No. 9 seed SMU (16-15, 6-12 American) opens the Aaron's American Athletic Conference Championship versus No. 8 seed Connecticut (14-17, 7-11) at the Amway Center in Orlando on Thursday at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT.
 
The Mustangs have won the AAC Tournament twice, taking home the trophy in 2014-15 and 2016-17.
 
Two Mustangs earned conference honors on Monday. Shake Milton was named to the All-AAC Second Team. Before his right hand injury, he was among the AAC leaders in scoring (18.0, 3rd), assists (4.4, 3rd), steals (1.4, 10th), 3-point percentage (.434, 5th), 3-pointers made (2.5, 2nd), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9, 8th), free-throw percentage (.847, 2nd) and minutes (36.4, 2nd). Ethan Chargois was named to the All-Rookie Team. He is averaging 9.4 points and 4.4 rebounds while hitting 47.1 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from 3-point range. 
 
SHORTHANDED: SMU has played the last nine games with seven or less scholarship student-athletes available. Jarrey Foster (left knee) and Everett Ray (left foot) are out for the season. Shake Milton (right hand) has missed the last nine games. Ethan Chargois (right ankle) missed the game versus [6/6]  Cincinnati. With Milton, Foster and Chargois in the starting lineup, SMU went 13-5 including wins versus [2/4] Arizona, [14/18] USC, [-/rv] Boise State and at [7/4] Wichita State. Since Milton was injured, the Mustangs' lineup includes just 10.6% of minutes from last season (Ben Emelogu and James Pyle). Over the past two seasons (65 games), the Mustangs have played with:
- 6 available (4 times)
- 7 available (29 times)
- 8 available (9 times)
- 9 available (19 times)
- 10 available (5 times; all this season)
 
OVER THE LAST 9 GAMES (w/o Shake Milton): 
- Jahmal McMurray is leading SMU in scoring (18.9) and 3-point percentage (.411, 37-90)
- Jimmy Whitt is leading the team in rebounds (6.1), assists (3.2), steals (1.6) while scoring 10.9 points per game
- Ben Emelogu is averaging 10.4 points and 5.8 rebounds (career-high 11 at USF)
- Freshmen are accounting for 34.0 percent of SMU's minutes
- Akoy Agau is averaging 6.2 rebounds and 5.9 points
 
QUICK HITS:
- SMU has played 10 games against teams ranked or receiving votes, going 4-6 in those matchups. Three of the wins were over AP top-15 teams.
- Through 18 home games (13-5), SMU has a season attendance of 119,878, which is third in program history. This is the fifth straight season exceeding 100,000 in home attendance.
- Shake Milton is one of 13 players nationally (1 of 2 in the AAC) averaging at least 18 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
- Shake Milton has scored 10+ in 23 straight games and 20+ 8 times
- Ben Emelogu leads the AAC in 3FG percentage (.475)
- Jimmy Whitt is 3rd in the AAC in steals, 1.9 (has 5 steals three times this season)
- SMU is 3rd in the AAC and 12th nationally in scoring defense (63.9)
- 5 Mustangs have received weekly honors from The American (Shake Milton 3x POTW, Ethan Chargois 2x ROTW, Jimmy Whitt 2x HR, Jarrey Foster HR, Ben Emelogu HR)
- SMU is 51-21 in AAC play since start of 2014-15 (2nd-best in the league)
- Jahmal McMurray had a career-high 33 points vs Memphis, including an SMU-record nine threes (9-19); he has 58 threes made in 19 games played, 37 of those in the seven games without Shake Milton
 
LAST GAME (L, 65-54 at USF on March 4): TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- David Collins scored 21 points and Malik Martin scored 15 and South Florida ended the regular season with a 65-54 win over SMU on Sunday. The shorthanded Mustangs (16-15, 6-12) now have dropped three straight. SMU only had seven scholarship players available on Sunday. South Florida (10-21, 3-15) trailed 27-22 at halftime before going on a 16-4 run to start the second half and led the rest of the way. South Florida later put together an 11-4 run and led 55-42 on Collins' layup with seven minutes left. Stephan Jiggets scored 14 points and Terrence Samuel grabbed 12 rebounds and distributed five assists. USF hit 50 percent of its 3-point attempts (5-of-10) over the final 20 minutes to comeback. Meanwhile, SMU hit just 4-of-27 tries from behind the arc as shots would not fall for the Mustangs. Freshman Ethan Chargois led SMU with 15 points, sophomore Jimmy Whitt scored 14 and senior Ben Emelogu II grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds.
 
THE SERIES VS. CONNECTICUT (8-3+): The Mustangs fell 63-52 in the only meeting this season, at Connecticut on Jan. 25. SMU won both games in 2016-17. after the two teams split the 2015-16 season series. The first game in the series was an 80-66 Mustang victory in Dallas on Dec. 30, 1965. In 2014-15, the Mustangs won two of three meetings with the Huskies last season, including a 62-54 victory in the championship of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. The other meetings in Dallas were the opening of the renovated Moody Coliseum on Jan. 4, 2014 (W, 74-65 over then #17/15 Connecticut) and ESPN College Gameday on Feb. 14, 2015 (W, 73-55). (+6-3 officially)
 
LAST TIME VS. CONNECTICUT (L, 63-52 at UC on Jan. 25): STORRS, Conn. (SMU) - In a defensive battle on the road in conference play, SMU couldn't find enough offense to pull off the win, falling to UConn 63-52. Junior Shake Milton led SMU in the scoring column, dropping in 18 points while also grabbing seven rebounds. Milton has reached at least 15 points in each of the last four games and in five of the last six contests. Sophomore Jimmy Whitt had the most efficient offensive night for the Mustangs, scoring 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting.  SMU started hot, hitting three of its first six shots to jump out to an 8-0 lead. From there however, buckets became much more difficult to come by. The Mustangs finished the game shooting just 28 percent from the floor while scoring a season-low 52 points. While shots from the floor wouldn't fall, SMU did help itself by putting together its best free-throw shooting performance of the season. The Mustangs hit 13-of-15 free ones to finish at a season-high 87 percent. While SMU only had one more turnovers than the Huskies, turnovers turned out to be the difference in the game. The Mustangs' 10 turnovers turned into 21 of UConn's points, while SMU only generated five points from the nine turnovers by the Huskies. While the team rebounding numbers finished even, it was a tale of two halves. SMU dominated the boards in the first half. The Mustangs finished the first 20 minutes with nearly as many offensive rebounds (10) as UConn had total rebounds (13). However, in the second half, the Huskies were able to outrebound the SMU by 10 to even up the battle on the glass. Senior Ben Emelogu II led the Mustangs in the rebounding category by tying a career-high with 10 rebounds.
 
HEAD COACH TIM JANKOVICH... is in his second season at the helm at SMU after four seasons as the associate head coach. He is in his 35th season as a collegiate coach, and his 13th as a head coach. In 2016-17, SMU finished 30-5 and No. 11 in the AP poll after winning The American regular season and tournament titles en route to the NCAA Tournament. In 2015-16, he coached the Mustangs to a 9-0 start as SMU was eventually the last unbeaten team in the country at 18-0, and winning the Las Vegas Classic title during the season-opening streak. The Mustangs went 25-5, finishing the season ranked No. 24 after reaching a high of No. 8. In 2014-15, the Mustangs claimed the AAC regular season and tournament championships en route to the NCAA Tournament. SMU was the top seed in the 2014 NIT, reaching the title game. This is his 11th season as the leader of a Division I program, including five as head coach at Illinois State (2007-12) and four at North Texas (1993-97). As a head coach, he is 212-141 (.601) [55-20 at SMU (.733), including 38-5 at Moody Coliseum (started 36-0, second best in NCAA history)].
That includes a 104-64 mark at ISU where his teams recorded four top-three finishes in the Missouri Valley, reached the conference tournament final three times and earned four NIT bids. As an assistant or head coach, his teams are 628-375 (.626) with six regular season conference championships, four league tournament titles, nine NCAA Tournament appearances and eight NIT bids.

- 7 Conference Titles (Colorado St. - WAC '89, '90; Kansas - Big 12 '05, '06, '07; SMU - AAC '15, '17)

- 5 Conference Tournament Titles (Illinois - Big Ten '03; Kansas - Big 12 '05, '06; SMU - AAC '15, '17)

- 10 NCAAs (CSU '89, '90; Oklahoma St '93; Illinois '03; Kansas '04 RF, '05, '06, '07 RF; SMU - '15, '17)

- 8 NITs (CSU '88, Vanderbilt '00, '02; Illinois State '08, '09, '10, '12; SMU '14 Final)
 
JANKOVICH IN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT AND POSTSEASON GAMES: His teams are 13-8 (.619) in
conference tournament games with one title (AAC 2017) in five trips to the championship game (Missouri
Valley, 2008, '09, '12; Southland, 1994). While at Illinois State, Jankovich went 7-5 in conference tournament
play. He is 0-1 after his first trip to the NCAA Tournament as a head coach. He was 2-4 at Illinois State in the
NIT (2008, '09, '10, '12).
 
NABC NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK (JAN. 15-21): SMU was named the NABC Division I National Team of the Week wins at then-No. 7/4 Wichita State and against Tulane. The Mustangs snapped the Shockers' Koch Arena 27-game winning streak, 83-78.  SMU shot 63.8 percent from the field (30-47), while going 50.0 percent (11-22) from behind the 3-point arc. Shake Milton scored a career-high 33 points on 11-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range, while playing all 40 minutes. In the second half, he scored 21 points (7-8 FG, 3-3 3FG, 4-4 FT). Jahmal McMurray scored his season-high with 16 points while dropping in three shots from 3-point range. SMU then knocked off Tulane, 73-62. Milton led the Mustangs with 20 points, 18 points in the final 13 minutes of play, while Jimmy Whitt added 18 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Whitt also registered five steals, including a steal on four straight Tulane possessions.
 
Akoy Agau (6-8, 235, F, Sr.): 2017-18: Played in 25 games, started 7… Scored a season-highs 13 points (5-8 FG, 3-5 FT), with a season-high seven rebounds in 21 minutes at [rv/rv] Houston… Posted 11 points (5-7 FG, 1-1 3FG) with 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist and 1 steal at East Carolina… Career-high 13 rebounds, with six points, 2 blocks and 2 assists in 30 minutes vs. [6/6] Cincinnati… Recorded 6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and a block in 25 minutes at UCF… Recorded six rebounds and two points in 23 minutes at Tulsa… Nine points (4-4 FG, 1-1 FT), with six rebounds, a block and an assist vs. Tulane.
 
Ethan Chargois (6-9, 235, F, Fr.): 2017-18: Played in 29 games, started 24 (DNP-Tulane (illness) DNP-Cincinnati (Ankle))… 10+ points in 13 of 29 games… 20+ points in 3… Averaging 9.4 points, 4.4 rebounds… Shooting 47.1% FG (97-206)… 1.1 assists… Scored 15 points with 4 rebounds, 3 steals and an assist at USF… Recorded career-high 23 points (8-12 FG, 3-5 3FG, 4-4 FT) and 9 rebounds against ULM… Scored 21 points (8-13 FG, 2-5 3FG, 3-3 FT) with 7 rebounds, a steal and an assist against [20/20] TCU… Scored 21 points (8- 12 FG, 3-4 3FG, 2-2 FT) with five rebounds, 2 assists and a block against Western Kentucky… AWARDS: AAC All-Rookie Team (3/6), AAC Rookie of the Week (11/13, 12/18).
 
William Douglas (6-5, 180, G, Fr.): 2017-18: Played in 31 games, started 1 (Memphis)… 3+ steals in 3 (W. Kentucky, USC, at East Carolina)… Recorded a season-high 11 points (4-8 FG, 2-4 3FG, 1-1 FT) with three rebounds and two assists… Posted 7 rebounds, 5 points and 3 steals at East Carolina… Grabbed six rebounds, with three assists and 1 steal at Tulsa… Scored 8 points, with 3 rebounds and an assist against Northwestern State… 2017 Summer Tour (Canada - Aug. 7-14): Averaged 4.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals.
 
Ben Emelogu II (6-6, 215, G, Sr.): 2017-18: Started all 31 games… 10+ points in 16 of 31 games… 20+ points in 2 games… Averaging 10.3 points… 5.3 rebounds (15th AAC)… 46.1 FG% (113-245)… 47.5 3FG% (58-122, 1st AAC)… 1.2 steals (13th AAC)… Had a career-high 11 rebounds, with 8 points and an assist at USF… Career-high 24 points (10-18 FG, 3-8 4FG, 1-3 FT), with 3 rebounds and 3 steals at Tulsa… Recorded 20 points (7-11 FG, 5-7 3FG, 1-3 FT) with 5 rebounds and 2 steals in the win vs [2/4] Arizona 11/23... Had 16 points (6-7 FG, 4-5 3FG) with 6 rebounds and 3 steals against [14/18] USC… AWARDS: 2016-17 AAC Co-Sixth Man of the Year… AAC Weekly Honor Roll (12/26)… Senior CLASS Award Candidate.
 
Jarrey Foster (6-6, 220, G, Jr.): 2017-18: Will miss remainder of 2017-18 (Left Knee)… Double digit scoring in 14 of 19 games… Removed after 5 minutes at [7/4] Wichita State due to injury… Scored 19 points 4 times this season… Averaging 13.2 points (15th AAC), 5.9 rebounds (12th AAC)… 2.8 offensive rebounds (3rd AAC)… 1.2 blocks per game (11th AAC)… Had 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block vs. [20/20] TCU… AWARDS: AAC Weekly Honor Roll (1/2/18).
 
Elijah Landrum (6-0, 180, G, Fr.): 2017-18: Played 30 games, 8 starts… Posted a career-high 11 points (4-9 FG, 3-5 3FG) with 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal at East Carolina… Had 7 points and a career-high 6 rebounds vs [25/rv] Houston… Scored 8 points with a rebound, an assist and a steal at Tulsa… Recorded 7 points with an assist in 14 minutes against UTRGV… Had 5 points with 2 rebounds against UAPB.
 
Jahmal McMurray (6-0, 175, G, Jr.): 2017-18: Played in 20 games, 12 starts… Score 10+ in 13 of 20… 20+ points in 5… Averaging 14.4 points… 42.2 FG% (100-237)… 41.7 3FG% (58-139)… Scored a career-high 33 points (12-25 FG, 9-19 3FG) with 3 assists, 2 rebounds and a steal in 40 minutes against Memphis… SMU-record 9 made 3-pointers vs. Memphis… Posted 28 points (8-18 FG, 6-13 3FG, 6-6 FT) with 2 assists, 1 rebound and 1 steal vs. [13/12] Wichita State… Posted 22 points (7-18 FG, 7-17 3FG, 1-2 FT) with 2 rebounds and 2 assists at Tulsa… Scored 20 points (7-17 FG, 6-9 3FG) with 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal at East Carolina… Scored 20 points (8-12 FG, 4-5 3FG) with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal against East Carolina.
 
Shake Milton (6-6, 205, G, Jr.): 2017-18: Double digit scoring in 22 games, 23 straight going back to 2016-17… DNP at Tulsa 2/1 or [rv/rv] Houston 2/8 (Right Hand)… 20+ points in 8 games, 4 of the last 7 (20 vs. Tulane, 33 at [7/4] Wichita State, 25 vs. Temple, 24 at Tulane)… Made 24 straight free-throws… Averaging 18.0 points (3rd AAC)… 4.4 assists (3rd AAC)… 1.4 steals (10th AAC)… 1.9 assist/turnover ratio (8th AAC)… 43.4% 3FG% (5th AAC)… 84.7% FT% (94-111, 2nd AAC)… Scored a career-high 33 at [7/4] Wichita State (11-14 FG, 5-6 3FG, 6-6 FT) with 5 assists and 3 rebounds… Had 25 points (8-12 FG, 4-7 3FG, 5-6 FT), 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and a block vs. Temple… Had 24 points (9-14 FG, 3-3 3FG, 3-5 FT), 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal at Tulane… Scored his 1,000th career point against UCF (41st in program history w/ 1,000)… AWARDS: All-AAC Second Team… AAC Player of the Week (11/13, 12/4, 1/22)… Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, Bob Cousy, Lute Olson Watch List… AAC Preseason Player of the Year.
 
Isiaha Mike (6-8, 200, F, So.): 2017-18: Sitting out after transferring from Duquesne... 2017 Summer Tour (Canada - Aug. 7-14): Averaged 6.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.7 assists... 2016-17 at Duquesne: Played and started in all 32 games… Averaged 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds (15th A-10) and 1.6 assists… FG% 43.4, 3FG% 33.3… 2 double-doubles… Had double-digit points in 18 games, with 20+ in four… 5+ rebounds in 21 games... AWARDS: Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team (March 7).
 
James Pyle (6-3, 175, G, So.): 2017-18: Played in 20 games… Scored 2 points against Northwestern State… 2016-17: Played in 12 games… Had 7 points and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes.
 
Everett Ray (6-7, 220, F, Fr.): 2017-18: Will miss remainder of 2017-18 (Right foot)… Played in 16 games… Recorded first career double-double (12 points (5-5 FG, 1-1 3FG, 1-4 FT) and 10 rebounds) against UAPB… 2017 Summer Tour (Canada - Aug. 7-14): Averaged 3.3 points (5-10 FG), 10.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists… Had 6 points & 17 rebounds in the final game vs M.A.D.E. of the Crown League.
 
Jimmy Whitt (6-3, 175, G, So.): 2017-18: Averaging 10.8 points (28th AAC), 5.3 rebounds (16th AAC)… 3.5 assists (8th AAC)… 1.9 steals (3rd AAC)… 49.6 FG% (137-276, 12th AAC)… 2.1 assist/turnover ratio (2nd AAC)… Posted 14 points with 2 steals, 2 rebounds, a block and an assist at USF… Set a career-high 20 points (9-11 FG, 2-3 FT) with 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals against East Carolina… Grabbed 13 rebounds, with 9 points, 3 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals at Tulsa… Posted 16 points with 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 block vs. [13/12] Wichita State… AWARDS: AAC Weekly Honor Roll (12/18, 1/29).
 
Luke Wilfong (6-1, 170, G, Fr.): 2017-18: Played in 12 games… Scored a 3-pointer against USF… 2017 Summer Tour (Canada - Aug. 7-14): Played in the finale vs. M.A.D.E. of the Crown League, recording a steal and a rebound
 
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WINS (Through March 4): SMU has the second-highest win total in league play (51-21) since the start of the 2014-15 season. The Mustangs have won the AAC regular season and tournament titles in 2014-15 and 2016-17. SMU went 17-1 in 2016-17 and 15-3 in 2014-15. SMU finished second at 13-5 in 2015-16, one game behind Temple.
 
WIN: Senior Ben Emelogu is among the all-time leaders in wins for SMU basketball. His career includes a 47-7 record in games at Moody Coliseum. He was part of the 2014-15 and 2016-17 AAC regular season and tournament championship teams.
SMU CAREER WINS (in games played)
                1.            ^ 109     Sterling Brown, 2013-17
                2.            ^ 108     Ben Moore, 2013-17
                3.            85           Butch Moore, 1982-86
                4.            ^ 81        Cannen Cunningham, 2011-15
                                ^ 81        Ryan Manuel, 2011-15
                6.            80           Scott Johnson, 1983-87
                7.            79           Terry Williams, 1983-87
                8.            ^ 78        Nic Moore, 2013-16
                9.            73           Jon Koncak, 1981-85
                                73           Ben Emelogu II, 2014-18 (missed 2015-16 season)
^ wins from 2013-14 later vacated
 
AP TOP 15 WINS (Through March 4): The Mustangs have five wins against the AP top 15 in the past two seasons. Only SMU, Kansas, Duke, Oklahoma and North Carolina State have two top-10 wins away from home this season.
Feb. 12, 2017 - No. 11 Cincinnati, 60-51
March 12, 2017 - vs. No. 15 Cincinnati, 71-56 (AAC Tournament Championship)
Nov. 23, 2017 - No. 2 Arizona, 66-60 (Battle 4 Atlantis)
Dec. 2, 2017 - No. 14 USC, 72-55
Jan. 17, 2018 - at No. 7 Wichita State, 83-78
WINS vs TOP 15 PAST TWO SEASONS
9 - Duke, Kansas
8 - Michigan
7 - Florida State, North Carolina, Villanova, West Virginia
8 - Arizona, Baylor, Butler, Virginia, Virginia Tech
5 - SMU, Iowa State, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, UCLA
 
AP RANKED WINS: SMU has three wins over ranked teams this season.
Total      Season  

4              1955-56 at No. 20 Minnesota, No. 18 Kansas, vs. No. 17 Houston,
                                vs. No. 16 Oklahoma City (SWC Champs, NCAA Final Four)
4^           2013-14 No. 17 Connecticut, No. 22 Memphis, No. 7 Cincinnati,
                                at No. 21 Connecticut (NIT Final)
3              1984-85 vs. No. 11 Oklahoma, vs. No. 5 North Carolina,
                                No. 19 Louisville (NCAA Second Round)
3              2017-18 vs No. 2 Arizona, No. 14 USC, at No. 7 Wichita State
^Wins later vacated
 
ATTENDANCE: SMU surpassed 100,000 in attendance for the fifth straight season, total 119,878 for third in program history. In 2014-15, SMU set a season attendance record of 124,986 total and 6,944 average. The New Moody single-game attendance record of 7,518 was set in the 60-51 win against then No. 11/11 Cincinnati (Feb. 12, 2017). SMU has sold out 52 of 84 games in Moody Coliseum since the renovated facility opened Jan. 4, 2014.    
 
AAC/USBWA POSTSEASON AWARDS: Shake Milton was named to the All-American Athletic Conference Second Team and USBWA All-District VII Team with Ethan Chargois selected to the AAC All-Rookie Team. This is the fifth straight season SMU has had an All-AAC honoree. Milton has missed the past nine games with a broken right hand. Before the injury, he was among The American leaders in scoring (18.0, 3rd AAC), assists (4.4, 3rd), steals (1.4, 10th), 3-point percentage (.434, 5th), 3-pointers made (2.5, 2nd), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9, 8th), free-throw percentage (.847, 2nd) and minutes (36.4, 2nd). He is one of just 13 players nationally averaging at least 18.0 points, 4.0 rebounds (4.7) and 4.0 assists. This is the third straight season Milton has earned conference honors, making the All-AAC Second Team in 2016-17 and the All-Rookie Team in 2015-16. He was named American Athletic Conference Player of the Week three times this season, most recently on Jan. 22 after leading the Mustangs to an 83-78 victory at then-No. 7 Wichita State. Milton had a career-high 33 points with five assists in the road win, the Mustangs' third victory over a top-15 team this season. Chargois is averaging 9.4 points and 4.4 rebounds while hitting 47.1 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from 3-point range. He was named the AAC Rookie of the Week twice this season. He has scored in double-figures 13 times, including three games with 20-plus points. The freshman had 12 points in 14 minutes during the win over then-No. 2 Arizona; 21 points and seven rebounds at then-No. 20 TCU on Dec. 5; and 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting in the win at then-No. 7 Wichita State.
 
AAC PLAYERS OF THE YEAR - 3 STRAIGHT: The Mustangs have taken home three straight AAC Player of the Year honors. Nic Moore was awarded the league's top honor in 2014-15 and 2015-16. Semi Ojeleye took home the award in 2016-17. This is the longest active streak nationally for the league men's basketball player of the year.
 
AAC SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR - 3 STRAIGHT: The Mustangs have taken home three straight AAC Sixth Man of the Year honors. Markus Kennedy was awarded the league's top reserve honor in 2014-15 and 2015-16. Ben Emelogu II shared the award in 2016-17. 
 
AWARDS IN PRESEASON - BOB COUSY AWARD, LUTE OLSON AWARD, WOODEN AWARD & NAISMITH TROPHY WATCH LISTS/AAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Junior guard Shake Milton is one of 20 candidates named to the 2018 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award watch list by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, one of 40 on the Lute Olson National Player of the Year Watch List, one of 50 on the Citizen Naismith Trophy Watch List and a member of the Wooden Award Preseason Top 50. Milton was also named the 2017-18 preseason American Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He also competed at the 2016 and 2017 Nike Hoops Summit in Los Angeles.
 
AWARDS - AAC WEEKLY HONORS: Shake Milton has been named AAC Player of the week three times (Nov. 13, Dec. 4, Jan. 22). Jimmy Whitt (Dec. 18, Jan. 29), Ben Emelogu (Dec. 26) and Jarrey Foster (Jan. 2) have each been named to the Weekly Honor Roll, and Ethan Chargois was the Rookie of the Week twice (Nov. 13, Dec. 18).
 
AWARDS - SENIOR CLASS AWARD: Senior Ben Emelogu II was one of 30 candidates for the 2017-18 Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. This is the third straight year SMU has boasted a national service/character award nominee. In 2015-16, the Mustangs had two representatives in Nic Moore (Senior CLASS candidate) and Semi Ojeleye (NABC Good Works Team), while Jonathan Wilfong was a NABC Good Works Team nominee in 2016-17.
 
SMU Single-game 3FGs Made
                1              9              Jahmal McMurray, Memphis 2-14-2018
                2              8              Bryan Hopkins, Ark-Pine Bluff, 12-20-2004
                                8              Nic Moore, Houston, 1-24-2015 (W, 80-59)
                4              7              Shake Milton, at Tulsa, 12-29-2015 (W, 81-69)
                                7              Jahmal McMurray, at Tulsa, 2-1-2018 (L, 76-67)
                                7              10 other times
 
QUICK WHITT: Jimmy Whitt is third in the AAC at 1.9 steals per game. He has 58 steals this season. He has 5 steals three times this season.
SMU Season Steals (Since 1976-77) (GP)
                1              79           Gerald Lewis (Sr.), 1992-93 (27)
                2              77           Carl Wright (So.), 1983-84 (33)
                3              76           Carl Wright (Jr.), 1984-85 (33)
                4              67           Willie Davis (Jr.), 1999-00 (30)
                5              63           Gerald Lewis (Jr.), 1991-92 (28)
                6              61           Bryan Hopkins (Fr.), 2002-03 (29)
                                61           Carlton McKinney (Sr.), 1987-88 (35)
                8              60           Jeryl Sasser (So.), 1998-99 (30)
                9              59           Bryan Hopkins (Jr.), 2004-05 (25)
                10           58           Kato Armstrong (Jr.), 1987-88 (35)
                                58           Jimmy Whitt (So.), 2017-18
 
BALL MOVEMENT: SMU is averaging 14.7 assists with a 1.3 assist-to-turnover ratio. Shake Milton leads SMU at 4.4, followed by Jimmy Whitt at 3.5 (8th AAC). Whitt has a 2.1 ast/to (3rd AAC) with Milton at 1.9.
 
CANADA - 2017 SUMMER TOUR: The team had an eight-day trip to Canada from August 7-14. The journey to Montreal and Toronto included three games (3-0) as well as visits to historic sites in both cities and an excursion to Niagara Falls. The trip started in Montreal, where the Mustangs played McGill University (W, 86-83 OT). The team also visited Mount Royal Park and St. Joseph's Oratory, Old Montreal historic district and took a boat ride in the rapids on the Saint Lawrence River. Then in Toronto, the Mustangs played a pair of exhibition games versus Ryerson University (W, 98-86) and M.A.D.E., the Nike Crown League Champion (W, 79-62). The team also went to the CN Tower and to the Rogers Centre for batting practice and the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. The day between games in Toronto, the group took a trip to Niagara Falls.
 
TOP 25: SMU was receiving votes in the AP Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches Poll as recently as Jan. 1. The Mustangs were also receiving votes in both preseason polls. SMU finished 2016-17 No. 11 in the AP Poll and No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. SMU was in the AP top 25 for the final six weeks (after 4 weeks of receiving votes) and the final six coaches polls (after five straight weeks receiving votes). The Mustangs also received votes in the first two weeks of the season. In 2015-16, SMU finished 24th in the AP Poll, its 17th straight poll in the top 25. That is the third-longest streak at SMU and the second-highest total in a season for the Mustangs. It was the third straight season SMU has been ranked in the top 25. In 2014-15, SMU was in the top 25 for nine weeks including the final seven regular season polls. SMU finished No. 18 in the AP and receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches poll. The Mustangs spent four weeks in the Top 25 in 2013-14. That was the first time SMU had been ranked since the 1984-85 season, when the Mustangs were as high as No. 2. - SMU is one of 14 teams that has been ranked in the AP top 20 each of the past 4 seasons (2013-17).
 
NBA - DRAFT: SMU's Semi Ojeleye and Sterling Brown were selected in the 2017 NBA Draft. Ojeleye was selected 37th overall by the Boston Celtics and Brown was picked 46th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers (traded to Milwaukee). This is the fourth time the Mustangs have had multiple picks in the NBA Draft, but the first time with multiple selections in the first two rounds. Ben Moore signed as a free agent with Indiana.
 
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE MUSTANGS (Current Roster): In the past few seasons, several Mustangs have played in international events or gone on international tours. Additionally, 2-time AAC Player of the Year and All-American Nic Moore helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2015 World University Games in South Korea.
2017: Team International Tour to Canada (games in Montreal & Toronto)
2016: Global Sports Academy Goodwill Tour U.S. Team (Croatia): Jarrey Foster, Shake Milton
2015: Global Sports Academy Goodwill Tour U.S. Team (Belgium, England, Germany, Netherlands): Ben Emelogu II
 
TROPHY CASE: Since the start of the 2013-14 season, the Mustangs have added six items to the trophy case after adding the 2016-17 American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles. SMU has also won the 2015-16 Las Vegas Classic (12/16-12/23). In 2014-15, SMU won American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles. In 2013-14, SMU was the runner-up in the NIT.