 81–72 defeated Hofstra, 79–65 eliminated by Utah Valley, 68–74
Oregon UCF defeated (4) Florida, 67–49 eliminated by (1) Oregon, 54–68
W–L (%): 2–0 (1.000) 1–1 (.500) 0–1 (.000) 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–) Total: 3–2 (.600)

NBA draft

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The following list includes all AAC players who were drafted in the 2023 NBA draft.

Player Position School Round Pick Team
Jarace Walker PF Houston 1 8 Washington Wizards
Taylor Hendricks PF UCF 1 9 Utah Jazz
Marcus Sasser SG/PG Houston 1 25 Memphis Grizzlies

References

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  1. ^ "The American Announces 2022-23 Men's Basketball Schedule". theAmerican.org. American Athletic Conference. September 21, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  2. ^ "American Athletic Conference Announces Men's Basketball Honors". theamerican.org. March 9, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  3. ^ Igoe, Stephen (March 11, 2022). "ECU parts ways with head basketball coach Joe Dooley". 247sports.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  4. ^ Kosko, Nick (March 14, 2022). "Tennessee assistant Michael Schwartz hired as East Carolina head coach". 247sports.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  5. ^ Borzello, Jeff (March 12, 2022). "Tulsa men's basketball coach Frank Haith resigns, 'will cherish the memories we have made'". abcnews.go.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  6. ^ McGuire, Kane (March 21, 2022). "Eric Konkol accepts head coach job at University of Tulsa". crescentcitysports.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  7. ^ Borzello, Jeff (March 22, 2022). "SMU men's basketball coach Tim Jankovich announces retirement". abcnews.go.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  8. ^ Hofeditz, Jordan (March 27, 2022). "Lanier hired as next SMU head men's basketball coach". 247sports.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  9. ^ Borzello, John; Finkelstein, Adam (April 20, 2022). "2022 men's college basketball recruiting class rankings: Who rose and who fell after the Final Four?". ESPN.com.
  10. ^ "2022 Team Rankings". rivals.com.
  11. ^ "2022 Recruit Rankings". 247Sports.
  12. ^ "JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD PRESENTED BY WENDY'S ANNOUNCES 2022-23 PRESEASON TOP 50 WATCH LIST". woodenaward.com. November 15, 2022.
  13. ^ "Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe Headlines 2023 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List". naismithtrophy.com. Atlanta Tip Off Club.
  14. ^ "2023 Cousy Award Preseason Watch List". hoophallawards.com.
  15. ^ "2023 West Award Preseason Watch List". hoophallawards.com.
  16. ^ "2023 Erving Award Preseason Watch List". hoophallawards.com.
  17. ^ "2023 Malone Award Preseason Watch List". hoophallawards.com.
  18. ^ "Preseason Watch List Named for NABC Division I Player of the Year". nabc.com. National Association of Basketball Coaches. November 3, 2022.
  19. ^ "2023 Abdul-Jabbar Award Preseason Watch List". hoophallawards.com.
  20. ^ "Houston Picked as 2022-23 American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Favorite". theAmerican.org. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  21. ^ "Cincinnati's DeJulius, Houston's Walker Earn Weekly Honors". theamerican.org. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  22. ^ "Houston's Sasser, UCF's Hendricks Earn Weekly Honors". theamerican.org. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  23. ^ "Memphis' Davis, UCF's Hendricks Earn Weekly Honors". theamerican.org. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  24. ^ "Temple's Battle, UCF's Hendricks Earn Weekly Honors". theamerican.org. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  25. ^ "Memphis' Davis, UCF's Hendricks Earn Weekly Honors". theamerican.org. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  26. ^ "Memphis' Davis, Houston's Walker Earn Weekly Honors". theamerican.org. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  27. ^ "SMU's Phelps, Houston's Sharp Earn Weekly Awards". theamerican.org. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  28. ^ "Memphis' Davis, UCF's Hendricks Earn Weekly Honors". theamerican.org. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  29. ^ "Tulane's Forbes, Houston's Walker Earn Weekly Awards". theamerican.org. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  30. ^ "Memphis' Davis, Tulane's Forbes, UCF's Hendricks Earn Weekly Honors". theamerican.org. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  31. ^ "Memphis' Williams, Houston's Walker Earn Weekly Honors". theamerican.org. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  32. ^ "Memphis' Davis, Temple's Battle, Houston's Walker Earn Weekly Honors". theamerican.org. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  33. ^ "Tulane's Cook, Houston's Walker Earn Weekly Honors". theamerican.org. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  34. ^ "Memphis' Williams, UCF's Hendricks Earn Weekly Honors". theamerican.org. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  35. ^ "Tulane's Cook, East Carolina's Ausar Earn Weekly Honors". theamerican.org. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  36. ^ "Memphis' Williams, UCF's Hendricks Earn Weekly Honors". theamerican.org. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  37. ^ "Houston's Shead, UCF's Hendricks Earn Final Weekly Honors of the Season". theamerican.org. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  38. ^ "The American Announces Men's Basketball Honors". theamerican.org. American Athletic Conference. March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.