With just one more regular season game left on their schedule, the Roadrunners are projected to face either South Florida, Charlotte or FAU in the first round of the American Athletic Conference tournament. While UTSA would be clear underdogs in any of these matchups, the ‘Runners are more than capable of completing the incredible upset. The elite backcourt play of guards Christian Tucker and Jordan Ivy-Curry makes the team a formidable foe for anyone in the conference tournament. Pairing their strengths along with the familiarity of their opponents, UTSA is set to cause a ton of madness in the month of March.
Though there have been many ups and downs this season, one of the biggest bright spots for the team has been the incredible play of Tucker and Ivy-Curry. Serving as the team’s primary ball-handler for most of the season, Tucker has cemented himself as the clear leader, averaging 11 points, five assists and two steals a game. Though his scoring has seen its share of dips and spikes, his assist and steals totals have remained consistent all year. It is Tucker’s innate ability to distribute the ball and get teammates’ open shots that make him such an incredible threat for other league guards to handle.
Coming off the bench is Tucker’s backcourt mate Ivy-Curry. Averaging 16 points per game, five rebounds and three assists, the guard has taken the mantle as the team’s leading scorer and deadliest option. His ability to shine in clutch situations has made him one of the most prolific guards in the AAC, as his pull-up jump shots have left countless opponents dead in their tracks.
Pairing the combination of Tucker and Ivy-Curry with the team’s experience and familiarity, UTSA looks to have a slight chance of victory heading into their first-round matchup. Despite losing all regular season games to the top-three teams in the conference standings (South Florida, Charlotte and FAU), the Roadrunners have consistently kept up with their opponents in scoring and rebounding. With each of their games against nationally ranked opponents coming down to the wire, the team has been no stranger to pressure and bright lights. Going into what will be a rematch against one of the three teams, UTSA will have the opportunity to capitalize on opponent mistakes while avoiding repeat mishaps made in previous games.
Set as an incredible underdog, the ‘Runners will have to fight and claw their way to victory if they hope to make it past the opening round. Although their path to the conference championship is one of the hardest in the tournament, the Roadrunners are extremely capable of going all the way. With the smell of upsets in the air, don’t be surprised if UTSA finds itself making a deep run in the conference tournament.
