Temple University Athletics
American Conference Announces 2025-26 Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
10.9.25 | Men's Basketball
Defending American Conference champion Memphis was picked to win the league in the coaches' preseason poll, with South Florida receiving a pair of first-place votes as the projected runner-up. Tulane, UAB and Wichita State round out the top five teams.
Tulane's Rowan Brumbaugh was named the Preseason Player of the Year, while Florida Atlantic's Josiah Parker was selected as the Preseason Freshman of the Year.
The Owls posted a 17-15 overall record and went 9-9 in conference play last season, earning the No. 7 seed at the 2024-25 American Conference Tournament.
Temple, one of four American Conference teams returning multiple starters, brings back American All-Freshman Team honoree Aiden Tobiason, along with Babatunde Durodola, who became the first Owl freshman to start 30-plus games since the 2006-07 season.
Along with the pair of starters, seniors Mohamed Keita and Connor Gal return from the 2024-25 squad. The Owls also added eight transfers: Jamai Felt (Bowling Green), Derrian Ford (Arkansas State), Masiah Gilyard (Manhattan), Gavin Griffiths (Nebraska), CJ Hines (Alabama State), Spencer Mahoney (Cal), Jordan Mason (UIC) and AJ Smith (College of Charleston). Three freshmen complete the 2025-26 roster: Ayuba Bryant Jr. (Antwerp, Belgium), Olin Chamberlain Jr. (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) and Cam Wallace (Malvern, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep).
Tobiason and Durodola, along with head coach Adam Fisher, will represent the Owls at the American Tipoff at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex from Oct. 12–13. Team rotations will begin at 3 p.m. ET Sunday and continue Monday morning with a show on ESPN+ hosted by Maria Trivelpiece, Mike O'Donnell and Brooke Weisbrod, featuring student-athletes and coaches from all 26 American Conference men's and women's teams. Live coverage of the 2025 Tipoff will begin at 9:15 a.m. ET Monday.
Temple opens the 2025-26 season with four consecutive home games, welcoming Delaware State (Nov. 5), La Salle (Nov. 11), Boston College (Nov. 15) and Hofstra (Nov. 19) to the Liacouras Center.
2025-26 American Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 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 parentheses.
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
- Jordan Riley, Sr., G, East Carolina
- Aaron Bradshaw, Jr., F, Memphis
- Dug McDaniel, Sr., G, Memphis
- Rowan Brumbaugh, R-Jr., G, Tulane*
- Kenyon Giles, Sr., G, Wichita State
- 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.
