Rachal Earns Preseason All-Conference Honors; Tulsa Picked 6th in Coaches Poll
10/28/2020 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
AAC Release
IRVING, Texas — University of Tulsa senior Brandon Rachal was named preseason first-team all-conference in a vote by the American Athletic Conference head coaches, it was announced on Wednesday morning.
The reigning American Athletic Conference Champion Golden Hurricane was selected to finish sixth in the league standings in a preseason vote by conference coaches.
In each of Tulsa's previous six years in the league, the Hurricane placed better than its preseason finish. Last season, Tulsa posted a 13-5 league record and finished in a first-place tie after a preseason selection of 10th place.
Rachal returns as Tulsa's leading scorer entering the 2020-21 season, as he averaged 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game. The Natchitoches, La., native appeared in 30 contests starting in 29 of them.
Rachal led the team in rebounds, steals and blocks while shooting 44.1-percent from the field and 79.4-percent from the free-throw line. He scored in double-figures 20 times, led by a career-high 30-point effort in a win against Austin Peay. Rachal was the first Hurricane to score 20+ points in three consecutive games since Shaquille Harrison in 2015.
The 6'7" guard/forward is one of two full-time returning starters for the Golden Hurricane. In all, the squad returns five letterwinners and will welcome seven newcomers, two of which have Division I experience.
AAC Preseason Poll
*Unanimous First-Team Selection
IRVING, Texas — University of Tulsa senior Brandon Rachal was named preseason first-team all-conference in a vote by the American Athletic Conference head coaches, it was announced on Wednesday morning.
The reigning American Athletic Conference Champion Golden Hurricane was selected to finish sixth in the league standings in a preseason vote by conference coaches.
In each of Tulsa's previous six years in the league, the Hurricane placed better than its preseason finish. Last season, Tulsa posted a 13-5 league record and finished in a first-place tie after a preseason selection of 10th place.
Rachal returns as Tulsa's leading scorer entering the 2020-21 season, as he averaged 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game. The Natchitoches, La., native appeared in 30 contests starting in 29 of them.
Rachal led the team in rebounds, steals and blocks while shooting 44.1-percent from the field and 79.4-percent from the free-throw line. He scored in double-figures 20 times, led by a career-high 30-point effort in a win against Austin Peay. Rachal was the first Hurricane to score 20+ points in three consecutive games since Shaquille Harrison in 2015.
The 6'7" guard/forward is one of two full-time returning starters for the Golden Hurricane. In all, the squad returns five letterwinners and will welcome seven newcomers, two of which have Division I experience.
AAC Preseason Poll
| 1. | Houston (9) | 99 |
| 2. | Memphis (2) | 90 |
| 3. | SMU | 80 |
| 4. | Cincinnati | 77 |
| 5. | USF | 61 |
| 6. | Tulsa | 50 |
| 7. | Wichita State | 44 |
| 8. | UCF | 37 |
| 9. | East Carolina | 34 |
| 10. | Temple | 18 |
| 11. | Tulane | 15 |
| AAC Preseason Awards |
| Preseason Player of the Year |
| Caleb Mills, Houston |
| Preseason Rookie of the Year |
| Moussa Cisse, Memphis |
| First Team |
| Keith Williams, Cincinnati |
| Jayden Gardner, East Carolina* |
| Caleb Mills, Houston* |
| Kendric Davis, SMU |
| Brandon Rachal, Tulsa |
| Second Team |
| Chris Vogt, Cincinnati |
| D.J. Jeffries, Memphis |
| Landers Nolley II, Memphis |
| Alexis Yetna, USF |
| Tyson Jolly, SMU |
Players Mentioned
Guard
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