By Alex Riley
Special to SMUMustangs.com
 
DALLAS (SMU) – It's a word SMU men's basketball coach Tim Jankovich tries to sidestep. In the lexicon of sports phrases, the idea of setting expectations doesn't make a lot of sense to the Mustangs' coach. So, when asked about his program's expectations heading into American Athletic Conference play, Jankovich redirects from the "e" word.
 
"I don't know how you would have a team and say, 'Let's set our expectations down here.' I don't look at it like that," Jankovich said following the team's win over Georgia State back on Dec. 23. "We're still in a position to win a championship. We haven't started, so I think we only have to think that way."
 
SMU's quest for its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2017 will get more traction starting at 4 p.m. on New Year's Day against USF at Moody Coliseum. The Mustangs finished the 2019 portion of their schedule with a 9-2 record, the best start since an 18-0 run to open 2015-16.
 
Strong starts have been plentiful in the AAC this season as 11 of the league's 12 teams have winning records. Six, including SMU, are already at nine or more wins heading league play.

For the Mustangs, the non-conference schedule has been a chance to fine tune and develop chemistry while winning games. That has led to plenty of chances for growth over the course of the first 11 games. Now, it's time to take that experience to the next level.

"We've still got a lot of work to do on that, but there's always a lot of work to do," sophomore Emmanuel Bandoumel said. "You can't always get that every day, but I think the mindset is there. Everybody is working on it."
 
That focus has created a roster that sits fourth in the AAC in scoring (76.6 ppg), eighth in points allowed (66.5), second in field goal percentage (45.7) and sixth in field goal percentage defense (39.1). Staying among the top half in those categories and the league standings won't be easy. The AAC has a combined RPI that ranks seventh out of 32 leagues and a total record of 103-43.
 
To stay in contention, the Mustangs must keep growing and developing.
 
Maybe Jankovich is right and expectations isn't the right word. SMU is out to prove something. It's been a good start. Now it's time to win when it matters most.
 
"I know everybody knows that we're good, but we want to make sure people know we're a great team," Bandoumel said.