Ponies getting defensive

[PonyPride]

Found this on the USAToday site:


SOUTHERN METHODIST

GETTING INSIDE— What's this? SMU playing defense?

The WAC's worst rated defensive team — the Mustangs allow an average of 73.5 points per game — have yielded less than its average in the past eight games, during which time SMU is 5-3, including a three-game winning streak.

Last week, the Ponies (15-12, 10-7) were back playing quality defense, beating Boise State 66-58 and holding the Broncos to 36.1 percent shooting, and then stomping on UTEP 65-43. The Miners shot a meager 30 percent.

The 43 points was the lowest output by an SMU conference foe since the 1991-92 season and the days of the old Southwest Conference. In that season, the Ponies beat Texas A&M 44-38.

"We played pretty well defensively," coach Mike Dement said after the victory over UTEP. "I thought they missed a lot of shots early, and that allowed us to stay in a zone as they continued to struggle."

NOTES, QUOTES— With the victory over UTEP on March 1, SMU secured its seventh consecutive 15-win season, something that had never been done in the history of the program.

What's next? SMU has at least two more games remaining — the regular-season finale at home to struggling Louisiana Tech and a game in the WAC tournament. Entering the week, SMU trailed three teams by a half-game for second place. The Mustangs were also a game ahead of Tech for sixth place.

No matter what happens this week, SMU is guaranteed of avoiding the dreaded "play-in" round that features seeds 7-10.

LINEUP: Point guard Bryan Hopkins, wing Quinton Ross, wing Justin Isham, forward Patrick Simpson, center Eric Castro.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "That was a good sweep for us. That's a tough road trip, as tough as going from San Jose to Hawaii." — SMU coach Mike Dement, after his team survived a far-flung road trip to sweep Boise State and UTEP.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL— THIS WEEK'S GAMES: vs. Louisiana Tech, Saturday, March 8.

KEYS: SMU stayed in its zone to beat Boise State and UTEP 65-43 last week, and there's a good chance the Mustangs will show more of the same against the perimeter-challenged Bulldogs, who have lost their way since teams became more diligent in packing the paint and daring the guards to shoot. Tech has lost four in a row.

PERSONNEL/INJURIES
— Freshman point guard Bryan Hopkins showed signs last week of breaking out of his shooting slump. In the five previous games, he had connected on only 11 of 54 shots (20.4 percent), but last week he scored a team-high 19 at Boise State and followed with 11 at UTEP. In those two games, he made 11 of 24 field goal attempts.

— Senior Quinton Ross has started 86 consecutive games, the longest streak for any WAC player.