Memphis Basketball Picked to Finish Second in American Athletic Conference Preseason Poll

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Memphis Basketball Picked to Finish Second in American Athletic Conference Preseason Poll

Oct 28, 2020 | Men's Basketball

IRVING, Texas — The American Athletic Conference coaches have selected the 2020-21 Memphis men's basketball team to finish second in the conference preseason poll.

Third-year head coach Penny Hardaway's team received two first-place votes and 90 total voting points from the other 10 AAC coaches. Houston is picked to win the conference with nine first-place votes and 90 total.

Tiger freshman center Moussa Cisse is the Preseason Rookie of the Year. One of the top recruits in the country, Cisse led Lausanne Collegiate School to the 2019-20 Tennessee Division II-A state title. In his final high school season, Cisse averaged 18.4 points, 15.3 rebounds and 9.2 blocks.

Sophomore forward D.J. Jeffries and sophomore guard Landers Nolley II are both second-team selections. The 6-foot-7 Jeffries appeared in 19 games with 13 starts last season, averaging 10.8 points and 4.3 rebounds as a freshman. Nolley, a 6-foot-7 transfer from Virginia Tech, joins the Tigers after averaging 15.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists while earning Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Team honors for the Hokies last season.

Last season, the Tigers finished 21-10 overall and 10-8 in AAC play. The season was canceled just prior to the conference tournament due to the COVID-19 health emergency.

Eight of the 14 players on Memphis' roster have started at least 13 games at the Division I level. That list includes Jeffries (13), Nolley II (29), guard Alex Lomax (15), guard Boogie Ellis (27), guard Damion Baugh (25), guard Lester Quinones (23), forward DeAndre Williams (15) and forward Lance Thomas (13).

Preseason Poll
1.	Houston (9)	99
2.	Memphis (2)	90
3.	SMU	80
4.	Cincinnati	77
5.	USF	61
6.	Tulsa	50
7.	Wichita State	44
8.	UCF	37
9.	East Carolina	34
10.	Temple	18
11.	Tulane	15