Junior guard Jarron Cumberland was picked by the American Athletic Conference to the Preseason first team. The team was picked to finish second in the conference. I personally thought they would be picked third, but I’m not complaining and I figured Cumberland would be picked for the first team because of how he finished his sophomore season. I personally think he is has a strong shot at being the player of the year in the conference.
Hear from @CoachCroninUC & Jarron Cumberland as the #AmericanTipoff rolls on!#Bearcats pic.twitter.com/MtqRsc0tt2
— Cincinnati Men’s Hoops (@GoBearcatsMBB) October 15, 2018
Per GoBearcats
American Athletic Conference coaches awarded University of Cincinnati junior guard Jarron Cumberland with preseason first team all-conference accolades while the Bearcats were predicted to finish second at the league’s media day Monday at the Airport Marriott.
Cumberland started all 36 games, averaging 11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists last season as the Bearcats matched the school record for victories while posting a 31-5 overall mark and claiming the AAC regular-season and tournament championships. He scored in double figures in 22 games and tied former teammate Jacob Evans III for team-high honors in three-pointers with 60.
Cumberland ranked second on the squad, averaging 14.0 points during five postseason games a year ago, including his first collegiate double-double, scoring a career-high 27 points on 8-of-17 shooting with four three-pointers and a career-high 11 rebounds against Georgia State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Cumberland was named the AAC’s Co-Sixth Man of the Year during his freshman season (2016-17) when he averaged 8.3 points and shot 49.3 percent (99 of 201) from the floor.
// BEARCATS PICKED TO FINISH SECOND IN AAC
League coaches predicted a second-place finish for the Bearcats, who received 107 points behind first-place UCF. The Knights garnered a league-best 114 points and six first-place votes to UC’s three first-place votes. Houston finished third with 103 points and two first-place votes while Memphis took fourth with 85 points and one first-place vote.The predicted order of finish for the remaining team in the league follows: UConn (75 points), Temple (74), SMU (63), Wichita State (60), Tulsa (48), Tulane (23), ECU (22) and USF (18).
// AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE 2018-19 PRESEASON POLL & AWARDS
Coaches Preseason Poll
Finish – Team (1st-Place Votes) – Points
1 – UCF (6) – 114
2 – Cincinnati (3) – 107
3 – Houston (2) – 103
4 – Memphis (1) – 85
5 – UConn – 75
6 – Temple – 74
7 – SMU – 63
8 – Wichita State – 60
9 – Tulsa – 48
10 – Tulane – 23
11 – ECU – 22
12 – USF – 18Preseason Player of the Year
B.J. Taylor, guard – UCFPreseason Freshman of the Year
Nate Hinton, guard – HoustonPreseason All-Conference
First Team
Jalen Adams, guard – UConn *
Jarron Cumberland, guard – Cincinnati
Jeremiah Martin, guard – Memphis
Quinton Rose, guard – Temple
B.J. Taylor, guard – UCFSecond Team ^
Corey Davis, Jr., guard – Houston
Tacko Fall, center – UCF
Jarrey Foster, guard – SMU
Markis McDuffie, forward – Wichita State
Jahmal McMurray, guard – SMU
Sterling Taplin, guard – Tulsa
*unanimous selection
^extra member due to tie in voting
