Sports|Basketball Teams

The Best AAC Basketball Teams

Ranker NCAA Basketball
Updated August 15, 2024 12 items
Voting Rules
Vote up the AAC schools with the historically best basketball team.

The American Athletic Conference is home to the four-time national champion UConn Huskies and the two-time title-winning Cincinnati Bearcats. Some of the greatest basketball players of all time put in their college time at the best ACC basketball programs, guys like Oscar Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Penny Hardaway and Ray Allen. Current NBA stars like Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose played in the American Athletic Conference.

Still, the best-known AAC basketball program might still be the UConn women's team, rightfully regarded as one of the best teams in college basketball, which has won 10 titles since 2000, including a run of four straight from 2013-2016.

The AAC men's basketball teams have a long way to go to catch up to that legacy, but which team has the best chance to do it? Which AAC team stands at top of the mountain right now? Vote below.

Ranked by
  • Connecticut Huskies
    1

    Connecticut Huskies

    Storrs, Connecticut
    19 votes

    All-time record: 1714-975
    Conferences titles: 29
    National championships: 4
    Final Four appearances: 5

    Notable players: Ray Allen, Kemba Walker, Richard Hamilton, Andre Drummond, Ben Gordon

    • Conference: Big East Conference
    • Arena: Harry A. Gampel Pavilion
    • Championships: 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
    • Mascot: Jonathan the Husky
    • Colors: White, National Flag Blue
  • Cincinnati Bearcats
    2

    Cincinnati Bearcats

    Cincinnati, Ohio
    17 votes

    All-time record: 1815-1016
    Conferences titles: 24
    National championships: 2
    Final Four appearances: 6

    Notable players: Oscar Robertson, Kenyon Martin, Nick Van Exel, Lance Stephenson

    • Conference: Big East Conference
    • Championships: 1961 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, 1962 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
  • Wichita State Shockers
    3

    Wichita State Shockers

    Wichita, Kansas
    18 votes

    All-time record: 1586-1203
    Conferences titles: 11
    National championships: 0
    Final Four appearances: 2

    Notable players: Antoine Carr, Xavier McDaniel, Fred VanVleet, Landry Shamet

    • Conference: American Athletic Conference
  • Houston Cougars
    4

    Houston Cougars

    Houston, Texas
    11 votes

    All-time record: 1224-815
    Conferences titles: 5
    National championships: 0
    Final Four appearances: 5

    Notable players: Hakeem Olajuwon, Elvin Hayes, Clyde Drexler

    • Conference: Conference USA
  • Memphis Tigers
    5

    Memphis Tigers

    Memphis, Tennessee
    17 votes

    All-time record: 1315-652
    Conferences titles: 18
    National championships: 0
    Final Four appearances: 3

    Notable players: Penny Hardaway, Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, Will Barton

    • Conference: Conference USA
    • Arena: FedExForum
    • Mascot: Pouncer, TOM III
    • Colors: Blue, Grey
  • Temple Owls
    6

    Temple Owls

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    14 votes

    All-time record: 1926-1079
    Conferences titles: 20
    National championships: 0
    Final Four appearances: 2

    Notable players: Eddie Jones, Aaron McKie

    • Conference: Atlantic Ten Conference
    • Arena: Liacouras Center
    • Mascot: Hooter the Owl
    • Colors: White, Cherry