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It is all starts this weekend for the NCAA automatic bid in the American at Mohegan Sun. For the third straight year, the luxurious Connecticut resort and casino will host the AAC women's basketball championship. Here is a quick preview of the tournament along with a rundown of conference award winners, including video of the UConn wins.
In terms of the favorite, make no mistake, this is UConn's championship to lose. The Huskies are the prohibitive favorite and everyone else is playing for second place. The Huskies have yet to lose an AAC game.
Bracket
Round 1 - Friday, March 4, 2016
No. 8 East Carolina vs. No. 9 Cincinnati, 4pm (ESPN3)
No. 7 SMU vs. UCF, 6pm (ESPN3)
No. 6 Tulsa vs Houston, 8pm (ESPN3)
Quarterfinals - Saturday, March 5, 2016
No. 4 Memphis vs. No. 5 Tulane, 12pm (ESPN3)
No. 1 UConn vs East Carolina/Cincinnati winner, 2pm (ESPN3)
No. 2 USF vs. SMU/UCF winner, 6pm (ESPN3)
No. 3 Temple vs. Tulsa/Houston winner, 8pm (ESPN3)
Semifinals - Sunday, March 6, 2016
Afternoon winners, 4:30pm (ESPNU)
Evening winners, 6:30pm (ESPNU)
Championship - Monday, March 7, 2016, 7pm (ESPN2)
Coach of the Year: Geno Auriemma, UConn.
Without question, Auriemma was the best coach in the American. He wins the COY award for the third straight year. He led the top-ranked Huskies to another undefeated regular season.
Player of the Year: Breanna Stewart, UConn.
The senior is having the best season of her career after winning the past two conference POY awards. Stewart, averaging 19.6 points per game, 8.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.4 blocked shots, was a unanimous selection.
Freshman of the Year: Kitija Laksa, USF.
The freshman from Latvia averages 13.4 points per game and made a conference-leading 70 3-pointers this season. Laksa was an unanimous selection.
All-Conference First Team
Moriah Jefferson, UConn *
Breanna Stewart, UConn *
Morgan Tuck, UConn
Jada Payne, East Carolina
Courtney Williams, USF *
Alliya Butts, Temple
All-Conference Second Team
I'Tiana Taylor, East Carolina
Ariel Hearn, Memphis
Kitija Laksa, USF
Feyonda Fitzgerald, Temple
Kolby Morgan, Tulane
All-Conference Third Team
Kia Nurse, UConn
Alisia Jenkins, USF
Alicia Froling, SMU
Leslie Vorpahl, Tulane
Ashley Clark, Tulsa
All-Freshman Team
Napheesa Collier, UConn
Katie Lou Samuelson, UConn *
Serithia Hawkins, Houston *
Kitija Laksa, USF *
Taylor Emery, Tulane
Defensive Player of the Year
Moriah Jefferson, UConn *
Most Improved Player of the Year
Leslie Vorpahl, Tulane
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Courtney Williams, USF
Sportsmanship Award
Morgan Tuck, UConn
Sixth Player of the Year
Shalethia Stringfield, USF
Newcomer of the Year
McKenzie Adams, SMU
[*] Unanimous selection