Rivalry Matchups We Can't Wait to See Nxt yr: SMU/UCONN

[Pony ^]

"Of course, in this era of conference realignment, not all of the best rivalries are longstanding ones. Newfound AAC foes SMU and Connecticut got off to a fast start a year ago—the underdog Mustangs won both games—and this year’s edition will pit Ryan Boatright’s defending national champs against one of the fastest-rising teams in the country."

"The Mustangs fired an impressive opening shot in this new AAC rivalry, sweeping their first-ever season series over the Huskies. For an encore, Larry Brown’s team will try to knock off the defending national champs with the league title likely on the line.

Despite significant graduation and NBA losses, UConn is the clear favorite in the conference behind the explosive backcourt of rising senior Ryan Boatright and N.C. State transfer Rodney Purvis.

SMU, for its part, returns three starters and a deep bench from the NIT runners-up, not to mention adding one of the best freshmen in the country: 6’5” point guard Emmanuel Mudiay."

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2067 ... son/page/4

[LA_Mustang]

Not sure how they believe UConn is the clear favorite....they lose their leader- Shabazz, and two other key starters in Daniels and Giffey. We do lose Nick and Shawn but add the most talented player in program history and hopefully a very talented, experienced front court guy in Tolbert. Advantage - SMU.

Purvis averaged 8 pts, 2 boards and 1.4 assist per game in 2012-13 for NCST. He'll be a good player for UConn but nowhere near an equal replacement for Shabazz.

[redpony]

perhaps they are the favorite since they won the NC last season. Love that the Mustangs are 'underdogs'. Gives us more incentive to make our record with them 4-0.

[Junior]

dirty commie

[Mustangs35SMU]

Gives us more incentive to make our record with them 4-0.

We'd be 5-0 against em in basketball if we win both this year

Beat them 80-66 in '65.

[redpony]

I was just counting the wins since we joined the AAC.

[Mustangs35SMU]

That works too

[sdhusky]

perhaps they are the favorite since they won the NC last season. Love that the Mustangs are 'underdogs'. Gives us more incentive to make our record with them 4-0.

UCONN is better known as a basketball power, but as a better team for next year?

Don't think so.

Not saying I would be surprised to see us win the AAC, just that I would pick SMU as the favorite.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

I hope they are great and I hope we beat them four times (two regular season, one American tournament, one NCAA Championship game)