Who’s the favorite in each major college basketball conference? And which teams are trending in the right (and wrong) directions? Over the next two weeks, we’ll take a look across the nation to see how college hoops’ most notable conferences are shaping up for next season. Today, the American.

When the leftovers from the old Big East tried to salvage their identity with the creation of the American Athletic Conference in 2013, basketball prestige did not top the powerbrokers’ list of priorities. This was a football decision. The "Catholic 7" left the league, kept the Big East name and maintained the basketball intrigue that remained after the divorce.

But with Connecticut positioned as the storefront of the new AAC, and SMU and Memphis acting as a pair of respectable bungalows that would spruce up any redeveloping neighborhood, it seemed as if the AAC had a chance to thrive. Connecticut’s 2014 national title boosted the league’s profile. Since that remarkable run, however, the AAC has produced more drama than results. Only SMU and Cincinnati represented the league in last season’s NCAA tournament.

In January, SMU’s Keith Frazier was ruled ineligible and the NCAA launched an investigation surrounding the program’s potential academic violations. Frazier’s status for next season is still unknown.

Keith Frazier's status is up in the air and his presence certainly would help, but SMU showed it could win without him. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

And just last week, Austin Nichols -- a 6-foot-9 forward and all-AAC first-teamer who averaged 13.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG and 3.4 BPG for Memphis in 2014-15 -- announced that he would transfer. Josh Pastner and his staffers all were shocked by the decision, which was greeted with a conditional release. Nichols’ family hired a lawyer and threatened to file a federal lawsuit. Memphis reconsidered the conditional release and gave Nichols the green light for a full release without restraints.

He’s the fifth Memphis player to transfer this year. Nick King (7.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG) left for Alabama a few months ago. Not exactly a wonderful offseason for Pastner.

But he’s not alone. Per the transfer list of ESPN’s Jeff Goodman, 27 AAC players have left the league, while another nine have transferred into the conference.

It’s not all bad for the AAC, though -- especially at the top.

Connecticut, SMU and Cincy all should battle for the league title and NCAA tourney slots. Memphis is a mystery, but a stacked recruiting class might help Pastner fill some of the gaps created by the departures.

Oh, and don’t sleep on Tulsa. Don’t do it.

Favorite

Frazier averaged 10.5 PPG for the first half of the season prior to his suspension for academic issues. Mustangs fans are still waiting for an announcement about his status for 2015-16. But without him, Larry Brown’s squad went 14-3 overall and 11-2 in the AAC.

So there is still a strong argument for SMU as the slight favorite to win the conference crown. Nic Moore’s time with Kansas during a gold-medal run in South Korea at the World University Games should help his overall game and contribution next year. Both Markus Kennedy (11.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG) and Ben Moore (7.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG) are back. Shake Milton, a 6-foot-4 top-100 guard in the 2015 class, should crack the starting rotation. And Texas Tech transfer Jordan Tolbert, a 6-7 forward (10.7 PPG), is eligible after sitting out last year.

Frazier is the wild card. He’d certainly increase the squad’s chances of winning the league and making a run in the Big Dance. But they’re already accustomed to competing without him.

If the Mustangs can maintain their respectable numbers from last season (34th in adjusted offensive efficiency, 35th in adjusted DE per kenpom.com), SMU should finish the year at the top of the AAC.

Trending up

That’s no guarantee. UConn has formed like Voltron again. Graduate transfers Sterling Gibbs (16.3 PPG for Seton Hall) and Shonn Miller (16.8 PPG for Cornell) will join Rodney Purvis, shot-blocker Amida Brimah, Daniel Hamilton and four-star recruit Jalen Adams to create one of the country’s most potent lineups. Kevin Ollie has depth, scoring at every slot and a center who finished second in block rate last season.

And let’s have a conversation about a Tulsa squad that won 23 games last season and returns every significant performer, including top scorers James Woodard (14.5 PPG) and Shaquille Harrison (13.1 PPG). Frank Haith’s squad also finished 19th in adjusted defensive efficiency last season. With so many teams in this league in flux, Tulsa is the only squad near the top that hasn’t endured major changes in recent months.

Cincy will be happy to avoid the issues it incurred last season with Mick Cronin sidelined by health issues. Cronin is back and he’s joined by his top six scorers from last season. The Bearcats were, per the norm, one of the nation’s top defensive teams and the only AAC squad that won an NCAA tournament game.

Trending down

The Memphis mess continues. Nichols’ departure was a surprise and a move that ruined some of the potential that the Tigers appeared to have entering next season. There is a bright side. Maybe. The Lawson brothers, Dedric and K.J., will earn a chunk of early playing time. Nick Marshall’s decision to reclassify to his original class and compete next season will give Pastner another talented big man. The addition of Alabama transfer Ricky Tarrant helps too. But the Tigers lost a possible AAC player of the year and another strong contributor in King.

Levan Alston, a four-star guard, could be a young standout for Temple, but Will Cummings (14.8 PPG) was crucial to a program that nearly made the field of 68. How will Fran Dunphy’s squad adjust to life without him?

Notable newcomers (coaches, transfers, freshmen)

Adams, Miller and Gibbs could turn Connecticut into a player again, both in the AAC and nationally -- if Ollie’s squad creates the chemistry it will need to reach its potential. That was the question about Gibbs during a rocky finish at Seton Hall. Is he a team guy or a “me” guy? We’ll find out. But few teams have added more game-changing talent.

Milton and Moore will comprise one of the nation’s top backcourts, and Tolbert should make an immediate impact at SMU.

Dedric Lawson and K.J. Lawson were already dealing with pressure as local prep stars who signed with the hometown team, a squad that also hired their father as an assistant. Perhaps that pressure will increase now that Pastner will seek more from the youngsters. Marshall is a 6-10 recruit whom the program will also lean on. But Tarrant (13.1 PPG), a former Alabama and Tulane guard, is probably the most important addition.