Busting Brackets
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AAC Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2019-20 season

By Pan Karalis

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 11: during the final game of the 2018 AAC Basketball Championship against at Amway Center on March 11, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 11: during the final game of the 2018 AAC Basketball Championship against at Amway Center on March 11, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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TULSA, OK – MARCH 17: Semi Ojeleye #33 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs reacts after a play in the second half against the USC Trojans during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 17, 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
TULSA, OK – MARCH 17: Semi Ojeleye #33 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs reacts after a play in the second half against the USC Trojans during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 17, 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /

. Mustangs . 9. team. 453. .

As Larry Brown’s influence has rotated off the Mustangs’ roster, so has SMU’s fortunes from the court. It was only two-and-a-half years ago Southern Methodist was entering the NCAA Tournament as AAC regular season and tournament champions, the 11th ranked team in the country. Since then, they’ve lost twice for every victory they’ve earned in conference play.

This year might not get any easier in Dallas; Jamal McMurray, who carried the scoring load for the Ponies a season ago, graduated, and Jimmy Whitt, who was expected to lead the effort in the backcourt for Jankovich this season, transferred back to Arkansas to play for Eric Musselman. Forward Ethan Chargois might have all-AAC potential, but he won’t be able to do all the lifting himself despite impressive all-around numbers from a season ago. Isaiah Mike and Feron Hunt, the only other returning contributors from last year’s team, are also frontcourt players.

SMU’s season – and possibly Jankovich’s future in Dallas – depends on a number of incoming transfers. Jank’s staff landed the top JUCO transfer in the country Tyson Jolly, and the team is waiting on waiver decisions on Isiah Jasey, a Texas A&M transfer, and Darius McNeill, who averaged 11 points for Cal a season ago. For now, we have to assume the Mustangs don’t have enough firepower to compete in the American, but that will probably change in a big way next season.