The RoundHouse | 11/10/2017 8:19:00 AM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Three questions for American Athletic Conference women's basketball:
 
1. Who can join Connecticut and South Florida at the top of the conference?
The top-ranked Huskies are a lock for the NCAA Tournament and the 23^rd-ranked Bulls are a good bet with four starters back. Temple, an NCAA team last season, Central Florida (under former Missouri State coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson) and SMU appear to own the experience to push for the NCAA Tournament.
 
2. Wichita State doesn't play UConn at Koch Arena. Who is the must-see American rival to visit Wichita?
 
The Shockers play SMU (Jan. 16) and South Florida (Jan. 21) in back-to-back games at Koch Arena. That swing will give fans a good idea about how the Shockers compare to the upper level of the American.
 
3. Who is the best player in the American not coached by Geno Auriemma?
 
It might be South Florida guard Kitija Laksa. She averaged 19.2 points and scored 30 or more six times.
 
American Athletic Conference women's basketball capsules (in coaches predicted order of finish)
 
1. UConn
Last season: 36-1, 16-0 (NCAA Final Four)
Coach: Geno Auriemma (33^rd season)
NCAA appearances: 29 (2017 last appearance)
One sentence: Anything less than a 12^th national title is a disappointment.
Key players: The Huskies return American co-Player of the Year F Napheesa Collier and G Katie Lou Samuelson. Collier averaged 20.4 points and 9.1 rebounds. Samuelson averaged 20.2 points and made 42 percent of her three-pointers. Both are juniors.
 
2. USF
 Last season: 24-9, 11-5 (NCAA 0-1)
Coach: Jose Fernandez (16^th season)
NCAA appearances: 5 (2017)
One sentence: The Bulls made their third consecutive NCAA appearance last season.
Key players: F Maria Jesperson averaged 15.2 points and 8.8 rebounds on her way to Most Improved Player honors in the American. C Tamara Henshaw earned American Freshman of the Year honors after averaging 7 points and 6.8 rebounds.
 
3. Temple
Last season: 25-7, 13-3 (NCAA 0-1)
Coach: Tonya Cardoza (10^th season)
NCAA appearances: 11 (2017)
One sentence: Temple finished the 2017 regular season with an RPI ranked No. 18 and earned a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Key players: G Alliyah Butts averaged 15.5 points on her way to second-team all-conference honors. G Tanaya Atkinson averaged 13 points and 8.7 rebounds. She was named American Sixth Player of the Year.
 
4. UCF
Last season: 21-12, 9-7 (WNIT 1-1)
Coach: Katie Abrahamson-Henderson (2^nd season)
NCAA appearances: 4 (2011)
One sentence: The Knights improved from 7-23 in 2015-16 with a defense that held teams to 56.4 points a game.
Key players: G Aliyah Gregory averaged 16.6 points and earned all-conference honors, the first for the program. F Fifi Ndour averaged 7.8 points and 5.4 rebounds.
 
5. SMU
Last season: 19-15, 7-9 (WNIT 2-1)
Coach: Travis Mays (2^nd season)
NCAA appearances: 7 (2008)
One sentence: The Mustangs went 13-3 at home, defeating then-No. 19 Texas A&M and losing to then-No. 1 UConn, then-No. 22 South Florida and Tulane.
Key players: C Alicia Froling averaged 14.3 points and led the conference in rebounding (10). G McKenzie Adams averaged 12.2 points and 4.2 rebounds.
 
6. Tulane
Last season: 18-15, 7-9 (WNIT 2-1)
Coach: Lisa Stockton (24^th season)
NCAA appearances: 11 (2015)
One sentence: Stockton coached the Green Wave to 12 straight winning seasons, with eight straight trips to the NCAA or WNIT.
Key players: G Kolby Morgan averaged 19.2 points and made 41.4 percent of her three-pointers. C Harlyn Wyatt averaged 6.6 points and 4.6 rebounds.
 
7. Memphis
Last season: 14-16, 7-9
Coach: Melissa McFerrin (10^th season)
NCAA appearances: 7 (1998)
One sentence: The Tigers ended last season with four losses in five games and were held under 58 points in all five.
Key players: F Cheyenne Creighton averaged 14.4 points and 7.4 rebounds last season. G Brea Elmore averaged 13 points.
 
8. Cincinnati
Last season: 16-14, 7-9
Coach: Jamelle Elliott (9^th season)
NCAA appearances: 4 (2003)
One sentence: The Bearcats finished in a four-way tie for fifth in the American, their highest finish.
Key players: F Shanice Johnson had 13 double-doubles on her way to earning American Newcomer of the Year honors. She averaged 15.2 points and 9.7 rebounds. G Ana Owens averaged 12.1 points.
 
9. Tulsa
Last season: 10-21, 5-11
Coach:  Matilda Mossman (7^th season)
NCAA appearances: 2 (2013)
One sentence: The Hurricane return four starters and 10 letter-winners from last season.
Key players: G Erika Wakefield averaged 11.6 points. C Kendrian Elliott, from Wichita, averaged 9 points and 7.9 rebounds as a freshman.
 
10. Wichita State
Last season: 15-16, 9-9 MVC
Coach: Keitha Adams (1^st season)
NCAA appearances: 3 (2015)
One sentence: The Shockers return 76.3 percent of their minute and 79.9 percent of their scoring from last season.
Key players: F Rangie Bessard averaged 17.3 points on her way to All-MVC honors last season. She averaged 27 points (on  51.6-percent shooting) and 11.6 rebounds in last season's final three games. G Keke Thompson is tasked with moving the offense and defending point guards, both critical jobs. She handed out seven assists without a turnover in the exhibition opener.
 
11. Houston
Last season: 12-19, 4-12
Coach: Ronald Hughey (4^th season)
NCAA appearances: 5 (2011)
One sentence: The Cougars are 8-62 in four seasons as an American member in conference play.
Key players: G Jasmyne Harris averaged 11.3 points and started the final 12 games. G Angela Harris (no relation) joined Jasmyne Harris on the All-Freshman team after starting 15 games and averaging 10 points.
 
12. ECU
Last season: 11-19, 2-14
Coach: Heather Macy (8^th season)
NCAA appearances: 2 (2007)
One sentence: The Pirates averaged 56.4 points and allowed 75.6 in conference play, both worst in the conference.
Key players: F Destiny Campbell averaged 16.3 points and 8.5 rebounds for Cape Fear (N.C.) Community College last season. G Alex Frazier, ECU's top scorer among returners, started 15 games and averaged 4 points.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.