AAC: Houston Picked to Win Conference over Memphis

[Muskie]

Link (https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/columnists/mark-giannotto/2019/10/14/penny-hardaway-memphis-basketball-aac-preseason-poll-media-day-motivation/3973591002/)


Seven of its men’s basketball coaches picked Houston, not Memphis and its No. 1 recruiting class, to win the AAC this year. Only four tabbed the Tigers as the conference favorites. The two teams were tied for first atop the AAC’s preseason poll (https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/college/memphis-tigers/basketball/2019/10/14/memphis-basketball-aac-james-wiseman-top-freshman-penny-hardaway/3893338002/). Even though Memphis is ranked as high as No. 6 in the country in some preseason polls by national media. Even though Memphis is the only AAC team ranked in every single one of those national preseason polls.“Normally, you don’t lose four starters and get picked first in the conference,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson told reporters Monday morning at AAC media day in Philadelphia.He, apparently, was just as shocked as everyone here in Memphis.

[GoMuskies]

That's absurd. It's a clear vote of no confidence against Penny, because he clearly has the best players by a wide margin.

[Muskie]

Agree that it's absurd. Also, according to the article Houston lost four players. A weird pick even if you think Sampson is a great coach (cell phone violations aside).

[XU 87]

That's absurd. It's a clear vote of no confidence against Penny, because he clearly has the best players by a wide margin.

Memphis has the best players. We'll now see if Penny can coach them.

[xubrew]

Picking Houston may not be as absurd as you think.

The last two years they've started off unranked and with no real expectations, and ended up having a great year both years.

They only have one starter back, but they have the transfer from Towson who was one of the leading scorers in the Colonial who would have started last yer had he been eligible. They also have Quinten Grimes who started for Kansas last year, and was given a waiver to play this year.

I think a lot of people see that they lost four starters and just assume that they don't have anything coming in to replace it. They do. I would still pick Memphis, but Houston is going to be pretty good again this year despite the roster overhaul.

[American X]

Kelvin Sampson is one of the best things to ever happen to Xavier basketball.