Nickname Mustangs Away Alternate Division Division I (NCAA) Colors Blue, Red | Home Away Head coach Tim Jankovich Mascot Peruna | |
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Arena/Stadium Southern Methodist University Moody Coliseum Conference American Athletic Conference Location Dallas, Texas, United States Profiles | ||
The SMU Mustangs men's basketball team is the basketball team that represents Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, United States. The school's team currently competes in the American Athletic Conference. They are currently coached by Tim Jankovich, after the resignation of Larry Brown. In 100 years of basketball, SMU's record is 1319–1190. SMU has reached one Final Four, has made 12 NCAA Tournament Appearances, won 15 Conference Championships, had 11 All-Americans, and 21 NBA Draft selections.
Contents
- 1916 The beginning
- 1955 1967 The Doc Hayes Era Golden Era of Pony Hoops
- 1968 1993 The Fall to Mediocrity
- 1994 2012 The Dark Ages
- 2012 2016 SMU Basketball is Back Larry Brown Era
- 2016 Maintaining Success Post Larry Brown
- Complete NCAA Tournament results
- NIT results
- CIT results
- Notable former players
- Current players
- Awards
- All Americans
- Season by season results
- References
On September 30, 2015, the NCAA, following investigation into NCAA violations banned SMU from postseason play in 2016 including the American Athletic Conference Tournament. Larry Brown was suspended for nine games in the 2016 season. The school also received sanctions in the form of reduced scholarships. SMU responded in the 2015–16 season by finishing 25–5 making it 3 straight seasons the Mustangs have won 25-games. SMU has since rebounded in the 2016-17 season by winning their second conference title in 3 years, setting a school record for single season wins, and returning to the NCAA Tournament.
1916 The beginning
1916 was the inaugural season of SMU basketball where it went 12-2. SMU joined the Southwest Conference in the 1918-19 season. SMU won its first two conference titles in 1935 and 1937.
1955 –1967 The Doc Hayes Era (Golden Era of Pony Hoops)
Doc Hayes took over as SMU's head coach in 1947. By 1955 Hayes had SMU in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history advancing to the Sweet Sixteen and had won their first conference title in almost 20 years. The four year stretch from 1955–58, SMU went 77-28, won 4 straight Southwest Conference championships, and reached 3 Sweet Sixteen's while also reaching the school's first Final Four in the 1955-56 season, led by All-American Jim Krebs. SMU during the Doc Hayes era won 8 SWC championships and reached the NCAA tournament 6 times including Final Four and Elite Eight appearances. Doc Hayes retired after the 1967 season with a final record of 298–191 (.609) at SMU.
1968-1993 The Fall to Mediocrity
Following Doc Hayes, SMU basketball fell down into a period of mediocrity with some sprinkled success highlighted by SMU greats Jon Koncak, Ira Terrell, and Gene Phillips. Though the Bob Prewitt and Sonny Allen era's were largely unsuccessful and only produced one Southwest Conference Championship from a stretch of 1968-1980 the program looked to be back on the rise during the Dave Bliss era. Bliss and star big man Jon Koncak led SMU to 3 NCAA tournament appearances and an NIT appearance. The Dave Bliss era was highlighted by his final season where SMU went 28-7 winning the SWC regular season and tournament championships and making it to the Second round of the NCAA Tournament. SMU would win the SWC Championship and reach the NCAA tournament one more time in the 1993 season under John Shumate, however, this was the start of the Dark Ages of SMU basketball.
1994-2012 The Dark Ages
This period was the dark age for SMU basketball. From 1994-2012 SMU had just 7 winning seasons and did not win any conference titles or reach the NCAA tournament. Only reaching the NIT and CIT one time each.
2012-2016 SMU Basketball is Back (Larry Brown Era)
The reemergence of SMU basketball occurred when Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown took over the Mustangs in the 2012 season coinciding with the 48-million dollar renovation of Moody Coliseum. By his second season he had SMU at 27-10 and runner's up in the NIT. In his third season, (2014–15) led by Nic Moore, SMU won its first conference title in 22 years (regular season and tournament champions) and returned to the NCAA tournament losing a controversial game to UCLA on a goaltending call. In the 2015-16 SMU was banned from postseason play due to NCAA violations, under Coach Brown, but still managed to start the season 18-0 and finish the season at 25-5 while being ranked in the AP poll. SMU's third straight 25+ win season. In the summer of 2016 Brown stepped down as SMU's basketball coach finishing with a record of 94–39(.707).
2016- Maintaining Success (Post Larry Brown)
Tim Jankovich is in his first full season as SMU's head coach in the 2016-17 season, SMU is 30-4 (17-1) and finished with a #11 ranking in the AP Poll led by Senior's Ben Moore and Sterling Brown (the two winningest players in SMU history), along with the sensational Duke transfer Junior Semi Ojeleye, and talented sophomore's Shake Milton, and Jarrey Foster. The 2016-17 Mustang's won the 2016-17 American Athletic Conference regular season and conference tournament Championship's and headed to the NCAA tournament before falling to USC by 1 point.
Complete NCAA Tournament results
The Mustangs have appeared in 12 NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 10–14.
NIT results
The Mustangs have appeared in three National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 4–3.
CIT results
The Mustangs have appeared in one CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). Their record is 3–1.
Notable former players
The SMU Mustangs have had 21 NBA Draft Selections.
Current players
Awards
AAC Player of the Year
WAC Player of the Year
SWC Player of the Year
AAC Tournament MVP
AAC Sixth Man of the Year
All-Americans
SMU has had 11 All-Americans: 2015–16 Nic Moore (Jr.) (AP Honrable Mention); 2014–15 Nic Moore (Jr.) (AP Honrable Mention); 2002–03 Quinton Ross (Sr.); 1984–85 Jon Koncak (Sr.) (2nd team – Consensus); 1975–76 Ira Terrell (Sr.); 1970–71 Gene Phillips (Sr.); 1969–70 Gene Phillips (Jr.); 1959–60 Max Williams (Sr.); 1956–57 Jim Krebs (Sr.) (1st team – Consensus); 1955–56 Jim Krebs (Jr.); 1934–35 Whitey Baccus (Sr.)
Season-by- season results
Source. ^ Conference Coach of the Year