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Conference USA Basketball 2023: Mid-January Roundup

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Conference USA Basketball is in the thick of the conference slate. Here’s where each team stands in mid-January.

Team NET  KenPom Record
Charlotte 95 108 12-6 (3-4)
FAU 12 35 17-1 (7-0)
FIU 243 237 8-10 (2-5)
LA Tech 151 145 10-8 (3-4)
MTSU 125 128 11-7 (4-3)
North Texas 48 63 15-4 (6-2)
Rice 166 184 13-5 (4-3)
UAB 76 70 13-6 (4-4)
UTEP 180 187 10-8 (3-4)
UTSA 319 322 7-12 (1-7)
WKU 160 151 11-7 (3-4)
Kenpom, NET, and standings reflect games as of 1/17/2023

Key Storylines

Above the rest

At 17-1 and the only unbeaten team in conference play. Florida Atlantic deservedly checked in at No. 24 in the AP Poll this week. The Owls own two head-to-head victories over North Texas (6-0 in league games against non-FAU squads) and look to be the class of the conference by a sizable margin. How long that lasts will depend entirely upon their ability to endure the strain of the conference slate.

They’ve got a four-game lead on the middle of the pack, but there’s still plenty of basketball still to be played.

Last Minute Rice

Rice basketball has been anything but boring this season, particularly in the last fortnight which included two buzzer-beaters, three overtime games and a streak of six consecutive games that were within a three-point margin at the end of regulation. Oh, and Max Fiedler just recorded the second triple-double in school history along the way.

Divvying out the middle of the pack

As things currently stand, seven of the 11 teams in the Conference USA Basketball standings are within one game of .500. From Rice to UTEP, there’s a log jam of 3-4 to 4-3 teams with preseason frontrunner UAB smack dab in the middle at 4-4. We’re likely going to see some separation in the next few weeks, but it’s hard to say who will emerge from the chaos at this juncture.

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Conference USA / AAC Coaching Carousel Updates

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The coaching carousel has been in full swing since the regular season ended. Here are the relevant changes in Conference USA and the American.

With the membership of both leagues in flux, there are folks tracking moves in both Conference USA and the American Athletic Conference as the coaching carousel continues to spin. Here’s the latest as of December 7.

Conference USA

Charlotte – In: Biff Poggi | Out: Will Healy

Healy was the first Conference USA coach dismissed in this cycle and it was likewise the first job filled. Off-field Michigan assistant Biff Poggi will take the reins. Credited with revitalizing the Wolverines behind the scenes, his financial connections and ability to fundraise will be equally valuable to the 49ers as the transition to the AAC.

North Texas – In: N/A |  Out: Seth Littrell

Seth Littrell was a late dismissal in this cycle after reaching the Conference USA Championship Game. Ultimately the departure of AD Wren Baker and a combined 44-44 record were not enough to keep him on the job. North Texas was late to the dance, but should still be an attractive job to many.

FAU – In: Tom Herman |  Out: Willie Taggart

Now former head coach Willie Taggart didn’t even make it to dinner time on the night of FAU’s final regular season game, a loss to Western Kentucky. Likewise, FAU moved quickly to replace him, hiring former Texas and Houston head coach Tom Herman. The Owls wanted someone with Florida ties, but couldn’t pass up on adding someone with proven AAC success like Herman.

UAB – In: Trent Dilfer |  Out: Bryant Vincent (Interim)

In a move that caught just about everyone by surprise, UAB went outside of the college football ranks to hire high school coach Trent Dilfer to be their head man. Bringing back interim Bryant Vincent didn’t seem likely after a 6-6 finish, but going off the grid to get Dilfer — who brings quarterback development and an NFL pedigree but not much else — was a stunner.

Liberty – In: Jamey Chadwell | Out: Hugh Freeze

Freeze was making public overtures for other jobs for quite some time, so a change in leadership at Liberty isn’t surprising. The Flames hired Chadwell away from Coastal Carolina where he’d posted back-to-back 11-win seasons and has been credited as a great offensive mind.

American

Tulsa – In: Kevin Wilson | Out: Phillip Montgomery

After going 43-53 in eight seasons with the Golden Hurricane, Montgomery was relieved of his duties. Although many projected former Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne to land here, he wound up at Texas State and Tulsa hired Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, formerly the head coach at Indiana.

USF – In: Alex Golesh |  Out: Jeff Scott

Former Clemson assistant Jeff Scott was never able to get things going in South Florida, prompting the move. In somewhat of a surprise, USF went back to the weel of unproven, but promising assistants, hiring Tennesee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh following a breakthrough season by the Vols’ offensive attack under his direction.

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Conference USA Football 2022: Bowl Notes, Championship Game

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UTSA has won the 2022 Conference USA football championship. Now six teams venture on to bowl season, with the first game fast approaching.

Here are the reported matchups as of early Sunday afternoon:

Team Opponent Bowl Time Date
MTSU SDSU Hawaii Bowl 8:00 pm ET Dec. 24
North Texas Boise St. Frisco Bowl 9:15 pm ET Dec. 17
Rice Southern Miss Lending Tree Bowl 5:45 pm ET Dec. 17
UAB Miami (OH) Bahamas Bowl 11:30 pm ET Dec. 16
UTSA* Troy Cure Bowl 3:00 pm ET Dec. 16
WKU So. Alabama New Orleans Bowl 9:00 pm ET Dec. 21
*Won Conference USA Football Championship Game

Conference USA Championship results – Standings

For the second time in as many years, UTSA is the Conference USA champ. The Roadrunners blew past North Texas, 48-27 before a raucous crowd at the Alamodome. Quarterback Frank Harris took home MVP honors after completing 32-of-37 passes for 341 yards and a mind-boggling five touchdown passes. He added 49 rushing yards on 16 carries, too.

Coaching Changes

There have been three coaching changes in Conference USA this offseason. Charlotte hired former Michigan assistant Biff Poggi to replace Will Healy. UAB hired Trent Dilfer away from the high school ranks to replace interim coach Bryant Vincent. FAU moved on from Willie Taggart and brought in former Texas head man Tom Herman.

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Conference USA Football 2022: Week 13 Roundup

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Conference USA Football was back in action this weekend. Here’s the latest from the teams on the gridiron in Week 13.

Team Week 13 Result Record Bowl Eligible
Charlotte vs LA Tech  — 3-9 No
FAU vs WKU L, 32-31 (OT) 5-7 No
FIU vs MTSU L, 33-28 4-8 No
LA Tech vs UAB L, 37-27 3-9 No
MTSU at FIU W, 33-28 7-5 Yes
North Texas vs Rice W, 21-17 7-5 Yes
Rice at North Texas L, 21-17 5-7 Yes
UAB at LA Tech W, 37-27 6-6 Yes
UTEP at UTSA L, 34-31 5-7 No
UTSA vs UTEP W, 34-31 10-2 Yes
WKU at FAU W, 32-31 (OT) 8-5 Yes

Notable Week 13 results – Standings

Six go bowling

UAB clinched a bowl berth with a win on Saturday, downing Louisiana Tech in their final game of the regular season. They’ve already announced they are heading to the Bahamas Bowl. Rice was the second C-USA squad to secure bowl eligibility, although they did so in defeat, becoming the highest-rated remaining five-win team by APR. It’ll be the Owls’ first bowl invitation since 2014.

Another coaching change

In the hours following Florida Atlantic’s loss to Western Kentucky, Willie Taggart was out.

It’s the second coaching change of the season following Will Healy’s dismissal from Charlotte earlier this fall.

What’s next

North Texas clinched a spot in the Conference USA Championship Game with a home win over Rice on Saturday. The Mean Green will get a rematch with UTSA, which came from behind to beat the Mean Grene earlier this season. The Roadrunners sit at 10-2 with a chance to finish the season an unprecedented 12-2 should they beat North Texas and win a bowl game. Jeff Traylor has things rolling in San Antonio.

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Conference USA Football 2022: Week 12 Roundup

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Conference USA Football was back in action this weekend. Here’s the latest from the teams on the gridiron in Week 12.

Team Week 12 Result Up Next
Charlotte vs LA Tech W, 26-21  —
FAU at MTSU L, 49-21 vs WKU
FIU at UTEP L, 40-6 vs MTSU
LA Tech at Charlotte L, 26-21 vs UAB
MTSU vs FAU W, 49-21 at FIU
North Texas — OFF —  — vs Rice
Rice vs UTSA L, 41-7 at North Texas
UAB at LSU at LA Tech
UTEP vs FIU W, 40-6 at UTSA
UTSA at Rice W, 41-7 vs UTEP
WKU at Auburn L, 41-17 at FAU

Notable Week 12 results – Standings

Home field secured

On a dreary day in Houston, the sun was shining on UTSA and quarterback Frank Harris. The Roadrunners dispatched of the Owls in quick order, securing the host duties for the upcoming Conference USA Football Championship Game where they’ll play either North Texas or Western Kentucky in two weeks time.

Let’s go bowling

While UTSA was working to clinch home field, other Conference USA squads were trying to make sure they had another game to play, too. Middle Tennesse became the fourth C-USA squad to clinch bowl eligibility so far this season, crushing Florida Atlantic to pick up win number six.

Uh Oh, Owls

It wasn’t just the Rice Owls who fell flat, the Florida Atlantic Owls were equally embarrassed. FAU was thoroughly outplayed by Middle Tennessee, pushing them into a do-or-die situation next weekend. Both Owls would like a mulligan for this week’s fiascoes, but that’s not going to happen.

Looking ahead – Key storylines

Who’s joining UTSA?

Both Western Kentucky and North Texas sit tied in second place in the Conference USA standings with identical 5-2 records, but only one of them will get to make the trip. North Texas plays Rice, still searching for their elusive sixth win, while Western Kentucky faces an FAU squad in the same boat. North Texas holds the tiebreaker, so the Mean Green need a win and a WKU loss to get in.

Who else is still playing?

Florida Atlantic, Rice, UAB and UTEP all enter the final week of the regular season one-win shy of the six wins needed to secure bowl eligibility. The Blazers will be home favorites against the visiting Louisiana Tech Bulldogs but the other three teams will be underdogs, with Rice and UTEP both playing away from home. How many make it through?

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