M-Basketball: Hosts Southeast Missouri State On Wednesday At 7pm
Dec 28 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2010
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE Redhawks (3-10)
at
SMU Mustangs (7-4)
Wed. Dec. 29 - 7 p.m.
Moody Coliseum (8,998)
Dallas, Texas
Radio: KAAM 770 AM (Rich Phillips, Allen Stone)
Internet: SMUMustangs.com
The SMU Mustangs continue a four-game homestand as they host Southeast Missouri State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. This homestand concludes the non-conference portion of the schedule, finishing when Ole Miss visits Moody Coliseum on Jan. 5. SMU has won three straight and six of its last seven games overall. The Mustangs have also won five straight at home.
In the last seven games, SMU is shooting 50.7 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from 3-point range. The Mustangs are also holding opponents to 39.1 percent shooting and have a scoring margin of 14.0. Three of the wins have been by at least 20 points. In that seven-game stretch, senior forward Papa Dia is leading the surge by averaging 20.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks while shooting 66.2 percent. Robert Nyakundi is adding 19.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in the seven games.
LAST GAME (Dec. 22, W, 49-38 vs. Alabama State): DALLAS (AP) - Robert Nyakundi scored 21 points and Papa Dia added 20 as SMU defeated Alabama State 49-38 Wednesday night. It was the fourth time Nyakundi and Dia have both scored 20 in a game this season. The Mustangs (7-4) held the Hornets to 13 first-half points in winning their third straight and for the sixth time in seven games. Kenderek Washington led Alabama State (2-10) with 10 points. SMU shot only 33.3 percent but limited Alabama State to 28 percent, the second time this season the Mustangs have held an opponent to under 30 percent. SMU led by nine at halftime and by 15 in the second half. Dia is seven points shy of 1,000 for his career.
SERIES HISTORY: SMU and Southeast Missouri State are meeting for the first time.
UP NEXT: SMU continues a four-game homestand. The Mustangs host Dallas Christian on Jan. 1 at 2 p.m. and Mississippi on Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. SMU begins Conference USA play at Tulane on Jan. 8.
TEAM NOTES:
ASSISTANCE: SMU is averaging 14.9 assists, up from 10.7 last year...the squad also has a 1.1 assist/turnover ratio after a 0.8 ratio a year ago.
FREE THROWS: SMU leads C-USA in FT percentage (.804)...that is up from .700 last year and ahead of the school record of .769 in 1961-62
LONG RANGE: SMU leads C-USA and is 10th in the NCAA in 3-point field goals per game (9.0).
NCAA IMPROVEMENT: The Mustangs average rank is 123.9 in the 18 NCAA team categories. That is up from 181.1 last season. There are 336 teams listed this season.
SHARP-SHOOTERS: The Mustangs are 1st in C-USA and 6th in the NCAA in FT percentage (.804), 3rd in C-USA and 21st in the NCAA in FG percentage (.476), and 2nd in C-USA and 43rd in the NCAA in 3FG percentage (.382). Those are all improvements over last season when SMU was .700 at the FT line, .457 on FGs, and .358 on 3FGs.
STARTERS: Three Mustangs have started all 11 games; Papa Dia, Justin Haynes and Robert Nyakundi. Mike Walker (9), Jeremiah Samarrippas (8), Ryan Harp (3), and Rodney Clinkscales (2) are the others.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES:
Rodney Clinkscales: Has made 23 3-pointers this year after making 27 all last season...he is 11th in C-USA in 3FGs made (2.1 per game) and 3rd in C-USA for 3FG percentage (.469, 23-49).
Papa Dia: Team tri-captain...Preseason All-C-USA, C-USA Player of the Week (Nov. 15-21), SMU Invitational MVP (Nov. 19-21)...has 3 double-doubles this season and 16 for his career...ranks 4th in C-USA with a career-high 17.7 points (12.3 in 2009-10), 6th in C-USA in rebounds (8.3), 1st in C-USA and 5th in NCAA in FG percentage (.645), and 3rd in C-USA for blocked shots (1.6)....he has scored at least 20 points 6 times.
Ryan Harp: Team tri-captain...averaging 4.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 23.5 minutes.
JUSTIN HAYES: Started all 11 games...hitting .569 (29-51) on FGs this year after .609 (67-110) last season...he is averaging 7.1 points, up from 5.6 last season.
Robert Nyakundi: Has 31 3-pointers this year, which is ahead of pace from his career-best 46 last season...has at least 15 points 7 times...he is 10th in C-USA in scoring (15.8), 3rd in C-USA and 65th in the NCAA for 3FGs per game (2.8) and 9th in C-USA and 50th in NCAA in 3FG percentage (.408)...he is tied for the lead in C-USA in FT percentage (.926, 25-27)...he is shooting 87.7 percent (71-81) at the FT line for his career.
Jeremiah Samarrippas: Started his first 8 games as a freshman...ranks 6th in C-USA with a 2.2 assist/turnover ratio (41 ast / 19 to)...he is 10th in C-USA in assists (3.7) and has had at least 5 assists 3 times.
Mike Walker: Team tri-captain...started all 9 games he has played and is averaging a career-best 7.0 points (5.4 in 2007-08)
MILESTONES:
SMU Career Games Played: Papa Dia is 38th 100 (T-36th David Gadis 103, T-36th Bamba Fall 103, 35th Bryan Hopkins 105)
SMU Career Games Started: Papa Dia is 22nd 75 (21st David Piehler 76, 20th Damon Hancock 77, 19th Justin Isham 79)
SMU Career Points: Papa Dia has 993 and would be the 35th Mustang to reach 1000 (34th Carlton McKinney 1005, 33rd Kevin Lewis 1026, 32nd Bobby Mills 1027)
SMU Career Rebounds: Papa Dia is 13th 667 (12th Lynn Phillips 669, 11th Carroll Hooser 687, 10th Tim Mason 690, 9th Joel Krog 745)
SMU Career Blocks: Papa Dia is 7th 83 (6th James Gatewood 88, 5th Reggie Franklin 129)
SMU Career 3FGM: Mike Walker is 12th 100 (11th Derrick Roberts 103, 9th Damon Hancock 107) Robert Nyakundi is 10th 117 (8th Jon Killen 119, 7th Jemeil Rich 121, 6th Jeryl Sasser 133, 5th Chad Allen 161)
STREAKS:
10+points: Papa Dia 10 (11, 20, 14, 28, 13, 24, 20, 20, 19, 20), Robert Nyakundi 7 (23, 15, 24, 15, 22, 13, 21)
8+ rebounds: Papa Dia 2 (15, 8)
Dbl-Dbl:
5+ assists:
3+ steals: Justin Haynes (4)
2+ blocks: Papa Dia 2 (4, 2)
HONORS:
2010-11
C-USA Player of the Week: Papa Dia (Nov. 15-21)
SMU Invitational All-Tournament Team: Papa Dia (MVP), Robert Nyakundi
Preseason All-Conference USA - USA Today: Papa Dia
Preseason All-Conference USA - Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook: Papa Dia
Preseason All-Conference USA - Athlon Sports: Papa Dia
Preseason All-Conference USA - C-USA Coaches: Papa Dia (Second Team)
Preseason All-Conference USA - Lindy's College Basketball: Papa Dia (Second Team)
2009-10 (Returnees Only)
All-Conference USA - Papa Dia (Third Team)
2008-09 (Returnees Only)
C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll - Tomasz Kwiatkowski
2007-08 (Returnees Only)
Conference USA All-Freshman - Papa Dia
Papa Dia - C-USA PLAYER OF THE WEEK (NOV. 15-21): SMU senior forward Papa Dia was named the C-USA Player of the Week. Dia averaged 18.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while shooting 71.8 percent (28-39) from the field in four games. He was named MVP of the SMU Invitational as he helped the Mustangs win the event. For the tournament, he averaged 20.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 1.3 assists and a steal. He finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds in a 102-70 win against Lamar. He also had 20 points and nine rebounds in a 69-53 victory over Portland State. This is his first career Player of the Week honor.
SUCCESS ON THE HILLTOP: - The SMU football team (7-6, 6-2 C-USA) accepted a bid to the 2010 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on SMU's campus. The Mustangs face Army on Dec. 30, at 11 a.m. It is the second straight bowl for SMU after a 45-10 win over Nevada in the 2009 Hawaii Bowl. This season also saw SMU win the Conference USA West Division for the second straight season and make its first trip to the C-USA Championship game, falling 17-7 at UCF on Dec. 4. - The No. 5 seed SMU men's soccer team (16-2-2) tied No. 4 seed North Carolina in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Championship on Dec. 3. The Tar Heels advanced to the College Cup with a 4-2 edge in the penalty kick shootout. SMU also won the C-USA regular-season title. - The SMU volleyball team (25-6, 17-3 C-USA) finished second in Conference USA and set a school record for wins. The Mustangs had an RPI of 47 and were the highest rated team to miss NCAA selection.
TV TIME: SMU, CBS College Sports Network and Time Warner Cable have reached an agreement to televise 17 SMU basketball games on The Texas Channel. Time Warner Sports will carry 10 men's games and seven women's games. The television schedule begins with a doubleheader on Dec. 4 when the women host Kansas at 2 p.m. and the men face Grambling State at 5 p.m. The SMU men's basketball matchups on The Texas Channel include all eight home Conference USA contests - Memphis, Houston, Southern Miss, East Carolina, Tulane, Tulsa, Rice, and UTEP. The Texas Channel will also carry the men's game at UTEP on Feb. 12.
SMU INVITATIONAL CHAMPS: The Mustangs won the SMU Invitational played Nov. 19-21. SMU finished 2-1 in the tournament; defeating Portland State 69-53 and Lamar 102-70. Portland State also finished 2-1, giving SMU the tiebreaker. SMU's loss came in overtime, 73-69 against UC Riverside. Papa Dia was named tournament MVP and Robert Nyakundi made the all-tournament team. The Mustangs established three school records, including a school-best 72.3 FG percentage (34-47) against Lamar and records for 3-pointers made (16) and attempted (37) against UC Riverside.
THE BIG PICTURE (NOTES ENTERING THE 2010-11 SEASON)
ALL-CONFERENCE USA: Papa Dia and Derek Williams were selected to the 2010 All-Conference USA Third Team. It was the first time SMU has had multiple All-Conference selections since the 2001-02 season (Damon Hancock 1st team, Quinton Ross 2nd team in WAC).
CAPTAINS: Coach Matt Doherty named seniors Papa Dia, Ryan Harp and Mike Walker as team captains on Nov. 11.
C-USA BEST: The Mustangs went 7-9 in C-USA last season to finish with its most wins (7), best finish (tied for 7th) and best seed (No. 8) since joining C-USA for the 2005-06 season. SMU also recorded its first C-USA wins over Memphis and Houston.
DEFENSE: In 2009-10, SMU finished second in C-USA for scoring defense in league play at 61.0. That is the best for SMU since holding opponents to 60.9 points per outing in 1958-59. SMU has held its C-USA opponents to an average of 11.9 points below their scoring average (entering that game). Only three C-USA opponents reached their scoring average.
FUTURE - NLIs: Head Coach Matt Doherty announced that four student-athletes signed National Letters-of-Intent to play for the Mustangs beginning with the 2011-12 season. The class includes Cannen Cunningham, a four-star 6-8 center from Lamar High School in Arlington; Jalen Jones, a 6-6 three-star guard from Kimball High School in Dallas; Eric Norman, a two-star 6-6 forward from Francis W. Parker School in San Diego; and Ryan Manuel, a 6-4 three-star guard from Fort Bend Austin High School in Houston. - "Overall, this is one of the best recruiting classes SMU has had in recent history," says Doherty. "I am thrilled with this group of young men. By adding this class with last year's class, we have a foundation that will translate into success on the court for years to come."
NEW ASSISTANTS: The Mustangs have two new assistant coaches in Larry Mangino and Jerry Hobbie. Mangino enters SMU with 24 years of collegiate coaching experience. He spent the last two years in player development for the Denver Nuggets after a seven-year stretch at the Air Force Academy. Hobbie comes to the Hilltop with 12 years in collegiate coaching. He spent the previous three years at Houston, making the postseason each year including the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
NBA: For the third season, the NBA's Dallas Mavericks held training camp at SMU's Crum Basketball Center.
NCAA SELECTION: SMU Director of Athletics Steve Orsini is a member of the Division I Men's Basketball Committee, receiving a five-year appointment that began Sept. 1, 2010. The 10-member committee consists of athletics directors and commissioners of Division I member institutions and conferences, and oversees administration of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship, including the selection, seeding and bracketing of teams for the tournament. The committee is the primary NCAA contact with CBS Sports, the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and other key basketball organizations. Committee members oversee selected preliminary round sites, as well as the Final Four, and assign officiating crews for each game of the championship. The committee also serves as stewards for the good of the game, monitoring and taking action as appropriate regarding issues affecting college basketball.
NEXT LEVEL: The last three seniors from SMU are playing professionally. Two are in the NBA D-League: Bamba Fall (Reno Bighorns) and Mouhammad Faye (Rio Grande Valley Vipers). Derek Williams is playing in Latvia.
PRESEASON HONORS: Papa Dia was selected preseason All-Conference USA by Blue Ribbon College Yearbook and All-C-USA second-team by the league's coaches. Last year, he led the team and was fifth in C-USA in rebounds (8.6) while also ranking second on the team and 17th in C-USA in scoring (12.3). Additionally, Dia finished fourth in the league in field goal percentage (.544), sixth in free throw percentage (.800) and sixth in blocked shots (1.2). In C-USA games, he averaged 13.9 points (13th C-USA), 9.1 rebounds (4th C-USA), and 1.4 blocks (4th C-USA). He had 10 double-doubles for the season.
SENIORS: SMU has six seniors this season with Papa Dia, Ryan Harp, Tomasz Kwiatkowski, Myles Luttman, Collin Mangrum and Mike Walker. Dia, Harp, Kwiatkowski, and Walker are the first four-year student-athletes for Coach Matt Doherty. SMU had just two seniors in 2009-10 (Mouhammad Faye, Derek Williams) and one in 2008-09 (Bamba Fall).
SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT: SMU improved statistically in league play in 15 of 20 categories kept by C-USA.
STAYING AT HOME: The Mustangs play an SMU-record 19 home games at Moody Coliseum in 2010-11.
HEAD COACH Matt Doherty...is in his 10th season as a head coach and his fifth season at SMU. This is his 20th season in collegiate coaching with eight NCAA Tournaments, seven conference titles, a Final Four appearance and the 2001 AP National Coach of the Year award. He also has 22 players that have gone to the NBA. He has a 144-150 record including a 54-79 mark on the Hilltop.
