PROVIDENCE – UConn and Cincinnati each cracked the top 25 in the USA Today preseason basketball coaches poll, while SMU received votes in the balloting.
 
UConn checks in at No. 16 in the poll, while Cincinnati is No. 25.
 
The Huskies will be blending a consensus top 10 recruiting class with several veterans, including 2014-15 American Defensive Player of the Year Amida Brimah, Rodney Purvis and last year’s American Preseason Rookie of the Year, Jalen Adams. Among those joining the Huskies this season are Alterique Gilbert, the 12^th McDonald’s All-American to join the program, and Terry Larrier, who is eligible after sitting out a season due to NCAA transfer rules.
 
Last season, Cincinnati reached the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season in 2015-16, making it one of just eight schools do have done so. Led by Caupain, a first team All-American Conference pick last year, along with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Gary Clark, the Bearcats will be bolstered by Jerry West Award nominee Jacob Evans III and newcomers Jarron Cumberland and Kyle Washington.
 
As Tim Jankovich takes over at SMU, the Mustangs will be looking to maintain one of the nation’s most efficient offenses. Led by the inside-out combination of Ben Moore (11.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and Shake Milton (10.5 ppg, 2.7 apg), the Mustangs return three starters from last year’s team, which finished second in The American. Sterling Brown’s .536 3-point field-goal percentage set an American record in 2015-16.
 
The American Athletic Conference will hold its men’s basketball media day on Monday, Oct. 24, at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott. The preseason poll, all-conference teams and individual honors will be announced that morning. The American Digital Network will be live from Philadelphia throughout Monday, featuring interviews with coaches and student-athletes from all 11 programs.