Bearcats Basketball: UC Picked To Finished 3rd In AAC Preseason Media Poll

The Cincinnati Bearcats have been picked to finish third in the American Conference in the preseason coaches poll that was released today. For whatever it’s worth, this is the same slotting that Jon Rothstein gave UC over the Summer.

I guess I just don’t quite understand the disparity between SMU and the rest of the league. I’m fine with the coaches giving the Mustangs the nod to win the conference but by that wide of a margin? Based on eight first place votes, the pollsters are essentially saying that the Mustangs will not only win the AAC but run away with it. In reality, is there really that much of a difference between SMU, UConn, and Cincinnati?

All three teams return their head coaches, including UC who swept the Mustangs last year without their’s, and the core of their roster. SMU lost Yanick Moreira, UConn lost Ryan Boatright, and Cincinnati lost Jermaine Sanders. You tell me who’s really feeling the turnover efforts from this past offseason the least. Not only that but the Bearcats return 83% and 85% of their rebounding along with eight upperclassmen.

So, I ask you again, why is SMU such a heavy favorite to win the league? I don’t get it.

Here’s the full breakdown of the preseason AAC rankings.

1. SMU (8 first place votes)
2. UConn (2)
3. Cincinnati (1)
4. Tulsa
5. Memphis
6. Temple
7. Houston
8. East Carolina
9. Central Florida
10. South Florida
11. Tulane