American Athletic Conference Game of the Year

This is a very tough spot for the Bearcats just two days after a huge win over Connecticut they hit the road against a team that has been home all month. Not only is SMU 10-2 the last 12, but also one of the setbacks as by a half point.

The Mustangs are 12-0 at home, including a 6-0 mark in the renovated Moody Coliseum. SMU started the current homestand with an 87-72 win against then-No. 22/22 Memphis last Saturday and a 75-52 win over Temple on Thursday.

SMU is second in the nation in field-goal percentage defense (1st American), holding opponents to 36.8 percent from the field. The Mustang defense is also holding opponents to 61.3 points per game, good for 18th in the NCAA (2nd American). SMU has held 23 of its last 32 (17 of 23 this year) opponents under 40% shooting. On the glass, the Mustangs have outrebounded 20 of 23 opponents this season.
On offense, the Mustangs are leading the conference in field goal percentage, shooting at a 49.4-percent clip in 2013-14 (8th NCAA). The Mustangs are also shooting 36.8 percent from beyond the arc, good for third in the conference. SMU is second in the league in assists per game at 15.5 (30th NCAA), and is averaging 72.7 points per game. Additionally, the Mustangs have outscored 22 of 23 opponents in the paint by an average of 35.9-20.5.
So they are the best on offense and the best on defense in terms of field goal percentage and only laying two ag