The Final NET

 

 

 

 

The Final NET ranking has arrived and ECU finishes the season at 188th.  This is only 5 spots worse than the 183 they finished last season. Eight spots worse than 2 years ago with Gardner and Newton.  The team last year included an older core of Newton, Suggs, Tremont,  and Miles that had played together for 3 years under Dooley's "system" as well as a 5th year transfer in Jackson.  A rookie coach could in one year come in and coach essentially the young back ups of that team to the same place it took 4 years to get.

I think it's still fair to question the recruiting and recruiting philosophy this year.  Only one new recruit was an overall positive, but how can anyone not acknowledge the coaching game to game is better. Well know more about the recruiting and retention in the next 6 weeks.

It appeared even at points during the season that this team would finish as one of the worst teams ever at ECU, which is saying something. It was projected to finish 254th I recall in January.  To make the run they did  without Small is incredibly strong. I know they far exceeded my exceptions.  I still think a couple more transfers would have helped a lot, but they have earned some goodwill to trust them with the finish. 

AAC NET

1	Houston	31-3	1
2	Memphis	26-8	23
4	Cincinnati	20-12	70
7	UCF	18-14	71
3	Tulane	20-11	105
6	Wichita State	17-15	112
5	Temple	16-16	125
8	South Florida	14-18	160
9	East Carolina	16-17	188
10	SMU	10-22	209
11	Tulsa	5-25	324

AAC 2.0

1	FAU	29-3	13
2	Memphis	26-8	23
3	North Texas	24-7	38
4	UAB	24-9	57
5	Tulane	20-11	105
6	Wichita State	17-15	112
7	Charlotte	18-14	116
8	Temple	16-16	125
9	South Florida	14-18	160
10	East Carolina	16-17	188
11	Rice	15-15	202
12	SMU	10-22	209
13	UTSA	8-22	288
14	Tulsa	5-25	324

For those thinking it gets easy when AAC loses 3 teams this offseason,  it probably does some but maybe not as much as expected. Much of that will depend on if teams like FAU and N. Texas can fend off others coming for their players and coaches with sacks of money. 

 FAU wasn't anywhere as good last season, so this is there first real time in the barrel at keeping there coach. Of the 3 Andy Kennedy is an UAB alum who has been in the SEC,  I doubt he ever leaves. Dusty May at FAU really should strike while he's a hot name. You got to IMO. They were like 140th last year and he probably never coaches a team like this there again. Its not the greatest basketball job even in comparision to the AAC. 

 

We'll see with the transfer portal and coaching carousel. It will be really interesting for all teams in the AAC. With 2 jobs already open, and one being a marquee job at WSU,  USF is also a top 80 paid job. They can get some nice sized fish I expect.  Tulsa has to get better, and should. SMU, should as well, although I'm a lesser believer there.  Ron Hunter is getting talked about for Georgia Tech. Outside of him I don't think anyone from old AAC is in danger of leaving. He's probably back as well. I expect everyone else but May at FAU is back in the end.