University of Memphis Athletics
Tigers Picked Third in American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
Oct 16, 2013 | Men's Basketball
Oct. 16, 2013
American Athletic Conference Media Day
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis men’s basketball squad was picked to finish third in the 2013-14 American Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll, the league office released Wednesday at its inaugural media day at FedExForum.
The Tigers, which finished 2012-13 with a 31-5 overall record, received 68 points to place third, which was just one point behind second-place Connecticut with 69 points. Louisville, which received nine of 10 first-place votes and 81 total points, was picked to win the 2013-14 conference regular-season championship.
Memphis swept the 2012-13 Conference USA regular-season and tournament crowns. The Tigers won the C-USA regular-season title with a perfect 16-0 league record in 2012-13.
Senior Joe Jackson was the lone Tiger to earn All-American Athletic Conference preseason honors, as he was a unanimous choice to the league’s first team. Last year, the Tigers’ 6-foot-1 guard was the Conference USA Player of the Year and an All-C-USA first team pick. Jackson led the Tigers with a 13.6 scoring average in 2012-13.
The following is the 2013-14 American Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll, along with the preseason all-conference teams and honors:
| American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll | ||
| 1. | Louisville (9) | 81 |
| 2. | Connecticut (1) | 69 |
| 3. | Memphis | 68 |
| 4. | Cincinnati | 58 |
| 5. | Temple | 40 |
| 6. | SMU | 39 |
| 7. | Houston | 28 |
| 8. | USF | 27 |
| 9. | UCF | 24 |
| 10. | Rutgers | 16 |
| American Athletic Conference Preseason Teams | ||
| First Team | ||
| Sean Kilpatrick | Guard | Cincinnati |
| Shabazz Napier | Guard | Connecticut |
| Chane Behanan | Forward | Louisville |
| Russ Smith | Guard | Louisville |
| Joe Jackson | Guard | Memphis |
| Second Team | ||
| Isaiah Sykes | Guard | UCF |
| Ryan Boatright | Guard | Connecticut |
| TaShawn Thomas | Forward | Houston |
| Montrezl Harrell | Forward | Louisville |
| Anthony Collins | Guard | USF |
| Victor Rudd | Forward | USF |
| American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year | |||
| Russ Smith | Guard | Senior | Louisville |
| American Athletic Conference Preseason Rookie of the Year | |||
| Keith Frazier | Guard | Freshman | SMU |
