SMU Mustangs
2018-2019 Overall Rank: #65
Conference Rank: #5 American
Last season, SMU had their lowest win total since joining the American Athletic Conference in 2013. The Mustangs won just six conference games after winning double-digit AAC games in each of the past four seasons. Injuries to Shake Milton, Jarrey Foster and Everett Ray certainly played a role in SMU’s down year. This season, Milton is gone along with fellow starter Ben Emelogu, but the Mustangs have four players returning who started at least 14 games last season. Full seasons from Foster, Ray and Jahmal McMurray should get SMU right back in the thick of the AAC race.
2017-18 Record: 17-16, 6-12
2017-18 Postseason: None
Coach: Tim Jankovich
Coach Record: 56-21 at SMU, 213-142 overall
Key Departed Players:
Shake Milton, Guard, 18.0 ppg
Ben Emelogu, Guard, 10.7 ppg
Akoy Agau, Forward, 5.0 ppg
Elijah Landrum, Guard, 3.1 ppg
Shake Milton, Guard, 18.0 ppg
Ben Emelogu, Guard, 10.7 ppg
Akoy Agau, Forward, 5.0 ppg
Elijah Landrum, Guard, 3.1 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Jahmal McMurray, Senior, Guard, 14.7 ppg
Jarrey Foster, Senior, Guard, 13.2 ppg
Jimmy Whitt, Junior, Guard, 10.5 ppg
Ethan Chargois, Sophomore, Forward, 9.1 ppg
Everett Ray, Sophomore, Forward, 2.3 ppg
William Douglas, Sophomore, Guard, 2.0 ppg
Jarrey Foster, Senior, Guard, 13.2 ppg
Jimmy Whitt, Junior, Guard, 10.5 ppg
Ethan Chargois, Sophomore, Forward, 9.1 ppg
Everett Ray, Sophomore, Forward, 2.3 ppg
William Douglas, Sophomore, Guard, 2.0 ppg
Key New Players:
Nat Dixon, Senior, Guard, Grad Transfer from UT Chattanooga
Feron Hunt, Freshman, Forward
Isiaha Mike, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from Duquesne
C.J. White, Freshman, Guard
Jahmar Young, Freshman, Forward
Nat Dixon, Senior, Guard, Grad Transfer from UT Chattanooga
Feron Hunt, Freshman, Forward
Isiaha Mike, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from Duquesne
C.J. White, Freshman, Guard
Jahmar Young, Freshman, Forward
Projection:
The top returning scorer for SMU is Jahmal McMurray who played in just 22 games, 14 of which he started. McMurray was suspended to begin last season, but the Mustangs will get a full year out of the senior guard in 2018-19. McMurray averaged 14.7 points and shot 40.8% from behind the arc as a junior. The health of Jarrey Foster will be a key for SMU’s success this season. Foster, an NBA prospect when healthy, is a 6-6 wing who averaged 13.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 19 games. Foster is also a tremendous defender who helps SMU on both ends of the floor. Jimmy Whitt had a strong debut season at SMU, starting all 33 games while filling the stat sheet with 10.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game. As an upperclassman this year, Whitt could fill Shake Milton’s former role as the do-it-all leader of the Mustangs. Ethan Chargois is the final returning starter for SMU. Chargois started 24 games as a freshman, averaging 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds. Everett Ray and William Douglas will both be sophomores this season and should see some extended playing time. SMU will have two transfers joining the team, Nat Dixon and Isiaha Mike. Dixon is a grad transfer from Chattanooga who started 30 games last year, averaging 13.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Mike, who will see playing time this year after sitting out last season, averaged 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists as a freshman at Duquesne. SMU will also bring in three freshmen to compete for playing time. If the Mustangs can have better injury luck in 2018-19, there is enough talent on the roster to get back to competing in the AAC and potentially back to the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 69.5 (276th in nation, 8th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 64.1 (12, 3)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.4 (191, 6)
Field-Goal Defense: 42.2 (71, 6)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.5 (88, 2)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 37.9 (48, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 68.6 (279, 9)
Rebound Margin: 0.4 (181, 7)
Assists Per Game: 14.4 (113, 5)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.6 (60, 3)
Madness 2019 NBA Draft Rankings:
#59 Jarrey Foster
