NCAA Basketball: Arkansas, SMU among best unbeaten teams that aren’t ranked
By Ryan Kay
Mustangs . 2. team. 453. . 6-0. Previous: 4th
Team: SMU
Conference: American
Record: 6-0
Leading Scorer: Kendric Davis is averaging 19.2 points per game.
Victories: @Temple, East Carolina, Houston Baptist, Texas A&M-CC, Sam Houston State, and @Dayton
KenPom ranking: 48
Why they are undefeated: Southern Methodists offense at the beginning of the season and the Mustang defense of late has played very well. In SMU’s first three contests, the Mustang’s offense averaged 96.6 points per game in those three victories for SMU. In Southern Methodist’s last two games prior to their road victory versus Temple, the Mustang defense was dominant limiting those two teams to 64 and 55 points.
SMU proved they can win on the road as they went to Dayton and defeated the Flyers as well as beating Temple in conference play. Dayton on paper is a very impressive victory as the Flyers have defeated two SEC schools in Mississippi State and Mississippi.
The Mustangs have made it look easy as they have defeated four out of the six teams they have played this season averaging a winning margin in those games of 27.2 points. Two of the wins against Dayton and East Carolina were those two teams’ have a combined record of 11-3. SMU’S road win against Temple was a decent win as well.
Reasons to be Pessimistic: Southern Methodist has only played two road games and to their credit and to be fair, they won both of those games. However, they play their first ranked opponent in Houston this weekend, and then in late January they play in three out of four road games and will be tested more frequently and often and also have multiple opportunities to prove themselves further and to possibly be ranked in the top 25.
Three out of SMU’s next five opponents do not have winning records but they will indeed play quality opponents in conference play in the American Athletic Conference. The Mustangs don’t give too many reasons to be pessimistic about their team and their success on the court thus far but time will only tell if they can remain undefeated.
Next Opponent: No. 5 Houston on 01/03