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The Matt Thomas Show with Ross

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Houston Men’s Basketball Picked as The American Preseason Favorite

HOUSTON – For the third consecutive season, the University of Houston Men’s Basketball program was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the American Athletic Conference Coaches’ Preseason Poll, released Wednesday morning during the league’s annual Media Day.

Junior guard Marcus Sasser earned a place on the Preseason All-Conference Team.

The Cougars received eight first-place votes from the league’s head coaches, totaling 98 points. Houston finished six points ahead of Memphis, which received the remaining three first-place votes.

Following Memphis, SMU (77), Wichita State (76), UCF (66), Cincinnati (52), Tulsa (43), Temple (37), South Florida (25), Tulane (25) and East Carolina (14) rounded out the rest of the poll.

Sasser was joined on the Preseason First Team by Jalen Duren (Memphis), Landers Nolley II (Memphis ), Kendric Davis (SMU) and Tyson Etienne (Wichita State).

Brandon Mahan (UCF), Emoni Bates (Memphis), Deandre Williams (Memphis), Jeremiah Davenport (Cincinnati) and Jaylen Forbes (Tulane ) made up the Preseason Second Team.

Etienne was named the Preseason Player of the Year, while Memphis freshman Jalen Duren was selected as the league’s Rookie of the Year.

Houston tied with Memphis as the No. 1 team in Preseason Poll a year ago. With a 23-8 overall record and 13-5 mark in American Athletic Conference play, the Cougars captured their second straight regular-season title for only the second time in school history.

Houston v Baylor

Photo: Getty Images

2021 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE COACHES PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

Rk.       School (1st-place votes)             Pts           

1.          Houston (8)                                         98

2.           Memphis (3)                                        92

3.           SMU                                                    77             

4.           Wichita State                                       76

5.           UCF                                                     66

6.           Cincinnati                                            52             

7.           Tulsa                                                    43

8.           Temple                                                 37

t9.         South Florida                                       25

t9.         Tulane                                                   25             

11.        East Carolina                                        14


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