Whether coach speak or true belief, Penny Hardaway framed it correctly three months ago at American Athletic Conference Media Day in Philadelphia.
Despite his Memphis Tigers, featuring a loaded freshman class, tabbed as preseason AAC favorites, he said Cincinnati remained the team to beat.
"This is a veterans league, and that's not disrespecting anyone else," Hardaway said. "Just giving those guys their credit and what they've earned."
Fulfilling the feeling, the No. 22 Tigers (13-3, 2-1) trail Cincinnati (10-6, 3-1), and Wichita State, in the league standings ahead of Thursday's meeting at FedExForum.
For Memphis, a victory – without former five-star recruit James Wiseman, who elected to leave the program to prepare for the NBA – would enhance credence that the youngest roster in college basketball is maturing.