SMU Mustangs
2019-2020 Overall Rank: #106
Conference Rank: #9 American
SMU has had a rough couple of seasons following their 2017 NCAA Tournament appearance. They were well on their way again in 2018 before injuries derailed the campaign. And last season the Mustangs finished below .500 overall. With three starters gone, SMU could take another step back, but the talent is definitely here and it is about time SMU exceeds expectations instead of underperforms.
2018-19 Record: 15-17, 6-12
2018-19 Postseason: None
Coach: Tim Jankovich
Coach Record: 71-38 at SMU, 228-159 overall
Key Departed Players:
Jahmal McMurray, Guard, 18.1 ppg
Jimmy Whitt Jr, Guard, 12.4 ppg
Nat Dixon, Guard, 5.0 ppg
Jarrey Foster, Guard, 6.9 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Ethan Chargois, Junior, Forward, 12.4 ppg
Isiaha Mike, Junior, Forward, 11.7 ppg
Feron Hunt, Sophomore, Forward, 7.6 ppg
CJ White, Sophomore, Guard, 1.8 ppg
Key New Players:
Emmanuel Bandoumel, Junior, Guard, JC Transfer
Kendric Davis, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from TCU, not eligible
Tyson Jolly, Junior, Guard, JC Transfer
Darius McBride, Freshman, Guard
Darius McNeill, Junior Guard, Transfer from California, not eligible
Charles Smith IV, Freshman, Guard
Alex Tabor Jr, Freshman, Guard
Grant Youngkin, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Rice
Isiah Jasey, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Texas A&M, eligible in December
Projection:
The Mustangs are not going to have any concerns in the frontcourt. Ethan Chargois, a 6-9 junior, wasted no time making a huge impact after transferring in from Duquesne. He averaged 12.4 points and 6.2 rebounds and hit 45 three-pointers. Like Chargois, 6-8 junior Isiaha Mike can stretch the defense with his outside shooting abilities. Mike also added 5.4 rebounds and a team high 1.1 blocks. Feron Hunt is not going to take quite as many three-pointers as Chargois or Mike, but the sophomore will hoist up the occasional three-pointer. Despite the frontcourt talent in front of him, Hunt made a big splash as a freshman and averaged 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds. With a year of experience under his belt, Hunt is in for a breakout sophomore season. Isiah Jasey is expected to be eligible in December and will add quality depth to the frontcourt. The backcourt will rely quite heavily on transfers. Emmanuel Badoumel and Tyson Jolly come from the junior college ranks and Grant Youngkin saw very limited minutes at Rice. The big name Division I transfers are Kendric Davis from TCU and Darius McNeill from California. Those two will have to receive a waiver to be eligible for the 2019-2020 campaign and it would be a huge boost to the backcourt if they are. But even without Davis and McNeill, the frontcourt can carry SMU to more success than they have seen in the last two years.
Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 72.0 (190th in nation, 7th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 70.3 (147, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.2 (185, 6)
Field-Goal Defense: 42.8 (117, 8)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.2 (120, 2)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.1 (203, 5)
Free-Throw Percentage: 71.5 (151, 3)
Rebound Margin: 1.3 (139, 7)
Assists Per Game: 13.8 (144, 5)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.0 (31, 2)
