South Florida head coach Jose Fernandez celebrates after cutting down the net following his team’s win against Rice in a NCAA college basketball game during the women’s final of the American Athletic Conference Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez
We’re less than 50 days away from the start of the 2026-27 men’s college basketball season. With transfers, coaching changes and program overhauls, it’s time to see where American Conference teams rank.
13. Rice University Owls
The first two years of head coach Rob Lanier’s tenure yielded similar results for the Rice University Owls: 13-19 and 13-18. Rice lost senior guard Nick Anderson to the portal and guard Trae Broadnax graduated; both were top scorers. They took transfer guard Carmelo Adkins from the University of South Carolina Upstate, who averaged 13.5 points per game on 33% from three. Adkins will likely start alongside sophomore guard Cam Carroll, and they must spark Rice’s backcourt improvement.
12. University of Texas San Antonio Roadrunners
After a 4-25 season and 1-17 in conference play, head coach Austin Claunch, entering his third season, needs production from incoming transfers after losing top scorers — senior forward Jamir Simpson, who graduated, and redshirt senior Austin Nunez, who transferred to Louisiana State University. UTSA adds guards Isaiah Watts and Isaiah Coleman from Maryland and Oklahoma State, bringing Power 4 conference experience to the Roadrunners, along with guard Demari Williams, who averaged 11.7 PPG at Houston Christian last season. UTSA also has the sixth-most returning minutes in the American this season, giving it a clearer path to improvement.
11. Tulane University Green Wave
Year 8 for Tulane head coach Ron Hunter presents a new challenge after losing second-team All-Conference junior guard Rowan Brumbaugh. Tulane brings in 10 new players, including junior guard Krystian Lewis, who averaged 18.4 PPG at the University of Louisiana Monroe, and junior guard Ryan Blount, who averaged 16.2 PPG over the last two years at the University of Tampa. Those two will be asked to replace Brumbaugh’s scoring impact and keep Tulane in the mix.
10. East Carolina University Pirates
After a rough 2025-26 season for ECU basketball and losing top scorer guard Jordan Riley to the NBA, ECU retooled its roster through the portal. ECU brought in its highest-ever-rated high school recruit forward Dreylan Creasy-Quirindongo and 7-foot-3 center Maxim Klitschko from AS Monaco Basket, along with transfer graduate forward Kaseem Watson from The University of Texas at El Paso. These additions give ECU a chance to improve if the new pieces step up quickly.
9. Temple University Owls
Temple’s leading scorer, graduate guard Derrian Ford, returns for the upcoming season with nine transfers. Graduate guards Dallis Dillard and Deuce Drake, senior guard Jordan Marsh and 7-foot-1 Mohamed Keita from Tulsa were top portal additions expected to help coach Adam Fisher improve last season’s mediocre 16-16 record.
8. Florida Atlantic University Owls
In his first two seasons as FAU head coach, John Jakus has gone 36-31, replacing national champion-winning head coach Dusty May. The Owls return senior guard Kanaan Carlyle, who averaged 14.3 PPG last season. Transfer junior forward Josh Harris, who was sidelined last year by injury, and junior guard Braeden Speed, who led LMU-Maryland in scoring, strengthen the roster. FAU also brought in four-star guard Felipe Quinones from Miami Columbus High School. The Owls should improve significantly.
7. The University of North Texas Mean Green
After a strong first season under head coach Daniyal Robinson, North Texas returns second-team All-American Conference junior guard Je’Shawn Stevenson, who averaged 17.3 PPG last season. The Mean Green also return senior guard Cole Franklin and junior forward Reece Robinson, bringing in junior guard transfer Cash Chavis from UT Arlington. North Texas returns the second-highest minutes in the American this season.
6. The University of Memphis Tigers
Memphis players celebrate as they claim the American Athletic Conference regular season championship following an NCAA college basketball game against South Florida, Friday, March 7, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)
AP Photo/Nikki Boertman
Penny Hardaway’s tenure as Memphis head coach has had its highs and lows. Finishing 13-19 last year was a low point for the Tigers. This year, Hardaway retooled the roster with nine transfers, including junior guard Brandin Cummings from the University of Pittsburgh and graduate forward Rihards Vavers from Washington State University. The Tigers also signed four-star guard Fred Smith Jr. If this group clicks, Memphis can return to the NCAA Tournament this season.
5. University of North Carolina at Charlotte 49ers
Emmanuel Perkins/Niner Times
After a 17-17 season, Charlotte’s new director of athletics, Kevin White, replaced head coach Aaron Fearne with former Cincinnati and UNCG head coach Wes Miller. Miller, a North Carolina native, brings 15 years of head coaching experience and a revamped roster. Led by power-conference transfers including Cincinnati sophomore guard Keyshuan Tillery and Georgia Tech junior center Peyton Marshall, the 49ers also added Sun Belt Conference player of the year graduate guard Chaze Harris, who averaged 19.2 PPG last season. Charlotte leads the conference in projected effective talent and transfer production this season, putting them near the top to compete in the American.
4. University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers
After postseason appearances in the Blazers’ four seasons before last year, the Blazers under Andy Kennedy have high expectations for the 2026-27 season. Kennedy added former four-star senior guard Justyn Fernandez, who averaged 16.6 points for Delaware and Itawamba Community College sophomore guard transfer Tim Holliday. UAB has the second-highest projected effective talent in the American this season, supporting its high ranking and postseason contention.
3. University of South Florida Bulls
South Florida players celebrate after winning the NCAA college basketball game against Rice during the women’s final of the American Athletic Conference Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez
After a 2025-26 season in which USF won the American regular season and conference tournament championships, it made its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance. USF lost head coach Bryan Hodgson to Providence and hired former Xavier University and University of Louisville head coach Chris Mack. After two strong seasons at the College of Charleston, Mack brings in a revamped roster to USF that includes 12 transfers. Power-conference transfer junior forward Zayden High comes from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mack also brings in Coastal Carolina senior guard AJ Dancler, who finished second in scoring, averaging 15.2 PPG for the Chanticleers last season, and Toledo senior guard Sonny Wilson, who averaged 17 PPG last season. With a new coach and roster, USF will struggle to repeat as American champions in 2026-27.
2. The University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Eric Konkol, in his fourth season as Tulsa head coach, saw a turnaround from 13 wins to 30 wins and a runner-up finish in the NIT postseason tournament. Konkol brought in nine new players, including Missouri State senior guard Kobi Williams, who averaged 14.4 PPG last season, and junior guard Jeremiah Johnson, who averaged 15.2 PPG and shot 37.4% from three at Campbell University. If Williams and Johnson contribute for the Golden Hurricane, they can push Tulsa toward the top of the American.
1. Wichita State University Shockers
After finishing second in the American last season and reaching the NIT quarterfinals, head coach Paul Mills is looking for his first NCAA tournament berth. Mills retained 10 players, including 7-foot-2 center William Berg, who was named American Conference Sixth Man of the Year last season. He also racked up nine double-doubles in the 2025-26 season for the Shockers. Mills also brought Dayton University junior guard Bryce Heard, who shot 36.6% from three last season with the Flyers. First-team All-Conference graduate guard Kenyon Giles was recently deemed eligible to play with the Shockers this season; last year, he averaged 19.1 PPG. With Giles eligible, the Shockers have a real chance to win the American and return to the NCAA Tournament.