SMU's supposed breakout season isn't off to a good start
One of the big questions entering the season was whether SMU was still capable of a breakout season even after elite point guard prospect Emmanuel Mudiay abruptly turned pro and top big man Marcus Kennedy encountered unexpected eligibility issues.
So far the answer is a resounding "no."
The Mustangs are still in search of their first meaningful win of the season after squandering three chances in the opening two weeks of the season.
They were seldom competitive at Gonzaga eight days ago in their first chance to prove themselves. They had no answer for freshman James Blackmon a few days later in a loss at Indiana. And they didn't fare any better in emotionally charged Moody Coliseum against Arkansas either, falling 78-72 on Tuesday night after their second-half comeback bid came up short.
The poor start is a sign SMU may have to lower its expectations with Mudiay playing professionally in China and Kennedy not eligible to return until at least mid-December. The school's first NCAA tournament bid in two decades was once thought to be a near certainty with the core of a 27-win NIT finalist returning, but now the Mustangs are in jeopardy of entering conference play without a quality win.
The only surefire marquee game left on SMU's schedule is a visit to Big Ten power Michigan on Dec. 5. A home game against Wyoming could also prove meaningful if the Cowboys build on their rout of Colorado the rest of the season.
For SMU to win either of those games, the Mustangs will have to improve their outside shooting, take better care of the ball and do a better job on the glass. Those have been recurring problems early in the season, and they popped up again against Arkansas on Tuesday night.
The full-court pressure of the Razorbacks forced 19 turnovers, five of which were committed by point guard Nik Moore. SMU also sank only two threes the entire game, a stat that should make future opponents feel comfortable packing the lane and making the Mustangs hit from the perimeter.
It also won't help SMU that it will be without Xavier transfer Justin Martin for the next few weeks. The 6-7 forward suffered a right knee injury against Eastern Washington over the weekend, another blow to the depth of the Mustangs.
If Tuesday's result was deflating for SMU, it was encouraging for an Arkansas team seeking its first NCAA tournament bid since 2008. Forward Bobby Portis scored 22 points and guards Michael Qualls and Rashad Madden combined for 23 as the Razorbacks validated their newly minted No. 25 ranking and strengthened their case to be considered the third best team in the beleaguered SEC.
Now Arkansas and SMU fans should want the same thing to happen in the coming weeks: The Mustangs to improve enough for the Razorbacks' victory to be considered a quality win by the end of the season.
SMU still has time to recover from its disappointing start. The Mustangs just need to put it together soon or they'll risk beginning conference play with nothing to show for November and December.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
