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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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HARTFORD, CT – FEBRUARY 18: Temple Owls Forward Mia Davis (25) gets by UConn Huskies Forward Napheesa Collier (24) and scores during the game as the UConn Huskies host the Temple Owls on February 18, 2018 at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CT – FEBRUARY 18: Temple Owls Forward Mia Davis (25) gets by UConn Huskies Forward Napheesa Collier (24) and scores during the game as the UConn Huskies host the Temple Owls on February 18, 2018 at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Temple Owls
Predicted finish: Sixth

Key returners (last year’s stats):

F Mia Davis, 6’0, So.: 11.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 79% FT, 28.1 MPG
G Emani Mayo, 5’8, So.: 9.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 32% 3PT, 88% FT, 32.5 MPG
G Desiree Oliver, 5’7, So.: 6.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 20.0 MPG
F Breanna Perry, 6’1, So.: 3.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 20.3 MPG
G Alliya Butts, 5’4, RS SR: Missed last year with injury. All-AAC Second Team in 2016 and 2017. 15.5 PPG in 2016-17.

Key losses (last year’s stats):

G Tanya Atkinson, 6’0: 21.1 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 8% FG, 36.3 MPG
G Mykia Jones, 5’6: 5.6 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 39% 3PT, 17.3 MPG
G Khadjiah Berger, 5’10: 3.7 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 21.3 MPG

Newcomers:

G Marissa Mackins, 5’8, Fr.: Averaged 18.3 points and 4.8 assists per game for Carolina Prep.
F Alexa Williamson, 6’1, Fr.: Top-ranked recruit out of Pittsburgh. Named Post-Gazette 2A Player of the Year in 2017. Averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds as a senior in high school.
C Destiny Samuel, 6’2, Fr.: 2018 New York State champion.

Key non-conference games:

Dec. 3 at DePaul
Dec. 9 at Villanova
Dec. 21 at South Carolina
Jan. 2 at Duquesne

Head coach: Tonya Cardoza, 11th season

Cardoza is coming off of her toughest year as a head coach, at least in terms of win-loss record (12-19 in 2017-18), but there is good news: That Temple team was incredibly young, and those six freshmen from last year are now sophomores, ready to take the next step. Cardoza spent 14 years as an assistant alongside Geno Auriemma, and in her time in Philly, has taken the Owls to four NCAA Tournaments and seven postseason appearances overall. Don’t expect another 3-13 conference season from Temple this year.

Outlook: Glass half empty: Losing Atkinson hurts. A lot. Glass half full: A healthy Butts helps. A lot. Throw Butts into a lineup that returns Mayo, Davis, and Oliver, and the Owls have a truly balanced team. Butts should also help defensively, as the Owls were dead last in the American in scoring defense last year. After Davis, the frontcourt still isn’t great, but you can look for Williamson to have an immediate impact as a freshman.

Best-case scenario: Davis and Mayo go from all-Freshman Team members to all-conference members, while Butts returns to her former self. This gives the Owls enough of a punch to earn a first-round bye in the AAC Tournament, and from there, who knows?

Worst-case scenario: Atkinson’s departure leaves too big a hole to fill — she was tied for the conference’s leading scorer, after all. Those freshmen from last year improve, but it’s not enough to make Temple relevant in the conference. Sure, they’re better than 3-13, but a middling finish sets up a season the ends with a whimper in the American conference tournament.

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