When it comes to recruiting the Metroplex, nobody has a better command than SMU head coach Mike Dement. Not only do people from Dallas-Forth Worth recognize the likes of Jeryl Sasser, Damon Hancock, Quinton Ross and Willie Davis, but basketball aficionados from across the land as well.

 

The latter might ask how come the Mustangs haven't been to the NCAA Tournament in 11 years, but the former couldn't explain it. SMU fans know potential NBA talent when they see it. Sasser was selected in the first round two years ago by Orlando and Ross recently signed a free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.

 

But if you're ever in Moody Coliseum, don't go looking for any hoop hardware from the WAC, because there's not any. Over the years, Dement managed to sign more than his fair share of talent. And it got the Mustangs into certain circles.

 

By the 1999-2000 season, Dement had SMU poised for a possible NCAA appearance. Instead, the Mustangs had to settle for the NIT. It was the first postseason experience for the 21-9 Mustangs since they went to the NCAA Tournament in 1993.

 

Unfortunately for the ninth-year head coach, the 21st century hasn't been as kind. The Mustangs are in a rut. They have won 50 games over the last three seasons. That's considered by some as so-so since the 21-win watermark.

 

Still, the SMU faithful are hopeful 6-0 sophomore point guard Bryan Hopkins (13.1 ppg, 3.9 apg, 3.2 rpg) will break the recent jinx. Labeled a can't-miss prospect out of Lincoln High School in Dallas, Hopkins lived up to the hype. He was voted the WAC's newcomer of the year while Ross was the league's player of the year and still, SMU managed only 17 wins.

 

What gives?

 

Dement wishes he could tell you. But the fact is the Ponies are the league's most consistent underachievers. They've got game. They've got skills. But standing and delivering through the course of the season has escaped them. Now is the time to break that cycle.

 

A quick examination of recent NCAA Tournament teams from the league finds Tulsa and Hawaii are rebuilding. Fresno State is on probation. If there ever was a time for SMU to not only challenge, but hold the lead down the stretch, this season would be it.

 

For one thing, Hopkins is one of four starters back for more. It's true, lead dog Ross and his league-best 20.3 points a game are gone, but there is still plenty of firepower left to win some games.

 

Let's start with Hopkins. He was able to hand off 112 assists as a rookie, but he also had a troublesome 121 turnovers. He needs to cut that number in half if SMU plans to challenge Nevada, Rice and Boise State for the league championship. All four of those teams are in similar circumstances. They have a majority of their starters back with at least one good player in the starting five.

 

The difference will be the supporting cast. SMU has a pretty good one. Also returning as a starter in the backcourt is 6-5 shooting guard Justin Isham (7.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg). The junior will not be able to replace Ross as an outside shooter, but he did average a healthy 46 percent from the field last year.

 

Also returning to the backcourt are 6-5 sophomore shooting guard Brian Miller (2.1 ppg, 0.7 rpg) and 6-3 junior point man Lavardicus Atkins (1.8 ppg, 0.9 rpg). Neither saw a lot of playing time last year. That could change as Dement develops four or five guards he can work with during the course of the season.

 

It's likely returning 6-2 junior point guard Bobby Aitkenhead (0.5 ppg, 0.2 rpg) and 6-2 sophomore point man Ryan Hopkins (0.4 ppg, 0.4 rpg), twin brother of Bryan, will get there shot, as well as 6-2 red-shirt freshman guard Duke Biggers, 6-3 sophomore guard Trent Redden and 6-3 freshman shooting guard Demetric Bennett of Georgia.

 

Bennett, an athletic two guard, played for Albany High School. He averaged 21 points, seven rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.0 steals last season while shooting 44 percent from the field. The two-time first-team all state pick passed on a chance to sign with homestate Georgia to play for SMU.

 

"We have some talented players in our backcourt,'' Dement said. "We all saw what Bryan did for us last year as a freshman. We look for him to be a leader out on the court.''

 

There will be some leadership found in the frontcourt as well. The two returning starters as juniors are power forward Patrick Simpson (11.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and center Eric Castro (5.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg). Castro is a 6-8 250-pound wide body and Simpson a 6-9 string bean with big-time hops.

 

At times, Simpson shifts comfortably to center and Castro to power forward in Dement's primary three-guard offense. The fact they have played together for two seasons gives SMU an added edge of experience.

 

Backing them up are 6-6 senior swing man Kris Lowe (4.3 ppg. 2.6 rpg) and 6-11 sophomore center Donatas Rackauskas (0.7 ppg, 1.1 rpg), who represented Lithuania in last summer's Global Games.

 

Add a pair of freshman, 6-6, 225-pound power forward Devon Pearson of Miami and 6-8, 240-pound center Chris Reay of Plano, Texas, and it's easy to see that Dement has a good blend of youth and experience.

 

Pearson, of Northwestern High School, averaged 20.6 points and 10.0 rebounds as a senior. Reay, rated the nation's No. 23 center prospect by Rivals, averaged 15.8 points and 6.8 boards last season for Plano West High School.

 

Once again, there is reason to believe that SMU can get the job done. But there has been reason to believe that in the past as well.

 

"We should be a very competitive basketball team,'' Dement said. "We lost a great player and person in Quinton Ross. He's tough to replace. But we've got a lot of talented players who are more than willing to try.''

 

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

 

You can't say Dement doesn't know talent. He has had several high-profile players make a point or two in his three-guard offense.

 

The problem is, SMU hasn't been able to hold a high level of play long enough to compete with the likes of Tulsa, Fresno State and Hawaii.

 

But that could change this year. Starting in the backcourt where Hopkins and Isham will likely rule early on, Dement sees a promising young player and a steady third-year man running the team. Look for senior Lowe to see some significant minutes at the swing spot. He can play guard or small forward in Dement's flexible offense.

 

The frontcourt isn't half bad either. Simpson and Castro make a good pair. Both can run, both can rebound and both can score when called upon. There is a little falloff with the second tier of players on this team. Now, if only SMU could take that elusive next step forward, a WAC championship might be waiting for the Ponies by season's end.

well the SMU basketball team cannot suck anymore than the football team.

 

 

Just win a damn game.