East Carolina was picked 10th among 13 teams in the American Conference preseason coaches’ poll. It’s not where you start, of course, but where you finish up and there is reason to believe the Pirates could finish higher.

ECU was 10-8 in league play in 2024-25 and tied for fifth in the standings with Florida Atlantic. The primary losses are R.J. Felton and C.J. Hunter, who combined for over 35 points per game.

Jordan Riley, a preseason all-conference first teamer, is primed to add to his 14.5 scoring average from a year ago.

Pirates coach Mike Schwartz has sought size and improved 3-point shooting in the offseason.

George Mason transfer Giovanni Emejuru is proven in the paint. A host of players have the potential to step up on the perimeter and that could mean another middle to upper echelon finish in the league.

ECU’s returning nucleus has winning experience from a 19-14 season and that’s valuable. Jayshayne Woodard, Tybo Bailey, Reid Cason and Trevion LaBeaux can help steer the new talent in the right direction.

The nonconference schedule provides challenges with the opportunity to take some confidence and momentum into the league games.

The conference tournament is moving from Fort Worth to the Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Dates are March 11-15.

The coaches have picked Memphis as the preseason favorite and the Tigers are a good starting point to pick how the American will shape up this season.

1, Memphis — The Tigers lost guard P. J. Haggerty to Kansas State, but coincidentally landed point guard Dug McDaniel from K-State. Sincere Parker is a guard from the McNeese State team that beat Clemson in the NCAA Tournament. Quante Berry is another backcourt addition via Temple. Memphis had to do some rebuilding but that’s to be expected.

2, Alabama-Birmingham — Michigan made Yaxel Lendelborg a millionaire but the Blazers’ cupboard is far from bare. Junior college transfer guard Dayjaun Anderson will be joined by guard Jacob Meyer (DePaul) and guard Quaran McPherson give Coach Andy Kennedy a good backcourt nucleus with which to work.

3, North Texas — The Mean Green was second in the standings last season. Coach Ross Hodge left for West Virginia but new coach Daniyal Robinson brought some potential impact players from Cleveland State, including post presence Dylan Arnett and another frontcourt performer, Reece Robinson.

4, South Florida — The Bulls had to deal with the death of Coach Amir Abdur-Rashim before the 2024-25 season and went 13-19 overall with a 6-12 mark in the American. Bryan Hodgson is the new coach. Point guard C.J. Brown is one of just two returners, but five freshmen are rated top 30 as a class by 247 Sports.

5, East Carolina — Better rebounding means more possessions and better shooting means more points so if Schwartz and staff have done their job as intended, ECU is due for an upward trend. Things begin to unfold as Georgia Southern comes to Greenville on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.

6, Tulane — The Green Wave brings back a proven backcourt with Rowan Brumbaugh and Jolo Moore, who helped Tulane go 12-6 in the American. An accident claimed the life of starter Gregg Glenn III in the offseason. Forward Scotty Middleton arrived from Seton Hall and will provide more outside scoring punch.

7, Wichita State — Things are looking up for the Shockers with 7-2 transfer Will Berg coming in from Purdue. The portal also has delivered shooter Kenyon Giles from UNC Greensboro. Karon Boyd plays bigger than 6-6 and was among the leading shot blockers in the Southern Conference at East Tennessee State.

8, Temple — Jamal Mashburn Jr. averaged 22 points for an Owls club that went 17-15 overall and 9-9 in the AC last season. Replacing his scoring will be a challenge for Coach Adam Fisher, who has brought in Jordan Mason from Illinois-Chicago, Masiah Gilyard (Manhattan), A.J. Smith (Charleston) and C.J. Hines (Alabama State).

9, Charlotte — Dezayne Mingo is in from Marshall, where he averaged 12.6 points per game and 5.2 assists. Coach Aaron Fearne has also attracted Southern Indiana transfer Damoni Harrison and Major Freeman from Sienna in an effort to improve on a 3-15 performance in the American.

10, Tulsa — The Golden Hurricane has added shooter Myles Rigsby from Troy and Arkamas State pointn guard Terrance Ford Jr. Returning is productive post player Ian Smikle from a team that was 6-12 in the American.

11, Florida Atlantic — The Owls seemed to have lost their way since making the Final Four and losing Coach Dusty May to Michigan. Oregon State transfer Maxim Logue will try to contribute to an upsurge.

12, Rice — The Owls were 4-14 in the AC last year and haven’t made an NCAA Tournament appearance since 1970. Trae Broadnax at the point is a program staple.

13, Texas San Antonio — Wile E. Coyote might have a shot at these Roadrunners, who are coming off a 6-12 campaign in the American and may give former graduate assistant Pierce Spencer significant minutes.