Here’s why the AAC coaches may have just given WSU some extra motivation
WSU was picked to finish eighth in the 12-team AAC in the coaches’ poll released on Monday morning at the AAC Media Day. Central Florida was the favorite, followed by Cincinnati, Houston, Memphis, and Connecticut.
WSU senior forward Markis McDuffie was picked to the preseason second team all-conference team. No other Shocker received recognition. UCF guard B.J. Taylor was the conference’s preseason Player of the Year.
The Shockers return just 11.2 percent of their minutes from last season, the second-fewest in the NCAA, but coach Gregg Marshall has led WSU to seven straight NCAA Tournaments and hasn’t won less than 25 games since 2009.
AAC preseason coaches’ poll
1. Central Florida (6) 114
2. Cincinnati (3) 107
3. Houston (2) 103
4. Memphis (1) 85
5. Connecticut 75
6. Temple 74
7. SMU 63
8. Wichita State 60
9. Tulsa 48
10. Tulane 23
11. East Carolina 22
12. South Florida 18
Preseason All-AAC team
First team: Jalen Adams, G, Connecticut; Jarron Cumberland, G, Cincinnati; Jeremiah Martin, G, Memphis; Quinton Rose, G, Temple; B.J. Taylor, G, Central Florida.
Second team: Corey Davis Jr., G, Houston; Tacko Fall, C, Central Florida; Jarrey Foster, G, SMU; Markis McDuffie, F, Wichita State; Jahmal McMurray, G, SMU; Sterling Taplin, G, Tulsa.
Player of the Year: B.J. Taylor, G, Central Florida.
Freshman of the Year: Nate Hinton, G, Houston.
This story was originally published October 15, 2018 at 7:12 AM.