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2018-19 American Athletic Conference preview: UConn is still on top, but the middle of the pack is strengthening

By Russell Steinberg

Connecticut Huskies guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) pushes the ball up court against Temple during the first half on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018 at McGonicle Hall in Philadelphia, Pa. Dangerfield scored 12 points to help UConn to 113-57 victory. (John Woike/Hartford Courant/TNS via Getty Images)
Connecticut Huskies guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) pushes the ball up court against Temple during the first half on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018 at McGonicle Hall in Philadelphia, Pa. Dangerfield scored 12 points to help UConn to 113-57 victory. (John Woike/Hartford Courant/TNS via Getty Images) /
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UNIVERSITY PARK, TX – JANUARY 13:Southern Methodist Mustangs guard Ariana Whitfield (2) brings the ball up court during the women’s game between SMU and East Carolina on January 13, 2018, at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, TX – JANUARY 13:Southern Methodist Mustangs guard Ariana Whitfield (2) brings the ball up court during the women’s game between SMU and East Carolina on January 13, 2018, at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

SMU Mustangs
Predicted finish: Twelfth

Key returners (last year’s stats):

G Ariana Whitfield, 5’6, So.: 7.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, 28.6 MPG
F Johnasia Cash, 6’2, So.: 5.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 17.5 MPG
F Alicia Froling, 6’3, Sr.: Redshirted last year due to injury. All-AAC Second Team in 2016-17. 14.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG.

Key losses (last year’s stats):

G McKenzie Adams, 5’9: 16.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 37% FG, 82% FT, 34.9 MPG
G Kiara Perry, 5’10: 9.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 2.1 SPG, 29.4 MPG
C Kiara Bradshaw, 6’6: 4.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.0 BPG, 19.6 MPG
F Dai’ja Thomas, 6’2: 4.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 22.9 MPG
F Stephanie Collins, 6’5: 3.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 46% FG, 17.8 MPG
G Mikayla Reese, 5’8: 3.2 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 20.6 MPG

Newcomers:

G Amber Bacon, 5’5, Fr.: Ranked as a top-100 guard, per ESPN. Co-defensive player of the year in her district in high school. Averaged 17.3 points per game as a senior.

F Alexis Leggett, 6’3, Fr.: Ranked as No. 38 high-post player in her class, per ESPN. Averaged a double-double as a senior and is a solid shot blocker.

F Paige Bayliss, 6’5, Fr.: Australian national team player who will see time in the post. Won silver medal with U20 Queensland team in Australia championship.

F Marie Olson, 6’2, Fr.: No. 21 post prospect in nation, per ESPN.

F BriShonne Tollie, 6’2, Fr.: Ranked No. 126 recruit per College Sports Madness. Played at prestigious Montverde Academy and led team in scoring and rebounding three times.

G JaQuia White, 5’8, Fr.: Combo guard known for her defense.

F Makenzie Ellis, 6’2, Jr.: Sat out last year after transferring from Colorado. Started 33 games for the Buffaloes as a sophomore, reaching double-figures in scoring eight times.

Head coach: Travis Mays, 3rd season

The former Sacramento King enters his third season with the Mustangs with a 29-35 career record. SMU won just four games in the AAC last year and with Adams and Perry both gone, this year might be another struggle. But Mays has a strong recruiting class coming in and the background that would lead you to believe he could succeed in Dallas. Mays spent time as an assistant for the San Antonio Silver Stars, then moved to the college ranks where he was an assistant at Texas, LSU, and Georgia.

Key non-conference games:

Nov. 15 vs. Alabama
Nov. 18 at TCU
Dec. 1 at Northern Colorado
Dec. 22 vs. Oklahoma

Outlook: We’re not looking at a great SMU team here, but we’re looking at an interesting one. A solid recruiting class, a high-level transfer, and a healthy Froling means that SMU will have the talented to at least be competitive in the conference. They still may be a year off from a top-half finish in the conference, but don’t sleep on the Mustangs.

Best-case scenario: Ellis can play both in the post and on the perimeter and should help the Mustangs in both areas right away. Throw in Froling’s return and a bunch of solid backcourt pieces, and SMU can be better than last year.

Worst-case scenario: Microfracture surgery is no laughing matter and if the Mustangs are leaning on Froling to be successful, that’s a lot to bank on. Whitfield and Cash are also their only returners who averaged more than five points per game last year. With so much unknown, how confident can we really be in SMU’s chances to build significantly on a rough 2017-18?

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