The first five of the 99 American Athletic Conference league games take place New Year’s Eve. All five games Wednesday will be televised on the ESPN family of networks.
 
UCF will host conference newcomer Tulsa in Orlando. The Knights enter at 7-4 and have been the most proficient team in The American from outside the arc at 38.0-percent. Tulsa, 7-5 on the year, is third in that category at 35.2-percent. UCF leads the all-time series 8-6. The Knights and Golden Hurricane will battle at noon ET on ESPNU.
 
The other two first-year teams in The American, Tulane and East Carolina, will square off in Greenville, North Carolina at Noon ET on ESPNews. The Green Wave is 9-3 but looking to snap a two-game slide at the hands of a pair of ranked opponents in Washington and St. John’s. Tulane holds an 11-7 advantage in the all-time series.
 
UConn opens conference play in Hartford against a Temple squad that has been lifted offensively by the addition of a pair of transfers. The Owls are 9-4 and have won three in a row since the additions of G Jesse Morgan and G Devin Coleman, including a 77-52 trouncing of No. 10/10 Kansas Dec. 22. UConn is 6-4 following wins over Columbia and Central Connecticut. G Ryan Boatright is leading The American in scoring at 19.2 points per game. UConn is 6-3 all-time against Temple. The Owls and Huskies will square off at 1pm ET on ESPN2.
 
At 2pm ET on ESPNU a pair of 7-4 teams clash when Memphis hosts Houston at FedEx Forum. The Tigers have won 10 consecutive conference openers and, more recently, four straight games during their current nine-game homestand. Houston is looking for its third consecutive win, along with its second in a row against Memphis, as the Cougars picked up a 77-68 win over the Tigers Feb. 27. Memphis leads the all-time series 28-13.
 
USF and SMU will close the first day of conference action in Dallas as the two tip off at 5pm ET on ESPN2. The 9-3 Mustangs ride a seven-game winning streak into conference play and have won 26 of their last 28 home dates. The 6-7 Bulls have been led offensively by G Corey Allen Jr., who is third in The American at 16.9 points per game. The all-time series is tied 3-3 after the schools split a pair of meetings last season.