USF Basketball Voted Eighth in American Athletic Conference

The American Athletic Conference had their annual media day in New York earlier today, which meant the release of the usual preseason polls and all-conference teams. The Bulls--who, remember, only have three returning players with Division I basketball experience-- were voted eighth in the 11-team conference. Defending national champion UConn was first, edging out Larry Brown's up-and-coming SMU squad. Here's the full coaches' poll:

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

At first glance this seems pretty kind to the Bulls, who finished last in the conference last season and saw more than half their roster transfer out. Take a moment, though, and remember that the new additions to the AAC-- minus Tulsa, who has a pretty solid team-- are pretty terrible at basketball, and it makes sense. Even with a roster laden with youth and inexperience, Orlando Antigua's up-tempo style might be fun to watch this season. The Bulls are by no means outclassed in the AAC, although they likely don't stand a chance yet against the top of the conference.

More good news: Chris Perry and Anthony Collins both deservedly earned second team all-conference honors. The Bulls will need Perry and Collins--along with lone senior Corey Allen-- to lead the way this season. Here are the full all-AAC teams:

First Team:
Ryan Boatright, G, UConn
Shaq Goodwin, F, Memphis
Austin Nichols, F, Memphis
Nic Moore, G, SMU
Markus Kennedy, F, SMU
James Woodard, G, Tulsa

Second Team:
Amida Brimah, C, UConn
Anthony Collins, G, USF
Chris Perry, F, USF
Will Cummings, G, Temple
Quenton DeCosey, G, Temple

I'll say this much: if Collins and Perry both earn second team honors in the postseason as well, the Bulls will have had a very nice season.