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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 15-14;
10-8 in WAC (4th)
Postseason: None. Last NCAA appearance was in 1993.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Ross 17.4
Rebs: Simpson 6.8
Assists: Ross 2.1
FG: Castro 61.0%
3pt: Isham 34.0%
FT: Ross 76.9%
01-02 Stats:
SMU | WAC
KEY LOSSES
Damon Hancock | 22.0 ppg
Mike Niemi | 3.7 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Bryan Hopkins | Fresh
G | Kris Lowe | Junior
F | Quinton Ross | Senior
F | Patrick Simpson | Soph
C | Eric Castro | Soph
Player to Watch
Quinton Ross
Senior Forward
A shooter/scorer who also knows how to 'D' up (30 steals).
DATE TO REMEMBER
When Mustangs to to Lubbock, it's the first time SMU will see Hopkins against a Top 25-caliber opponent.
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SMU MUSTANGS
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They can't stop raving about true freshman Bryan Hopkins, the Dallas native who spurned Texas in favor of SMU. The 5-10 point guard will join four returning starters on a team many feel will rebound from last season's 15-14 record, the third worst in seven seasons for head coach Mike Dement. Hopkins needs to play well early to combat the loss of point guard/team leader Damon Hancock. Many's pick for preseason Player of the Year is senior wing Quinton Ross (6-6, 195), who averaged 17.4 points and 6.5 rebounds last season. Freshmen who played big minutes up front last season -- Patrick Simpson, Eric Castro and Justin Isham -- will be expected to contribute even more now. Simpson at 6-9 ranked among league players in blocks. The depth is also good inside, with senior center Nigel Smith (6-10, 275) and senior forward Jibran Kelley (6-8, 235). It is a deep and athletic enough team to contend for a top four WAC finish, and the Mustangs should offer a more cohesive look with so much experience returning. If Hopkins is as good as advertised, look out.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Hopkins is just a true freshman, but consider the resume: He played on the Dallas Lincoln High team that went 40-0 and won the state's 4A title, along with a mythical national championship. His twin, Ryan, is also an SMU freshman. Bryan Hopkins will have established players in Ross and junior Kris Lowe (6-6, 212) to offer his passes. This has the potential to be an explosive backcourt, especially if Ross can find enough looks.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Players like Simpson and Castro and Isham and Smith and Kelley need only be slid for SMU to win. Ross can swing between guard and forward, and it will be up to others to do all the little things needed for victories. Castro shot 61 percent last season and Simpson averaged 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Question is, can this collection give SMU a competent post presence when defenses make it a point of slowing those on perimeter?
BOTTOM LINE..............................
SMU has enough talent to finish third and earn an NIT bid. Dement managed 15 wins last year despite having lost four-year starters in Jeryl Sasser and Willie Davis. Now, he has one of the WAC's best athletes (Ross) and perhaps the program's all-time best recruit (Hopkins). Things are looking up for the Mustangs.
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