Tulane University ranks third behind the University of Memphis and the University of South Florida in the American Conference preseason basketball coaches’ poll. The Memphis Tigers, coming off the 2024-25 season’s conference championship win, were ranked as the No. 1 team in the conference, with South Florida coming in second. The Green Wave came in third.
The American Preseason Player of the Year is Tulane redshirt junior guard Rowan Brumbaugh. He was also selected to the American Preseason All-Conference First Team. Brumbaugh is the only player on the First Team All-Conference who was selected last year as well. He had an outstanding 2024-25 season, leading the Green Wave with 15.5 points, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals. The American Conference coaches seem to think he has taken a big jump from last year, and hopefully that will be enough to help the team succeed.
Tulane senior guard Asher Woods made the American All-Conference Second Team, which seemingly promises that Tulane will have one of the best backcourts in the conference this year. Woods added 11.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists, delivering a solid, much-needed secondary option to Brumbaugh.
While Memphis still remains the clear favorite with 11 first-place votes and 143 points, the loss of 2025 American Player of the Year P.J. Haggerty has stuck a huge thorn in Memphis’ side. Haggerty shouldered most of the weight of the team, boasting 21.7 points, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game, all team highs. His transfer put a dent in Memphis’ March Madness hopes – which isn’t the Tigers’ only concern. Of their 2024-25 starters, none are returning for this season, which leaves many to wonder why they are ranked so highly in the preseason poll.
Two Memphis Tigers made the American All-Conference Second Team: Dug McDaniel and Aaron Bradshaw. McDaniel transferred from Kansas State University, where he averaged 11.4 points and 4.9 assists last season, and Bradshaw averaged 6 points and three rebounds last season at The Ohio State University. While they are productive, we’ll have to see if these two become cornerstones for the No. 1 seed in the American Conference.
As for South Florida, they have shone in this year’s football season, but their supposed upcoming success in basketball stems from a mysterious reason. They had two players recognized in the preseason poll: Izaiyah Nelson and Daimion Collins. Both are transfers, both are forwards and both are on the All-Conference Second team. Nelson’s averages of 10.6 points and nine rebounds stand out, and Collins’ 8 points and 4.3 rebounds flounders in comparison.
Expect Brumbaugh to dismantle the American Conference and most of the conference teams the Green Wave plays this season, as their season starts Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. CST at Devlin Fieldhouse against Samford University.