Opposition Report: SMU Mustangs

THE OPPONENT

Southern Methodist enters this game coming off a home win vs. Houston and going 10-3 since playing UConn. The Mustangs are deep, balanced and patient—10 players average at least 13 minutes per game, with numerous lineup combinations. SMU’s movement away from the basketball is one of the most persistent and effective approaches in all of college basketball. 11% of SMU’s scoring is cutting/slashing, 15% pick and roll, and 7% put-backs — all three result from ball movement, swinging it inside then back out, etc. In contrast, only 5% of SMU’s points are isolation. 60% of SMU’s points are 2-pointers, 9th highest in the country. They prefer to score inside the 3-point line, but have a few players capable of shooting the 3. SMU is patient, crafty, and plays as a collective unit in the half court.

They can finish in transition as well. SMU converts 58% in transition, with the athleticism to finalize plays in the open court.

While SMU is collectively a sum of its parts, its two most important players are point guard Nic Moore and power forward Markus Kennedy. Part of the reason SMU runs so many screens/cuts/put-backs is because most of its players need to be in a position to score the basketball. Most can’t create for themselves. However, Moore and Kennedy are the exceptions.

Moore is a 5-9 junior point guard. He’s averaging 14 points on 48% shooting, and leading the team with 4.6 assists per game. Furthermore, his 64% true shooting percentage ranks 43rd in the country, and lends insight to his poise and efficiency.

Moore is first and foremost a good shooter. 79% of his attempts are jump shots, where he’s posting an excellent 1.23 points per attempt. He can knock down 3′s (2 per game), or pull-up in the mid-range. He primarily operates out of the pick and roll (29%), where he’s posting an excellent 1.12 points per possession. He also uses the pick and roll to distribute and get teammates involved. In summary, SMU is crafty slashing off the ball, but the Mustangs will also allow Moore to operate traditional pick and rolls. He is responsible for scoring, and also initiating the offense, which is critical.

On the interior, Kennedy is a 6-9, 245-pound blend of quickness and explosion. He’s not the widest post presence, but he plays above the rim and competes on the glass. He’s shooting 55% from the field, and it’s no fluke. Kennedy is skilled, physical and embraces hard work. He can drop step and finish in the low post, facilitate from the high post, and dominate the offensive glass. He averages 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 assists in only 24 minutes per game. His one apparent weakness seems to be his limited range. If you can match his intensity and force him out to 15-feet, you’ll have a great chance of containing Kennedy.

Nick Russell is SMU’s starting shooting guard, alongside Nic Moore. Though not particularly efficient (39% FG, 27% three-point), Russell is a decent shooter, and has the size to finish at the basket. Like the majority of SMU’s players, it’s hard to fully evaluate Russell, because he is a beneficiary of ball movement and open looks.

Shawn Williams and Sterling Brown round out the projected starting lineup. Both players are active and athletic from 2-point and transition. They are crafty below the foul line, and also benefit from the attention given to Moore and Kennedy.

Off the bench, Keith Frazier is a smooth shooting guard with terrific range on his jumper. A former McDonald’s All American, Frazier is most effective shooting from 3, either with his feet set or off one dribble. He will shoot 3′s early in possessions, and will often make them. Beware of Frazier on quick catch-and-shoots. Freshman forward Ben Moore gives SMU another athlete off the bench, to score off cuts and put backs.

Overall, SMU beats with you with passing, cutting, angles and drop offs, and kicking out to shooters. Nic Moore is SMU’s primarily playmaker, while Markus Kennedy is a near-dominant post presence. They pride themselves on excessive-yet-effective ball movement (15 APG, 39th nationally), pick and roll play, and transition. Let’s take a look.

CUTTING / SLASHING/ DECEPTIVE SCREENS

SMU shot 47% in the first matchup vs. UConn. This was due to high percentage shots near the basket, often created by screens and cuts.

Video: Fake Hand-Off

Video: Flash then Iso

Video: 1-4 Set (Cutting)

Video: Out of Bounds Back-Screen

Video: Cutting/Slashing

STARTERS

PG — Nic Moore (5-9)
SG — Nick Russell (6-4)
F — Sterling Brown (6-6)
F — Shawn Williams (6-7)
PF/C — Markus Kennedy (6-9)

RESERVES

G — Keith Frazier
F — Ben Moore
C — Yanick Moreira

#11 Nic Moore (SO) — 14 PPG, 2 RPG, 4.7 APG
PG, 5-9, 170

— SMU’s primary ball handler and facilitator
— 79% of attempts are jumpers; shooting 47%
— Only 14% of attempts around the basket
— 29% of offense is pick and roll
— When scoring on pick and roll, 72% of attempts are pull-up jumpers
— When distributing on pick and roll, 42% of passes are to rolling screener
— Can also kick to shooters, or cutters

Video: Pass to Roll Man

Video: Pass to Shooters

Video: Assists

Video: Around the Basket

— Only 14% of attempts. Struggles scoring at the rim. Wants to drive and dish, not drive and finish

Video: Pick and Roll pull-up

— Dribble jumper on 72% of pick and roll shooting attempts

Video: Pass to Cutters

Video: Jump Shooting

— Can shoot from mid-range or distance

Video: Off Screens

#12 Nick Russell (SR) — 9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.3 APG
SG, 6-4, 200

— Aggressive wing who can score in a variety of ways
— Not very efficient (39% FG, 27% 3-point), but still capable
— 66% of attempts are jump shots; converting 31%
—20% of attempts are at the basket; converting 63%

Video: 26 points vs. Temple/Rutgers

— Aggressive recently. Good touch around the rim

Video: Good Finisher

— Athletic, long

Video: Shooting Struggles

— Capable but not reliable

#5 Markus Kennedy (SO) — 12 PPG, 7 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.5 BPG, 55% FG
PF, 6-9, 245

23% defensive rebounding percentage (71st nationally); 3.6% steal percentage (78th)

— Quick and explosive post man
— Can finish with back to basket, or run the floor in transition
— Physical and nasty on glass; accumulates rebounds and put-backs
— Quick first step, seals man to establish position
— Deceptively strong, vertically athletic
— 83% of shots around the basket; 11% on offensive put-backs

Video: Fake-Screen, Alley-Oop

Video: Cutting

Video: Post Scoring

Video: Limited Range

Video: Screener

— Nimble feet

Video: Put Backs

#4 Keith Frazier (FR) — 5.6 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1 APG
SG, 6-5, 200

— Smooth shooting guard with range on his jumper
— 87% of attempts are jumpers; good catch and shoot, will fire early in possessions
— Good athlete, though he struggles to finish at the basket (only 200 pounds)
— Cuts backdoor

Video: Shooting

Video: Finishing Attempts (6-10 this season)

#34 Ben Moore (FR) — 7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1 APG
PF, 6-8, 190

— 22% attempts cutting
— Athletic finisher below free throw line
— Mobile in open court
— Versatile defender with length

Video: Recent Scoring (15 points vs. Cincy, 7 vs. Temple, 8 vs. Houston)

Video: Cutting’

#35 Yanick Moreira (JR) — 8 PPG, 5 RPG
C, 6-11, 220

— Returned from sprained MCL last week
— 25% attempts cutting/slashing
— Big presence who can finish inside the paint, especially on angles and drop offs
— Won’t initiate offense, but is beneficiary of the attention Markus Kennedy receives

Video: Attacking Basket