Once Upon A Time In Las Vegas
The (6-9) SMU Mustangs and (11-4) UCF Knights are set to square off at Addition Financial Arena on Sunday for an American Athletic Conference hoops match. The Mustangs, 1-1 in conference play and 0-4 overall on the road, lost on the road at #2 Houston in their last game. The Knights, 2-1 in AAC competition and 7-2 overall at home, beat East Carolina 64-41 on Wednesday.
The Mustangs beat the Knights 72-60 in their lone meeting last season. SMU is 14-10 all-time versus UCF.
Tip-off from Orlando, FL, is at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Southern Methodist started its 2022-23 season 3-7, with wins over Texas A&M Commerce, Evansville, and Lamar. The Mustangs have turned a corner, though, winning three of their past five. SMU's schedule has been challenging, featuring games against Dayton, Arizona State, TCU, Texas A&M, and Houston.
In the 87-53 loss to the Cougars, SMU was held to 23 first-half points. It shot 30.6 percent from the field and 15.0 percent from three-point range. The Cougars thoroughly dominated the Mustangs on the glass, winning the rebounding battle 54-26, with 21 offensive rebounds. Houston led by as many as 39 points over its in-state foe. That said, the Cougars are the class of the AAC and national title contenders, at that.
Shootin around in H-Town #ponyupdallas pic.twitter.com/JcvVg0B5Tc
— SMU Basketball (@SMUBasketball) January 5, 2023
Southern Methodist scores 68.8 points per game and shoots 42.4 percent from the floor with a 31.6 three-point shooting percentage. The Mustangs are led by sophomore guard Zhuric Phelps, who paces the team in scoring at 17.5 points per game. SMU also counts on contributions from senior guard Zach Nutall (14.3 PPG), senior forward Efe Odigie (8.9 PPG and 7.1 RPG), and senior forward Samuell Williamson (8.7 PPG and 7.1 RPG).
Southern Methodist gives up 71.2 points on 42.0 percent shooting, including 33.6 percent from distance. Its schedule-adjusted offensive efficiency rating is ranked 177th in the nation, and its defensive efficiency rating is 132nd, per KenPom. The Mustangs have a negative rebounding margin and are 163rd in assist-per-turnover ratio (0.99).