No. 19 LSU | No. 21 UConn | Full List
No. 20: SMU MUSTANGS
Last Season: 27-7, 15-3 American
A second consecutive preseason top 25 ranking, on the heels of a program's first NCAA tournament berth in 22 years, ordinarily would signal big things for a team. But for the Mustangs, it all depends on how you define big.
Typically in college basketball that means a conference champion, a tournament berth and maybe a second-weekend appearance at the Big Dance. Only one of those three possibilities are available now for SMU after the NCAA handed down a postseason ban stemming from an investigation into Keith Frazier's eligibility. That takes the wind out of the sails for the Mustangs, not to mention the shine off the rebuild job coach Larry Brown has done at a school that has been dormant forever and what should have been a great finish to the careers of Nic Moore and Markus Kennedy. -- Dana O'Neil
Best Case: The Mustangs allowed only 38.1 percent shooting from the field last season, top five in the nation. The Mustangs have not won an NCAA tournament game since 1988, and the NCAA made sure that streak will remain alive for at least another year. SMU has talent, with Nic Moore at the point and Markus Kennedy up front. There were high hopes in Highland Park, but the Ponies will be playing only for pride, and that hurts.
Worst Case: With the NCAA tournament out of the question, it might be easy for the players to quit and mail it in. I doubt that happens, but it could. The wind has been knocked out of this program, and it can get away from you quickly.
"They have the majority of their team back, are well-coached and have one of the best point guards in the country in Nic Moore. I know they aren't eligible for the league or NCAA tournament, but as long as Moore is on the court, they are going to win a ton of games."
No. 19 LSU | No. 21 UConn | Full List
