AAC Media Day Live
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 7:45 amPHILADELPHIA (SMU/The American) – The SMU men's basketball team was picked to finish third in the American Athletic Conference in the AAC preseason coaches' poll, the league announced Monday. Senior Ben Moore was named to the preseason all-conference first team, while sophomore Shake Milton was named to the second team.
The Mustangs, who finished second last season after winning the conference in 2014-15, were picked behind Cincinnati and Connecticut, respectively.
Last season, Moore averaged 11.9 points (22nd AAC), 7.4 rebounds (10th AAC), 1.4 blocked shots (7th AAC) and 2.2 assists. His 2.9 offensive rebounds per game were sixth in the conference. Milton was a unanimous AAC All-Rookie selection after averaging 10.5 points (28th AAC), 3.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists (13th AAC) with a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio. The preseason Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year candidate ranked third in the league for 3-point percentage (42.6, 52-122). This summer, Milton was a shooting guard at the 2016 Nike Hoops Summit in Los Angeles and went to Croatia with a Global Sports Academy U.S. Team.
Head Coach Tim Jankovich, who takes over the men's program after four seasons as associate head coach, helped guide the Mustangs to a 25-5 record last season. SMU finished the year ranked No. 24 after reaching a high of No. 8 as the last unbeaten team in the country at 18-0. The Mustangs won the Las Vegas Classic title during the season-opening streak. The Mustangs return three starters Moore, Milton and Sterling Brown. Letterwinners Jarrey Foster and Jonathan Wilfong are also back for SMU. The Mustangs' roster includes juniors Ben Emelogu II and Semi Ojeleye, both of whom sat out last season. The newcomers include Harry Froling, Tom Wilson, Dashawn McDowell and Leo Kontopoulos. Jimmy Whitt will sit out this season after transferring from Arkansas.
The Mustangs open the 2016-17 season at home in Moody Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 11 versus Gardner-Webb at 7 p.m.
2016-17 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
Team (First-Place Votes) Pts.
Cincinnati (6) 95
UConn (5) 94
SMU 76
Houston 75
Memphis 63
Temple 56
East Carolina 39
UCF 37
Tulsa 34
USF 25
Tulane 11
2016-17 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
PRESEASON INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Preseason Co-Players of the Year
Troy Caupain, G, Sr., Cincinnati
Dedric Lawson, G/F, So., Memphis
Preseason Rookie of the Year
Alterique Gilbert, G, Fr., UConn
Preseason All-Conference Teams
First Team
Troy Caupain, G, Cincinnati*
Gary Clark, F, Cincinnati*
Dedric Lawson, G/F, Memphis
Ben Moore, F, SMU
Damyean Dotson, G, Houston
Second Team
Shake Milton, G, SMU
Jalen Adams, G, UConn
Jahmal McMurray, G, USF
Rob Gray, Jr., G, Houston
B.J. Tyson, G, East Carolina
* unanimous selection
