The American Athletic Conference released its preseason all-conference teams and coaches poll on Monday and the old CUSA is well-represented in the new AAC.

UAB was picked to finish fourth in the league, behind Florida Atlantic, Memphis and Tulane, and guard Eric Gaines was named preseason All-AAC first team.

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Reigning CUSA regular-season and tournament champion Florida Atlantic was picked to win the conference, garnering 11 first-place votes, followed by Memphis in second place with three first-place votes.

The Blazers will face all three teams picked above them twice during the season.

Gaines appeared in 39 games last season, earning 29 starts, and averaged 11.5 points and 4.3 assists in his first season on the Southside. He was an All-CUSA honorable mention and was featured twice on ESPN’s Sportscenter Top 10 Plays.

Along with Gaines, UAB returns Javian Davis, Tony Toney and Efrem “Butta” Johnson, and signed a wealth of talent in the offseason. The Blazers hit the transfer portal for the likes of Arkansas’s Barry Dunning, Ole Miss sophomore James White and former Oak Mountain standout and UNC transfer WIll Shaver, and signed a star-studded JUCO class that includes three of the top 10 players in the nation.

AAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Florida Atlantic (11)

2. Memphis (3)

3. Tulane

4. UAB

5. East Carolina

6. North Texas

7. SMU

8. Wichita State

9. South Florida

10. Tulsa

11. Rice

12. Temple

13. Charlotte

14. UTSA