NIT – First Round
SMU (20-12) at No. 1 Indiana State (28-6)
Hulman Center – Terre Haute, Indiana
Tuesday, March 20, 2024 – 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+
Radio: KAAM 770 AM | Audio Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
Gameday Central | Live Stats
SMU Notes | ISU | American
SMU Basketball Yearbook
Facebook | X | Instagram

SMU earned an NIT bid, and will visit No. 1 Indiana State on Wednesday in the first round. This is the Mustangs' sixth postseason berth in the past 11 seasons, including two NCAA bids and four NITs. The Mustangs made a run to the 2014 NIT championship game, were a No. 3 seed in the 16-team 2021 NIT field and were a No. 1 seed in the 2022 NIT. The Mustangs enter the tournament with a 20-12 record, including 11-7 in American Athletic Conference play. 

HEAD COACH ROB LANIER IN POSTSEASON TOURNAMENTS: This is his fourth postseason as a head coach, leading his teams to two NCAA Tournaments and two NITs. He is 2-1 in the NIT, advancing to the third round with Siena in 2003.

ZHURIC PHELPS - ALL-AAC SECOND TEAM: Junior guard Zhuric Phelps was named All-American Athletic Conference Second Team. Phelps is averaging team bests of 14.7 points (13th AAC) and 1.9 steals (5th AAC) while also recording 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He is hitting 75.0% on free throws (20th AAC) and has 14 blocked shots. He has scored in double figures in 28 of 32 games this season, including 14 straight to finish the conference season.

AMONG THE NATIONAL LEADERS: In the second season under Head Coach Rob Lanier, the Mustangs' defense is ranked among the best in the country. SMU is holding opponents to 40.9% (1st AAC, 32nd NCAA) from the field. The three-point defense is 31.4% (1st AAC, 51st NCAA). The Mustangs are averaging 8.5 steals (2nd AAC, 31st NCAA), 4.9 blocked shots per game (1st AAC, 23rd NCAA) and have a +5.4 rebound margin (1st AAC, 31st NCAA). The Mustangs are also in the top 60 nationally in several other categories. SMU is averaging 15.8 assists (1st AAC, 37th NCAA), 14.6 offensive rebounds (1st AAC, 4th NCAA) and 27.7 bench points (3rd AAC, 24th NCAA) while having a 1.40 assist-to-turnover ratio (2nd AAC, 57th NCAA). The Mustangs average 40.1 rebounds (2nd AAC, 15th NCAA) and have a 8.5 scoring margin on the season (2nd AAC, 43rd NCAA).

MUSTANG LEADERS: The Mustangs are led in scoring by All-AAC Second Team selection Zhuric Phelps (14.7, 131th AAC), Chuck Harris (13.2), Samuell Williamson (8.6) and Tyreek Smith (8.1). Phelps is also averaging 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 steals (5th AAC). Chuck Harris has a team-best 3.4 assists per game (9th AAC) with a 1.74 assist-to-turnover ratio (8th AAC) followed by B.J. Edwards at 3.0 assists. Chuck Harris is hitting 39.9% on threes (7th AAC) and Ricardo Wright is hitting 37.3% from long range (11th AAC). Samuell Williamson is leading in rebounding at 7.3 (7th AAC) with 10+ in seven games. Tyreek Smith is averaging 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks (3rd AAC) while shooting 59.2% on FGs (6th AAC). Keon Ambrose-Hylton is hitting 64.7% from the floor (4th AAC) and averging 0.9 blocked shots (15th AAC).

MEET THE MUSTANGS:

Keon Ambrose-Hylton (6-6, 220, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Played all 32 games (20 starts)... averaging 7.1 points (10+ 7 times), 4.3 rebounds (career-high 11 vs Tulane 2/1) and 0.9 blocked shots (15th AAC) while shooting 64.7% (4th AAC, on pace to break SMU season record which is 63.7%) ... Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, shot 56.3% from the field (9-16) while averaging 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds. 2022-23: Played all 32 games... averaged 3.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.7 blocked shots... Hit 65.7% on FGs. 

Denver Anglin (6-1, 185, G, So.) | 2023-24: Redshirting this season following a stress reaction in his left foot... Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 6.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and an assist per outing. 2022-23 at Georgetown: Played in 18 games.

B.J. Edwards (6-3, 185, G, So.) | 2023-24: Played all 32 games (30 starts)... averaging 3.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steal with a 2.38 assist-to-turnover ratio...Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, he averaged a team-best 6.0 assists with 5.3 points and 6.0 rebounds and a 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. 2022-23 at Tennessee: Played 14 games for a team that made the NCAA Sweet 16.

Xavier Foster (7-0, 225, F, Jr.) | 2023-24: Played 4 games... Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, had a team-high four blocked shots in the three games while adding 4.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per matchup. 2022-23: Played 10 games... had 4 points and 4 rebounds.

Chuck Harris (6-4, 190, G, Sr.): 2023-24: Started 31 of 32 games (missed 3/2 vs UTSA)... averaging 13.2 points (20+ 3 times), 3.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists (9th AAC) and 0.9 steals while shooting 39.9% on threes (7th AAC) and 81.3% on FTs... Has a 1.74 assist-to-turnover ratio (8th AAC)...Has 1 double-double (18 points, 10 assists) vs Tulsa 1/20... Scored 1,000th career point in the win vs Lamar 11/9... AAC Weekly Honor Roll (D18) | Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 11.0 points and 2.0 assists while hitting 5-of-6 on free throws. 2022-23 at Butler: played in 29 of 32 games (missed 3 due to injury) with 24 starts…Averaged 10.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steals while hitting 34.0% on 3FGs...Team-high 85.3% on FTs (7th Big East)… Led team in scoring six times while scoring in double figures 16 times...Three 20-point games… Eight games with 5+ rebounds and four games with 3+ steals.

Ja'Heim Hudson (6-7, 220, G, Sr.) | 2023-24: Played 30 games...Averaging 4.8 points (season-high 14 in win vs North Texas 2/11) and 3.3 rebounds... Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 9.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and a steal… Recorded his tour-best 12 boards in the final contest at Barcelona. 2022-23 at Georgia State: Averaged team-best 6.9 rebounds (12th Sun Belt) with 10.1 points… Led the team with 22 blocked shots and was third with 27 steals ... Had three double-doubles ... Scored in double figures 13 times and grabbed double-figure rebounds in five games.

Emory Lanier (6-4, 190, G, Sr.) | 2023-24: Played all 32 games... Averaging 3.8 points and shooting 39.7% on 3FGs (27-68)... has 26 3FGs this season (5 in 2022-23, 3 total in 2 seasons at Davidson 2020-22)... Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, he totaled eight points, five assists and two steals. 2022-23: Played in 27 games... totaled 46 points, 22 rebounds, 13 assists and 8 steals... AWARDS: NABC Honors Court... AAC All-Academic Team.

Mo Njie (6-11, 250, C, Jr.) | 2023-24: Played 12 games... Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 3.0 rebounds and a blocked shot… Had a tour-best seven rebounds in the win in Valencia. 2022-23: Played in 25 games...had 42 points, 39 rebounds and 9 blocked shots.

Zhuric Phelps (6-5, 195, G, Jr.) | 2023-24: All-AAC Second Team ... Played all 32 games (31 starts)... Averaging 14.7 points (13th AAC), 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 steals (5th AAC) with 14 total blocks and hitting 75.0% on FTs (20th AAC) (10-10 on FTs in the win vs ECU 3/6)... Reached 1,000 career points during he win at Tulane 2/15... Recorded 100th career steal in the win vs Western Illinois 11/8...AAC Weekly Honor Roll (N27, F12), Fort Myers Tip-Off All-Tournament Team, Preseason All-AAC Second Team. | Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 15.7 points, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals in just 18.0 minutes. | 2023 NBA DRAFT: On April 12, Zhuric Phelps announced he would enter the NBA Draft and maintain his collegiate eligibility. On May 24, he announced he would withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to SMU for his junior season. | 2022-23: Started all 30 games he played... Averaged 17.5 points (6th AAC), 3.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, (11th AAC) 2.3 steals (1st AAC, 16th NCAA)... Scored 19+ in 17 games... Had 5+ assists 8 times, including 7 of last 13 games... Had 17 games with multiple steals... AWARDS: AAC Player of the Week (D26)...AAC Weekly Honor Roll (N28, F13, F20)... Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic All-Tournament Team (D22-25)... SMU SEASON RECORDS: 524 points (23rd), 2.3 steals (T-4th), 68 steals (4th).

Jalen Smith (6-2, 195, G, Jr.) | 2023-24: Played all 32 games... averaging 5.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists while hitting 37.4% on threes (40-107)...Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 8.3 points and 2.3 assists without committing a turnover… Hit 64.7% on field goals (11-17) and 2-5 on threes. 2022-23: Played all 32 games with 23 starts...averaged 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists with a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio... Scored 10+ five times.

Tyreek Smith (6-8, 225, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Played all 32 games (12 starts)...Averaging 8.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks (3rd AAC) while shooting 59.2% on FGs (6th AAC)...Has 2 double-doubles... Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged a team-best 8.0 rebounds with 6.7 points and a block per game… Had 9 points and a team-high 12 rebounds in the opening win at Madrid. 2022-23 at Oklahoma State: Played all 36 games with 9 starts as team made the NIT Quarterfinals… Averaged 5.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocked shots while shooting 59.7% from the field… Had seven games scoring 10+ and four games with 10+ rebounds (all in the last 5 games)… Had 2 double-doubles… Had multiple blocks 6 times.

Trey Utter (6-0, 160, G, So.) | 2023-24: Played in 7 games... Summer 2023 in Spain: Played in the last two games, scoring two points in his first appearance in the victory in Valencia. 2022-23: Played in 2 games...Made his SMU debut in the AAC-opening win vs Tulsa 1/1... AWARDS: AAC All-Academic Team.

Samuell Williamson (6-8, 205, F, Sr.) | 2023-24: Started all 32 games... Averaging 8.6 points, 7.3 rebounds (7th AAC), 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals... 4 double-doubles (10th AAC)... AAC Weekly Honor Roll (D26, F19)... Reached 1,000 career points during the win at Tulane 2/15... Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged team-best 16.0 points with 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.0 assists while shooting 62.5% (20-32)… Game-high 26 points (12-17 FGs) with 7 rebounds in the win in Valencia. 2022-23: Played all 32 games with 30 starts... Averaged 9.3 points, 7.3 rebounds (6th AAC), 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals (11th AAC), 0.8 blocked shots.... Had 6 double-doubles (6th AAC)... Scored 10+ in 16 games... Had 7+ rebounds 17 times... 15 games with multiple steals... AWARDS: AAC Weekly Honor Roll (J2), AAC All-Academic Team.

Ricardo Wright (6-3, 185, G, Sr.) | 2023-24: Played in 31 games (missed 2/11 vs North Texas)... Averaging 6.8 points (10+ in 10 games) and shooting 37.3% on threes (11th AAC) (47-126)... Summer 2023 in Spain: In three games, averaged 5.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. 2022-23: Played in 27 games... averaged 3.1 points and 0.8 rebounds with 9 assists and 6 steals... Shot 34.6% on 3FGs... Had 4 games with 10+ points.

Jackson Young (6-2, 185, G, Jr.) | 2023-24: Played in 7 games... SCHOLARSHIP: During a team meeting on Jan. 6, Head Coach Rob Lanier announced that Jackson Young was awarded a scholarship... Summer 2023 in Spain: Played in the last two games, hitting a pair of threes in finale in Barcelona and totaling two assists. 2022-23: Played in 5 games.

LAST GAME (L, 75-60 vs Temple on March 14): FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – No. 11 seed Temple stormed back in the second half to defeat No. 6 seed SMU, 75-60, in the second round of the 2024 American Men's Basketball Championship at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. SMU (20-12) led 43-36 with 15:17 remaining, but Temple went on a 27-6 run to take a 63-49 lead. The Owls had balanced scoring with four in double figures, led by Hysier Miller with 21 points and six assists. Steve Settle added 14 points, while Shane Dezonie recorded 12. The Mustangs were led by Chuck Harris, who had 10 points.

SERIES VS. INDIANA STATE (0-1): SMU and ISU have met just once, with the Sycamores winning 80-53 in Terre Haute during the 1947-48 season. 

ALMOST PERFECT BALANCE: The Mustangs are 12-2 this season when at least four score in double figures, including 7-2 in AAC games. SMU has had five in double figures three times this season (at Murray State 12/22, Tulane 2/1, at Rice 2/7, at Tulane 2/15, Memphis 2/18).

SMU Season 3FG% Defense
1.    .298 (210-705)    2021-22
2.    .305 (120-394)    1987-88
3.    .308 (203-660)    2011-12
4.    .314 (157-500)    1992-93
—-    .314    2023-24
5.    .321 (248-773)    2013-14
    .321 (282-878)    2016-17

GRAND ACHIEVEMENT: Zhuric Phelps (1,116 - 33rd at SMU) and Samuell Williamson (1,049) both hit the 1,000-point milestone in the 87-79 win at Tulane on Feb. 15. Chuck Harris (1,374) surpassed it on Nov. 9 vs Lamar. Phelps became the 44th Mustang to score 1,000 points at SMU.
SMU Career Scoring
Rank    Points    Name, Years
30    1198    Lynn Phillips, 1966-69
31    1179    Butch Moore, 1982-86
32    1166    Shake Milton, 2015-18
33    1116    Zhuric Phelps

EARNING A SCHOLARSHIP: During a team meeting in Memphis on Jan. 6, Head Coach Rob Lanier announced that Jackson Young was being awarded a scholarship. Young came to SMU as a walk-on before the 2022-23 season. Young was featured on NBC's Today Show in the Morning Boost segment on Jan. 13.

LEAVE NO DOUBT: 15 of SMU's 20 wins this season are by double digits.

SHARING THE BALL: SMU is averaging 15.8 assists (1st AAC, 37th NCAA) against just 11.3 turnovers. That gives the Mustangs a 1.40 assist-to-turnover ratio (2nd AAC, 68th NCAA). Chuck Harris has a 1.74 assist-to-turnover ratio (8th AAC).
SMU Season Best Assist-to-Turnover Ratio
1.    1.74    1986-87
2.    1.71    1987-88
3.    1.50    2016-17
4.    1.42    2015-16
—-    1.40    2023-24
5.    1.37    1985-86
SMU Season Fewest Turnovers Per Game
1.    10.8    2016-17
2.    11.0    2018-19
—-    11.3    2023-24
3.    11.6    1996-97
    11.6    2017-18

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARDS: SMU is averaging 40.1 rebounds (2nd AAC, 15th NCAA) and 14.6 offensive rebounds (1st AAC, 4th NCAA) with a +5.4 margin (1st AAC, 31st NCAA). SMU has been +10 or better 11 times this season. Samuell Williamson leads the team at 7.3 (7th AAC) followed by Tyreek Smith at 5.6. Tyreek Smith is grabbing 2.5 offensive rebounds (8th AAC) followed by Keon Ambrose-Hylton at 2.1 (12th AAC) and Samuell Williamson at 1.9 (16th AAC). 5X5: Five times this season, SMU has had at least 5 Mustangs record 5+ rebounds (Western Illinois 11/8, at Arizona State 12/6, at Florida State 12/16, Charlotte 1/2, ECU 3/6)
SMU Season Rebound Margin
1.    10.2 (39.4-29.3)    2015-16
2.    8.7 (38.1-29.5)    2016-17
3.    8.4 (37.2-28.8)    1988-89
4.    6.7 (36.6-29.9)    2014-15
5.    5.7 (48.5-42.8)    1959-60
—-    5.4    2023-24
6.    5.0 (46.5-41.5)    1958-59

BLOCK PARTY: The Mustangs had 12 blocked shots in the win over Houston Christian. That ties for fourth in program history. Seven Mustangs had a block. Keon Ambrose-Hylton and Tyreek Smith each had three. SMU is averaging 4.9 blocks for the season (1st AAC, 23rd NCAA). Tyreek Smith leads the team with 1.7 blocks per game (3rd AAC).
SMU Season Blocked shots average
1.    5.0    2002-03
—-    4.9    2023-24
2.    4.8    2005-06
3.    4.6    1978-79
    4.6    2015-16
5.    4.5    1984-85
    4.5    2013-14
    4.5    2020-21
SMU Season Blocked Shots - Team
1    165    2013-14
2    157    2023-24

MEN OF STEALS: The Mustangs are averaging 8.5 steals (2nd AAC, 31st NCAA). SMU recorded 17 in the win over Western Illinois on Nov. 8 (T-3rd program history) and has 10 or more 8 times. Ten different Mustangs have at least 10 steals this season, led by Zhuric Phelps (1.9 - 5th AAC).
SMU Season Steals Average
1.    9.3    1999-00
2.    8.6    2004-05
3.    8.5    1987-88
—-    8.5    2023-24
4.    8.3    1992-93
    8.3    1998-99
6.    7.8    2002-03

KE-ON TARGET: Keon Ambrose-Hylton is shooting 64.7% from the field this season (4th AAC) and Tyreek Smith is at 59.2% (6th AAC) this season. In the 90-47 win over Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 3, Keon Ambrose-Hylton scored 19 points, going 9-9 on FGs. The Mustangs shot 69.2% from the field in that victory, which is fourth in program history. He was the first Mustang to be perfect from the floor on at least 9 attempts since Semi Ojeleye was 9-9 vs Tulsa 3/2/17. In the 80-76 win over Tulane on Feb. 1, Tyreek Smith was 8-9 on FGs, tying for fifth in an AAC game for SMU with at least 8 made FGs.
SMU Best Season FG% (Since 1953-54) (Min. 75 Field Goals Made)
—-    64.7 Keon Ambrose-Hylton (Sr.), 2023-24
1    63.7 Terry Williams (Sr.), 1986-87 (142-233)
2    62.1 Jon Koncak (Jr.), 1983-84 (211-340)
3    62.0 Terry Williams (Jr.), 1985-86 (150-242)
4    61.3 Ben Moore (Fr.), 2013-14 (84-137)
5    60.7 Larry Davis (Jr.), 1983-84 (219-361)
6    60.2 Sterling Brown (Jr.), 2015-16 (109-181)
7    59.2 Jon Koncak (Sr.), 1984-85 (219-370)
—-    59.2 Tyreek Smith (Sr.), 2023-24
8    58.1 Terry Thomas (Sr.), 1987-88 (111-191)
9    57.7 Papa Dia (Sr.), 2010-11 (243-421)
10    57.6 Bamba Fall (Sr.), 2008-09 (99-172)

THE SCHEDULE: SMU went 9-4 against a non-conference schedule highlighted by home games against Dayton (L, 65-63) and then-[13/15] Texas A&M (L, 79-66), road match-ups with Arizona State (L, 76-74) and Florida State (W, 68-57) plus the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off with West Virginia (W, 70-58 - semifinal) and Wisconsin (L, 69-61 - championship). SMU went 11-7 in the AAC, playing five opponents twice: ECU (Won both), Memphis (L at UM, W at SMU), North Texas (L at UNT, W at SMU), Tulane (Won both) and UAB (W at SMU, L at UAB). The Mustangs will play home games only against Charlotte (W), Temple (W), Tulsa (W) and UTSA (L), and play road games only versus [rv/rv] Florida Atlantic (L), Rice (W), then-[rv/rv] South Florida (L) and Wichita State (L). 

MUSTANGS GO 3-0 IN SPAIN: SMU finished 3-0 on its exhibition tour in Spain. The Mustangs won 88-77 in Madrid, 125-66 in Valencia and 92-60 in Barcelona. For the three games, the Mustangs shot 50.2% from the field, averaged 15.7 steals and had a plus-21.7 rebound margin (55.7-34.0). 

Samuell Williamson averaged 16.0 points to lead the team in scoring, while pulling down 6.3 rebounds and shooting 62.5% (20-32). Zhuric Phelps added 15.7 points while totaling seven assists and six steals in the three contests. B.J. Edwards led with 6.0 assists while also averaging 5.3 points and 6.0 rebounds with a 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. Ja'Heim Hudson contributed 9.3 points and 7.0 rebounds. Chuck Harris scored 11.0 per game with 2.0 assists. Tyreek Smith a team-best 8.0 rebounds per game with 6.7 points. Denver Anglin added 6.7 points and an assist per outing. Keon Ambrose-Hylton shot 56.3% from the field (9-16) while averaging 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds. Ricardo Wright added 5.3 points and 1.3 assists. Emory Lanier had eight points, five assists and two steals for the trip.
 
During the trip, the travel party visited historic sites in each city. Highlights included Madrid's Mercado de San Miguel, Plaza Mayor and Royal Palace as well a tour of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the home of Real Madrid, the Port of Valencia and a tour at La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

STEALING THE SHOW: Zhuric Phelps has 155 career steals, which is 7th at SMU. He averaged 1.9 this season (5th AAC). He had 68 steals in 2022-23, averaging 2.3 per game (1st AAC, 16th NCAA). That was fifth in a season at SMU. Phelps had a career-high 7 steals at Wichita State on Feb. 12, which tied for third in a game at SMU and was the most since Nic Moore had 7 vs Texas Southern 11/26/2014. Phelps also had 6 at Tulsa on Jan. 18 as well as 5 against Cincinnati on Jan. 14 and five at USF on Feb. 25.
SMU Career Steals
    1    225    Bryan Hopkins, 2002-06
    2    209    Gerald Lewis, 1989-93
    3    205    Carl Wright, 1982-85
    4    197    Jeryl Sasser, 1997-01
    5    179    Stephen +Woods, 1996-00
    6    160    Willie Davis, 1997-01
    7    155    Zhuric Phelps, 2021-

HISTOR-ACC DAY: SMU celebrated one of the most important moments in the school's history on Sept. 1 when it received and accepted an invitation to join the Atlantic Coast Conference. With the additions of SMU, Cal & Stanford, the ACC will have 18 members.

2024-25 ACC HOME AND ROAD OPPONENTS ANNOUNCED: SMU Men's Basketball's inaugural 20-game ACC schedule includes home and away games with Cal, Stanford and Virginia. SMU will also host Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse and Wake Forest at Moody Coliseum. The Mustangs' road-only opponents are Boston College, Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, N.C. State, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech. The 2025 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament will take place at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.

PONY UP DALLAS: In just seven days after announcing the move into the Atlantic Coast Conference on Sept. 1, SMU raised $100 million to support the Mustangs' transition to the ACC in 2024. The generous early commitments from a group of thirty donors that includes trustees and key donors – alumni and non-alumni alike – enables SMU to align and compete with an elite group of national institutions with powerhouse athletic programs, benefiting both SMU Athletics and the entire University community. The move to the new conference is also creating additional impact. Mustang fans have responded enthusiastically to the planned move, with men's basketball season ticket sales jumping 30% in the last week and hundreds of new football season tickets being sold as well. Notably, the move has immediately raised SMU's profile, with media coverage of the move generating more than $163 million in advertising value in the first three days. In that same small window, SMU also experienced a 103% increase in visitors to its undergraduate admissions homepage.

HEAD COACH ROB LANIER... is in his second season at SMU after arriving from Georgia State. He has more than 30 years as a collegiate coach, including nine seasons as a head coach. His teams have made 12 NCAA Tournaments and earned 20 total postseason bids. Those teams also have five conference titles, three regular season championships and two tournament crowns, plus five more trips to a league tournament final. 

Following his first season on the Hilltop, which included a runner-up finish at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, Lanier brought in a transfer class ranked as high as No. 42 nationally and No. 2 in The American. In August of 2023, the Mustangs went 3-0 in Spain with games in Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona. The team visited several historic sites including Madrid's Mercado de San Miguel, Plaza Mayor and Royal Palace as well a tour of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the home of Real Madrid, the Port of Valencia and a tour at La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. 

After arriving at SMU, Lanier was named a training camp coach for the 2022 USA Basketball Men's U18 National Team. He worked with the team in Houston prior to its gold-medal run at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Mexico. 

In his three seasons at Georgia State, the Panthers went 53-30, winning the Sun Belt Tournament in 2022 and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers also made the Sun Belt Tournament final in 2021. Additionally, he led GSU to a victory over Georgia Tech, the program's first win over an ACC opponent. The Panthers also claimed the 2019-20 2K Empire Classic Riverside Regional. 

In addition to being the head coach at Georgia State and Siena, he has been associate head coach or an assistant coach at Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Virginia, Rutgers and his alma mater, St. Bonaventure. Lanier has played a role in signing 10 McDonald's All-Americans, and 11 players that he either signed or coached have become NBA Draft Picks.

COACHSPEAK.NET: Head Coach Rob Lanier runs the site as a platform for coaches from all levels across all sports to express themselves on a wide range of topics. It began as an idea in the spring of 2016 and became a reality in 2017. This is a not a site about Strategy, Instruction or Coaching philosophy but it certainly can and will explore those areas. This is a site about people. Coach Lanier has also written articles for the site:
TWO STEP by Rob Lanier 
https://www.coachspeak.net/two-step-by-rob-lanier/
RECALLING MY NBA DAYS…ALL 5 OF THEM by Rob Lanier
https://www.coachspeak.net/recalling-my-nba-days-all-5-of-them-by-rob-lanier/

2023-24 INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:
- All-American Athletic Conference - Zhuric Phelps (2nd Team)
- American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll
     N27 - Zhuric Phelps (19.0 pts, 6.3 rebs, 2.0 asts, 2.0 stls in 2-1 week)
     D18 - Chuck Harris (24 pts, 6 rebs, 4 asts in win at Florida State)
     D26 - Samuell Williamson (14.0 pts, 10.5 rebs, 2.0 asts, 13-20 FGs in 2-0 week)
     F12 - Zhuric Phelps (13.0 pts, 4.5 asts, 4.5 rebs, 2.0 stls in 2-0 week)
     F19 - Samuell Williamson (14.0 pts, 7.5 rebs, 3.5 asts, 1.5 stls, 11-21 FGs in 2-0 week)
- Fort Myers Tip-Off All-Tournament Team - Zhuric Phelps (18.0 pts, 7.5 rebs, 2.0 asts, 2.0 stls)
- Preseason All-American Athletic Conference - Zhuric Phelps (2nd Team)
2022-23 INDIVIDUAL AWARDS (returnees):
- American Athletic Conference Player of the Week
     D26 - Zhuric Phelps (19.7 pts, 5.7 rebs, 3.0 asts, 1.7 stls in 3 games at Diamond Head Classic)
- American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll
     N28 - Zhuric Phelps (20.0 pts, 6.0 rebs, 4.0 asts, 2.5 stls, 2.0 blks in 2 games)
     J2 - Samuell Williamson (17 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal vs Tulsa)
     F13 - Zhuric Phelps (22.5 pts, 3.0 rebs, 5.0 asts, 5.5 stls in 2 games, game-winning FT vs Temple)
     F20 - Zhuric Phelps (18.5 pts, 5.5 rebs, 7.5 asts, 2.5 stls, 5-9 3FGs in 2 games
- Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic All-Tournament Team
     D22-25 - Zhuric Phelps (19.7 pts, 5.7 rebs, 3.0 asts, 1.7 stls in 3 games)
2021-22 INDIVIDUAL AWARDS (returnees):
- American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week
     D13 - Zhuric Phelps (13 pts, 2 rebs, 2 stls, 1 ast, 6-8 FG, 1-1 3FG in win vs Dayton)



All-AAC Honors
21 - Houston
20 - SMU
16 - Cincinnati 
16 – Memphis

Mustangs Selected All-American Athletic Conference
Sterling Brown (2016-17 Second Team)
Kendric Davis (2019-20 Third Team, 2020-21 First Team, 2021-22 First Team)
Feron Hunt (2020-21 Third Team)
Tyson Jolly (2019-20 Third Team)
Markus Kennedy (2013-14 Second Team, 2014-15 Second Team)
Jahmal McMurray (2018-19 Second Team)
Isiaha Mike (2019-20 Third Team)
Shake Milton (2016-17 Second Team, 2017-18 Second Team)
Ben Moore (2016-17 Second Team)
Nic Moore (2013-14 First Team, 2014-15 First Team, 2015-16 First Team)
Yanick Moreira (2014-15 Second Team)
Semi Ojeleye (2016-17 First Team)
Zhuric Phelps (2023-24 Second Team)
Marcus Weathers (2021-22 Second Team)


SMU ATHLETICS LAUNCHES STUDENT-ATHLETE SUCCESS DEPARTMENT: As part of its goal of Shaping Champions and preparing students for life, SMU Athletics announced the creation of a Student-Athlete Success Department for the 2022-23 academic year. This department encompasses all student-development-centered efforts such as Life After Ball, SAAC and community service initiatives. Additionally, it houses NIL Education and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming. Due to a generous donation from Suzanne and Glenn Youngkin, SMU Athletics is able to grow staffing in these critical areas in our support of our student-athletes.

BOLD - BIG OPPORTUNITIES LIVE IN DALLAS: As part of its goal of Shaping Champions and preparing students for life, SMU Athletics proudly announced the addition of its BOLD (Big Opportunities Live in Dallas) Program to its suite of student-athlete development tools, with the goal of helping student-athletes navigate and capitalize on new Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) legislation. BOLD will, among other things, provide SMU student-athletes with the means to navigate the evolving NIL landscape. The BOLD program incorporates INFLCR, a comprehensive NIL education and compliance solution, and campus resources from the Cox School of Business, the Dedman School of Law, and the Meadows School of the Arts. While the acronym BOLD emphasizes SMU's ties to the City of Dallas, the word is also important in its ties to SMU and the University's Brand Promise, which states, "For the bold, curious, and creative, SMU is the comprehensive research university whose enterprising spirit in a vibrant community empowers leaders to tackle grand challenges."

DAVID B. MILLER COURT: On Dec. 5, 2018, SMU named the Moody Coliseum court after David B. Miller, alumnus and current chair of the Board of Trustees. He was a three-year starter on the basketball team and a member of the 1971-72 Southwest Conference Co-Championship team. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Miller and his wife, Carolyn Lacy Miller, have committed over $100 million to SMU, including more than $50 million to the Cox School of Business, $20 million toward the expansion and renovation of Moody Coliseum and $10 million to the ACC Competitiveness Campaign as a member of the First Week Society.