October 9, 2025
Tigers Picked to Win American; McDaniel and Bradshaw Named to Preseason All-Conference Team
IRVING, Texas – The American Conference announced its 2025-26 men’s basketball preseason awards and poll on Thursday, with Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers earning the top spot and a pair of newcomers receiving preseason honors. Jason Smith and Jeffrey Wright discussed the #1 preseason ranking on 92.9 FM ESPN's Jeffrey Wright & Company Show on Thursday (10/9). AUDIO:
Memphis was picked to finish first in the league with 143 total points and 11-of-13 first-place votes, while South Florida followed in second with 128 points and the remaining two first-place nods. Tulane (122 points) and UAB (98) rounded out the top four selections.
On the player side, point guard Dug McDaniel and forward Aaron Bradshaw each earned a place on the Preseason All-Conference First Team, signaling high expectations for the Tigers’ revamped roster. Tulane’s Rowan Brumbaugh was the only unanimous selection and was named Preseason Player of the Year.
McDaniel, one of the nation’s most dynamic and skilled guards, brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the Bluff City in 2025-26. The 5-foot-11 Washington, D.C., native has played three collegiate seasons at Michigan (2022-24) and Kansas State (2024-25), appearing in 92 career games (75 starts) and averaging 11.8 points, 4.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per contest.
A proven playmaker, McDaniel has led his teams in assists in all three seasons, totaling 401 career assists (4.3 per game). This past year at Kansas State, he averaged 11.4 points, 4.9 assists (5th in Big 12), 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals, while pacing the Wildcats in assists (158), steals (54) and minutes played (1,032). He scored in double figures 21 times, including three 20-point outings and a season-high 24 against No. 13 Arizona.
Joining him on the preseason first team, Bradshaw - a former McDonald’s All-American and consensus five-star recruit from Rahway, New Jersey - brings elite size, athleticism and upside to Memphis. The 7-foot forward spent the 2024-25 season at Ohio State, where he appeared in 22 games (five starts) and averaged 6.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in nearly 17 minutes per contest, shooting 49.0 percent from the field.
In a November win over Youngstown State, Bradshaw total season highs in points (16), rebounds (8) and blocks (3), despite playing just 21 minutes.
Hardaway’s Tigers enter the upcoming season as the reigning American champions, having captured both the regular season and tournament titles in 2024-25. The new-look squad will feature an entirely new roster as Memphis looks to defend its crown and continue its run of national prominence under reigning American Conference Coach of the Year Hardaway’s leadership.
AMERICAN PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1 - Memphis (11) 143
2 - South Florida (2) 128
3 - Tulane 122
4 - UAB 98
5 - Wichita State 93
6 - Florida Atlantic 80
7 - North Texas 77
8 - Tulsa 74
9 - Temple 65
10 - East Carolina 53
11 - UTSA 32
12 - Rice 27
13 - Charlotte 22
First-place votes in parenthesis
Preseason Player of the Year
Rowan Brumbaugh, R-Jr., G, Tulane
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Josiah Parker, G, Florida Atlantic
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Rowan Brumbaugh, R-Jr., G, Tulane *
Dug McDaniel, Sr., G, Memphis
Aaron Bradshaw, Jr., F, Memphis
Jordan Riley, Sr., G, East Carolina
Kenyon Giles, Sr., G, Wichita State
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Daimion Collins, R-Sr., F, South Florida
Izaiyah Nelson, Sr., F, South Florida
Vasean Allette, Jr., G, UTSA
Asher Woods, Sr., G, Tulane
David Green, Gr., F, Tulsa
* denotes unanimous selection