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2018-19 American Athletic Conference preview: UConn is still on top, but the middle of the pack is strengthening

By Russell Steinberg

Connecticut Huskies guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) pushes the ball up court against Temple during the first half on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018 at McGonicle Hall in Philadelphia, Pa. Dangerfield scored 12 points to help UConn to 113-57 victory. (John Woike/Hartford Courant/TNS via Getty Images)
Connecticut Huskies guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) pushes the ball up court against Temple during the first half on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018 at McGonicle Hall in Philadelphia, Pa. Dangerfield scored 12 points to help UConn to 113-57 victory. (John Woike/Hartford Courant/TNS via Getty Images) /
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UNIVERSITY PARK, TX – FEBRUARY 17: Wichita State Shockers forward Sabrina Lozada-Cabbage (11) looks to pass the ball during the game between SMU and Wichita State on February 17, 2018 at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, TX – FEBRUARY 17: Wichita State Shockers forward Sabrina Lozada-Cabbage (11) looks to pass the ball during the game between SMU and Wichita State on February 17, 2018 at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Wichita State Shockers
Predicted finish: Eleventh

Key returners (last year’s stats):

F Sabrina Lozada-Cabbage, 6’2, Sr.: 7.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 34% 3PT, 76% FT
G Cesaria Ambrosio, 6’0 Sr.: 4.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.0 APG, 26.1 MPG

Key losses (last year’s stats):

Rangie Bessard, 6’1: 19.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 45% FG, 81% FT, 30.5 MPG
Angiee Tompkins, 6’2: 10.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 51% FG, 35% 3PT, 78% FT, 22.2 MPG
Diamond Lockhart, 5’5: 10.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 94% FT, 32.1 MPG
Keke Thompson, 5’5: 6.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 47% FG, 28.9 MPG
Jeliah Preston, 5’7: 5.1 PPG, 33% FG, 15.3 MPG

Newcomers:

G Jada Peacock, 5’8, Fr.: Averaged 15.0 PPG for Allen High School and was named team’s defensive player of the year. All-district honoree.

G Dawnyel Lair, 5’8, Fr.: Averaged 16.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 3.8 steals per game last year. Back to back city champion in LA as a junior and senior. John R. Wooden High School Player of the Year in the CIF Los Angeles City Section.

F Natalia Ryng, 5’10, Fr.: Polish national team member.

G Ashley Reid, 5’5, Jr.: Double-digit scorer at New Mexico JC.

G Carla Bremaud, 5’11, Fr.: Named team MVP as a senior, averaging 23.1 points, 8.6 rebounds per game. State champion and all-state player.

F Raven Prince, 6’1, Jr.: Redshirted last season. All-KJCCC player at Butler CC, averaging 10.0 points and 7.0 rebounds.

G Jaida Hampton, 5’10, Fr.: Averaged 16.5 PPG as a senior and was named AP First-Team All-State in Michigan.

G Maya Brewer, 5’11, Jr.: Averaged 14.6 PPG for State Fair CC. Named NJCAA All-Region 16 First Team. Named all-conference second team.

G Sesraphine Bastin, 5’8, Fr.: Member of 2017 U18/19 Belgian National Team

F/C Trajata Colbert, 6’2, Fr.: Posted 16-and-15 per game as a high school senior.

F Shyla Smith, 5’11, Fr.: Two-time high school team MVP. Averaged 15-and-11 as a junior.

F/C Asia Henderson, 6’3, Fr.: Redshirted last season. Conference MVP and first-team all-region as a senior in high school. Averaged 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Head coach: Keitha Adams, second season

All things considered, Adams did a good job in her first year as Wichita State head coach. After being picked 10th in the conference and starting 0-6 overall, she led the Shockers to a sixth-place finish and 14-17 overall record. But Wichita State is now in a massive rebuild and this is going to take some time. Adams didn’t overload the schedule and the Shockers should be able to pick up a couple wins as they figure things out early.

Key non-conference games:

Nov. 21 at South Dakota
Nov. 27 vs. Oklahoma State
Dec. 8 vs. Creighton

Outlook: It’s hard to say too much about a team with a dozen newcomers. The Shockers are in for a rebuild, and with the top of the American slowly but steadily improving, there isn’t much hope for Wichita State to capture the same success it had last year. Lozada-Cabbage is an excellent role player but isn’t who you want as your best returner. The freshmen and transfers will need to be ready right away if the Shockers hope to even be competitive in the conference.

Best-case scenario: Wichita State avoids embarrassing losses in the non-conference and builds enough of a cushion to prop up a so-so recruiting class early. The front end of their conference schedule is forgiving as well, so it’s possible that the wins and losses look good going into February. The Shockers might not finish at the bottom of the AAC, but a quick exit in the conference tournament seems inevitable.

Worst-case scenario: The freshmen simply aren’t ready to compete in an upper-half Division I conference. They take the expected losses to the UConns, USFs of the world, but also can’t scratch across a couple victories against the middling teams. The bottom then falls out completely and the Shockers finish dead last in the conference. A forgotten year, but with the personnel to improve moving forward.

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