Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics
DALLAS - A new era in American Athletic Conference men's basketball officially begins next month, and Wichita State's first-year head coach Paul Mills' inaugural squad has been picked to finish eighth out of 14 teams in the preseason poll.
The preseason poll was announced Monday morning in conjunction with the league's annual Men's and Women's Basketball Media Day event held in Dallas/Fort Worth. Fans can tune in today on ESPN+ from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for interviews and coverage of all 14 teams.
Wichita State is scheduled to appear on the ESPN+ Live Show at 12:20 p.m. CT.
Wichita State returns just four lettermen from a season ago, while welcoming seven newcomers to the team. The 2022-23 Shockers finished sixth in the American at 9-9 and 17-15 overall.
Fresh off a 2023 Final Four appearance, Florida Atlantic is picked to win the league in its debut season in the American. The Owls received 11 first place votes and 167 total points. Memphis came in second with three first place votes and 159 points.
Tulane, UAB and East Carolina round out the top five. Florida Atlantic's Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin were named Preseason Co-Player of the Year.
Wichita State hosts Rogers State on Oct. 29 for an exhibition game in Charles Koch Arena at 1 p.m., and officially opens the season on Nov. 6 vs. Lipscomb.
Season tickets are on sale now through the Shocker Ticket Office, (M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.), by phone at 316-978-FANS (3267) or in person at southwest corner of Charles Koch Arena.
American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll:
First-Place votes in parenthesis
1. Florida Atlantic (11) 167
2. Memphis (3) 159
3. Tulane 142
4. UAB 128
5. East Carolina105
6. North Texas 100
7. SMU 97
8. Wichita State 90
9. South Florida 62
10. Tulsa 59
11. Rice 56
12. Temple 49
13. Charlotte 46
14. UTSA 14
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Eric Gaines, UAB
Johnell Davis, Jr., G, Florida Atlantic
Alijah Martin, Jr., G, Florida Atlantic
Jahvon Quinerly, Sr., G, Memphis
Jaylen Forbes, Jr., G, Tulane*
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
RJ Felton, Jr., G, East Carolina
Jordan Brown, R-Sr., F, Memphis
Max Fielder, Sr., F, Rice
Zhuric Phelps, Jr., G, SMU
Kevin Cross, Jr., F, Tulane
Preseason Player of the Year
Johnell Davis, Jr., G, Florida Atlantic
Alijah Martin, Jr., G, Florida Atlantic
Preseason Rookie of the Year
Carl Cherenfant, G, Memphis
JJ Taylor, F, Memphis
* denotes unanimous selection