Southern Methodist @ Tulane preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 1, 2020 ) Tulane 67, Southern Methodist 82

Despite the nail-biting win against Houston and boasting strong records overall and in the American Athletic Conference, a weak schedule and an overall lack of impressive wins have Southern Methodist outside the NCAA Tournament conversation. Should the Mustangs wish to enter that conversation, it starts by taking care of business at Tulane on Wednesday.

While this appears to be an easy win on paper, SMU has been a different team away from Moody Coliseum with a 4-5 record, including losses to the likes of AAC lower-tier foes East Carolina and Temple. The Mustangs' success hinges on their offense, which leads the AAC in scoring (75.9 points per game), field goal percentage (.465) and 3-point shooting percentage (.351), and depth, with four players reaching double figures in a game 15 times. Tulane has allowed 75.5 points per game during its nine-game losing streak, allowing four of its last five opponents (including SMU) to shoot at least 50 percent from the floor. After an impressive non-conference schedule and winning two of its first four AAC games, the upstart Green Wave under first-year head coach Ron Hunter, have lost eight of their last nine by double digits.

TIME: 8 p.m. ET.

ABOUT SOUTHERN METHODIST (18-6, 8-4 AAC): Leading scorer Kendric Davis is averaging 17.5 points in the last four games following a goose egg against Cincinnati and is fourth in the nation, dishing out 7.3 assists per game. Sophomore forward Feron Hunt has reached double figures each of the last four games off the bench and is averaging 19.0 points in the last two while shooting 78.9 percent from the floor, leading to a spot on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll. Junior guard Tyson Jolly had one of his biggest performances of the season against Houston, scoring 20 points on 71 percent shooting and going 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, including four late in the second half and overtime.

ABOUT TULANE (10-15, 2-11): Senior Teshaun Hightower has cooled off in conference play, losing two points off his season scoring average in the last nine games, though he still boasts playmaking ability, scoring 23 points one week ago against Temple. Senior Christion Thompson has picked up the slack, pacing the team in scoring in conference play with an average of 14.2 points, including an average of 19.0 in the last three contests. Previously the conference leader in 3-point shooting, senior Nic Thomas has shot just 22.7 percent from beyond the arc in the last four games, though he still has a team-best 41 percent success rate on the season.

BUZZER-BEATERS

1. SMU has won the last four matchups by at least nine points.

2. The Mustangs are 11-0 when holding opponents at or below 40 percent field goal shooting.

3. Tulane is first in the AAC in steals (8.2 per game) and turnover margin (plus-4.48).

PREDICTION: SMU 80, Tulane 69