American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Report Friday, January 22, 2021 Contact: Tom Fenstermaker, Director of Communications ([email protected]) 545 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Third Floor • Irving, Texas, 75062 • 336.259.1708 TheAmerican.org • Twitter: @American_MBB • Facebook: fb.com/AmericanConf • Instagram: AmericanConf 2020-21 STANDINGS AMERICAN OVERALL SCHOOL W-L PCT PF PA W-L PCT PF PA H A N L10 STREAK NOTABLE Houston8 7-1 .875 72.4 57.4 12-1 .923 74.2 56.7 9-0 2-1 1-0 9-1 W 5 HC Sampson 650th career win against UCF Wichita State 4-2 .667 70.0 68.8 8-4 .667 72.3 67.6 5-2 3-2 0-0 7-3 L 1 Tyson Etienne with four 25+ point games Tulsa-/RV 5-3 .625 60.9 64.2 8-5 .615 67.2 62.8 5-1 3-2 0-2 7-3 L 1 Win over Houston was 1st top-5 win since 1996 SMU 3-2 .600 71.4 68.8 7-2 .778 79.2 67.1 5-2 2-0 0-0 7-2 W 1 Kendric Davis conference-record 14 assists vs. Cincinnati Memphis 3-2 .600 63.2 59.4 7-5 .583 70.8 62.6 5-1 1-1 1-3 6-4 W 1 Jeffries game-saving block vs. USF USF 3-3 .500 66.0 66.0 7-5 .583 68.6 67.9 4-2 2-1 1-2 6-4 W 1 Collins all-time league leader in free throws made Temple 2-3 .400 63.2 69.2 3-3 .500 64.7 67.7 2-1 1-2 0-0 3-3 W 2 Won last 2 league games after starting conf. play 0-3 East Carolina 1-3 .250 60.5 64.2 7-3 .700 69.6 63.5 6-1 1-2 0-0 7-3 L 2 Pirates were 5-0 for first time since 2012-13 Tulane 1-4 .200 59.8 68.0 6-4 .600 63.5 62.2 6-2 0-2 0-0 6-4 L 2 Allowed only 38 points (12 in first half) vs. Southern Miss UCF 1-4 .200 60.6 67.6 3-5 .375 63.8 68.4 2-1 1-4 0-0 3-5 L 4 Three Knights with 20+ points in road win at No. 15 FSU Cincinnati 1-4 .200 71.8 74.0 3-7 .300 69.7 72.3 2-3 1-4 0-0 3-7 L 1 Win at SMU was 100th AAC win Rankings listed as AP/USA Today SCHEDULE & RESULTS THE AMERICAN TODAY WEEKLY HONORS SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 ON TAP PLAYER OF THE WEEK Temple 65, Tulane 57 The American has two games set for Saturday Morris Udeze, Jr., Forward, Wichita State (Jan. 23) as Houston travels to Temple at Noon Udeze led the Shockers with 20 points and eight SUNDAY, JANUARY 17 Eastern on CBS, while UCF hosts SMU at 2 p.m. rebounds in a win over Tulsa on Wednesday (Jan. 13). The junior forward was efficient, going 6-of-7 from 11Houston 75, UCF 58 Eastern on ESPNU. the field and was 8-of-9 from the free throw line. RV/-Tulsa 58, Memphis 57 COACHES VS. RACISM FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20 Starting with the Houston-Temple game on CBS Damian Dunn, Guard, Temple 8 -/RV Houston 86, Tulsa 59 and continuing next week with the rest of league Dunn aided the Owls to a 2-1 week by averaging 19.0 play, The American’s basketball coaching staffs will points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the three THURSDAY, JANUARY 21 be wearing Coaches Vs. Racism pins in support of games. The freshman guard scored a team-high 20 Memphis 72, Wichita State 52 the fight against racism. points in Temple’s wins over UCF on Thursday (Jan. 14) and at Tulane on Saturday (Jan. 16). SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 Kelvin Sampson, Houston Head Coach: “As coaches 8Houston at Temple (CBS) ......................................Noon we have a responsibility. Racism hasn’t gone away. HONOR ROLL SMU at UCF (ESPNU) ...............................................2 p.m. We are making strides. We have more and more Justin Gorham, Sr., Forward, Houston people who are interested in making a stand against Gorham helped lead the Cougars to a win over UCF SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 racism that don’t look like me. That’s why there is on Sunday (Jan. 17) with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Memphis at East Carolina (ESPN2) .................4 p.m. so much hope. It was Gorham’s fourth-consecutive double-double. Malcolm Dandridge, So., Center, Memphis TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 “We need to keep this in the forefront so there will Dandridge posted a double-double with 10 points SMU at Memphis (ESPNU) .....................................7 p.m. be conversation. This is something that is important and 10 rebounds against Tulsa on Sunday. The and something that we support, and we will do all we sophomore center also blocked three shots. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27 can to keep it in the forefront of people’s minds and Wichita State at Cincinnati (ESPN+) ................6 p.m. give them something to think about.” Feron Hunt, Jr., Forward, SMU East Carolina at UCF (ESPN+) ...............................7 p.m. Hunt posted a double-double with 18 points and 11 Mike Aresco, Commissioner: “The Coaches vs. rebounds in a win over Temple on Monday (Jan. 11). THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 Racism effort is one of the more visible ways for our Memphis at SMU (ESPN2) .....................................7 p.m. basketball coaches to support our critical national Jake Forrester, Jr., Forward, Temple Houston at Tulane (ESPN2) ..................................7 p.m. goal of racial justice and equality. While our Racial Forrester averaged 9.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in Equality Action Group continues to work directly with three games for the Owls last week, including a SATURDAY, JANUARY 30 our schools on meaningful ways to effect change, this double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds at Tulsa at East Carolina (ESPN+) .............................Noon initiative of our coaches will keep these important Tulane on Saturday. UCF at Wichita State (ESPNU) ............................4 p.m. issues in a public light. I am fully supportive and Elijah Joiner, Sr., Guard, Tulsa Cincinnati at USF (ESPNU) ....................................6 p.m. applaud their strong commitment. Their actions will Joiner averaged 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 have a significant impact.” assists in a 1-1 week for the Golden Hurricane. All times ET and subject to change He recorded 15 points in a win over Memphis on Brian Thornton, Associate Commissioner for Sunday. Basketball: “The American Athletic Conference is extremely proud of our coaches’ collective fight against racism. Their decision to use their platform to shed light on such a critical national issue is inspiring. This is a prime example of how college athletics can continue to serve as a catalyst for change. While issues of race in this country are far from solved, there clearly is momentum to make a difference.” AMERICAN NOTEBOOK AWARD CENTRAL LAST TIME OUT THE RECORD BOOK Memphis earned a 72-52 win over Wichita State The American’s single-game records: 2021 Wooden Award Watch List at home on Thursday night (Jan. 21). Caleb Mills, R-So., G, Houston Individual Points IN THE NATIONAL POLLS 43 Jeremiah Martin, Memphis vs. Tulane, 2/20/19 Landers Nolley II, R-So., 42 Russ Smith, Louisville vs. Houston, 3/14/14 Houston moved back in to the top 10 at No. 8 in 41 Jeremiah Martin, Memphis at USF, 2/3/19 2021 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy both of the AP Top 25 and Ferris Mowers Coaches Watch List Top 25 this week. Tulsa is receiving votes in the Individual Field Goals Caleb Mills, R-So., G, Houston Coaches Top 25 this week. 15 Shaq Goodwin, Memphis at UCF, 1/26/16 Dedric Lawson, Memphis vs. Iowa, 11/26/16 Jeremiah Martin, Memphis vs. Tulane, 2/20/19 2021 Jerry West Award IN THE NET Watch List (SG) Houston ranks No. 4 in the latest NET rankings. Individual 3-Point Field Goals Caleb Mills, R-So., G, Houston The American has six teams in top 100. 11 Matt Williams, UCF vs. USF, 1/17/17 10 James Woodard, Tulsa at SMU, 3/8/15 2021 Julius Erving Award MILESTONE FOR HOUSTON’S SAMPSON Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson hit a coaching Individual Free Throws Watch List (SF) 17 Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati vs. Nebraska, 12/28/13 milestone with Sunday’s win over UCF. With the win Jayden Gardner, Jr., F, East Carolina 16 Jayden Gardner, ECU vs. Appalachian State, 11/30/18 D.J. Jeffries, So., F, Memphis on Sunday, Sampson moved to 41st in NCAA Division 15 Four tied, I history with 650 career victories, passing former Last: David Collins, USF vs. Stony Brook, 3/20/19 2021 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Houston head coach Tom Penders. Watch List (C) Individual Rebounds COUGARS DEFENDING THE ROCK 23 Shaq Goodwin, Memphis vs. Temple, 2/7/15 Moussa Cisse, Fr., C, Memphis Jordan Tolbert, SMU vs. Nicholls State, 12/16/15 Houston ranks second in the nation in scoring 22 Precious Achiuwa, Memphis at Tulane (OT), 2/29/20 defense at 56.7 points allowed per game. The 21 Trevon Scott, Cincinnati vs. UCF (2OT), 2/19/20 IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS Cougars are holding opponents to 37.1 percent Houston ranks as the No. 2 team in the country in shooting from the field and 26.2 percent from Individual Assists scoring defense at 56.7 points per game.