Busting Brackets
Fansided

AAC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2022-23 season

By Holden Walter-Warner

Mar 14, 2021; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Houston Cougars players and coaches celebrate as confetti falls after defeating the Cincinnati Bearcats in the American Athletic Conference tournament final at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ben Ludeman-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2021; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Houston Cougars players and coaches celebrate as confetti falls after defeating the Cincinnati Bearcats in the American Athletic Conference tournament final at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ben Ludeman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Zach Nutall Southern Methodist Mustangs (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Zach Nutall Southern Methodist Mustangs (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

. . . Mustangs . 7. team. 453

In some ways, the circumstances at SMU feel similar to the circumstances at Wichita State. Once one of the premier programs in the conference, the Mustangs are going through a bit of a rebuild.

Last year was another good one at Southern Methodist. While they didn’t make the NCAA Tournament, the program did win 24 games and was a top seed in the NIT, where they lost in the second round to Washington State.

After the season, sixth-year head coach Tim Jankovich called it a career. He went 125-64 during his Mustangs tenure, including one NCAA Tournament appearance. Former Georgia State coach Rob Lanier is now in charge after taking the Panthers to the Big Dance last year.

A head coach leaving is a tough blow. Kendric Davis leaving is even tougher after the reigning AAC Player of the Year averaged 19.4 points per game a year ago. The toughest blow? Davis went to another team in the conference, Memphis.

Zach Nutall needs to step into Davis’ void, or at least try. In his first season after transferring from Sam Houston State, Nutall averaged a lowly 6.8 points per game, failing to show why he’s a former Southland Player of the Year. Without a better season, SMU will be toast.

Samuell Williamson arrives to provide backup. The wing floated in and out of the rotation during his three seasons at Louisville, never quite living up to his five-star billing. A new environment could change that.

There are a few solid young players coming up the pipeline. Zhuric Phelps, Xavier Foster, and freshman Jackson Young will all be asked to take on big roles. The success of the season will tip on their development.

That doesn’t bode well in a conference with some heavy hitters and veteran-laden squads at the top. SMU’s basketball rebuild under Lanier begins here.