BricksIt Weekly
Welcome to the American
Memphis has the upset, South Florida has the rating and Tulsa hasn't lost
Five American teams sit inside our national top 110. Memphis beat Iowa State as a 15.5-point underdog.
By the Hardwood Bricks desk
Hardwood Bricks now covers the American Conference, 13 schools from Philadelphia and Charlotte to Tampa, Memphis, Tulsa and San Antonio. Every game gets a preview, a recap, a line history and a spot in our ratings.
South Florida is the early leader in our ratings at 75th nationally, despite a 2-2 start. Both losses were by three points or fewer away from home: 82-80 at DePaul and 83-80 to Saint Joseph's on a neutral floor.
Memphis has the league's best win. The Tigers beat Iowa State 80-76 on a neutral floor as 15.5-point underdogs, then edged VCU 89-88 at home before a 105-81 loss at Vanderbilt.
Tulsa (83rd) is the league's only unbeaten team at 3-0, all at home. Wichita State (80th) is 3-1, the loss 93-86 to USC on a neutral floor, and North Texas (110th) makes five American teams in our top 110.
Temple rates last in the league at 270th after losses to Richmond and Charleston. UTSA (247th) is 2-1 after a 95-74 opening loss at San José State.
Charlotte and the Sun Belt
The 49ers beat Georgia State by 10, then lost 66-60 at home to App State on Friday as 7.5-point favorites.
Rice in overtime
Rice won 81-78 in overtime at Stephen F. Austin as an 8.5-point underdog, a week after a one-point home loss to East Texas A&M.
Tulane at Akron
The Green Wave lost 65-63 at Akron on Saturday as 11.5-point underdogs, Akron's closest game of the season.
FAU's bounce
The Owls lost 97-71 at Wright State, then beat William & Mary 95-90 at home.
By the numbers
The pecking order
Our model's rating for every American team: points better or worse than an average Division I team over 100 possessions. Record alongside.