Entering the American Athletic Conference two years ago was nervewracking for coach Seamus O’Connor.
Looking through the conference’s elite teams, he knew it would be an uphill battle.
“The first year, you’re coaching against some people, they’ve won more games than I’ve had hot breakfast in my life,” O’Connor said. “So it’s very, very intimidating.”
Last season, the squad entered conference play with a program-best 7–2 record. They traveled to Cincinnati for their first foe from The American.
The Owls, who left the Atlantic 10 conference two seasons ago, arrived on the Bearcats’ campus with just a single victory in The American to their name; a 2–0 win over Houston at Ambler Sports Complex, which was followed by eight straight conference losses for a 1–8 mark in 2013.