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A bit of schedule news today as the Georgetown Hoyas will play the SMU Mustangs this season at the Capital One Arena. This is the first of a home and home series with the Mustangs, with the return game next season in Dallas. The Mustangs have been one of the better teams in the American Conference over the past few years, a conference which now includes former Big East rival and current mid-major UConn.
Press Release:
GEORGETOWN AND SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERISTY
TO PLAY IN HOME AND HOME SERIES
WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University’s men’s basketball team has agreed to a home-and-home series with Southern Methodist University beginning this upcoming 2018-19 season.
The Hoyas and Mustangs will open the series at Capital One Arena this season on December 15, 2018. Georgetown will then travel to Dallas the following year to face SMU on December 7, 2019. The Mustangs have advanced to the postseason in three of the last five years and have posted a 25 win or more season in four of the last five years.
“We are looking forward to a competitive series with SMU,” said Head Coach Patrick Ewing. “They have traditionally been a strong program and will prove to be a good early test for us.”
This will mark just the second meeting between the Hoyas and Mustangs. They previously met in the second round of the 1984 NCAA Tournament in Pullman, Washington, with Georgetown winning 37-36. The Hoyas went on to win the National Championship in Seattle.
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Per Busting Brackets, the Mustangs are expected to be a middling team in the American next season:
7. SMU Mustangs 17-16 (6-12)
Injuries decimated this team that had NCAA Tournament talent, but next year should be better. Jahmal McMurray and Jimmy Whitt will be the leaders of what could be a better than expected Mustangs team.
One guy expected to contribute is Duquesne transfer Isiaha Mike. The sophomore big man averaged 11.3 ppg and 5.8 rpg in his first year in the A-10. He along with the others will collectively have to replace Jarrey Foster and Shake Milton, SMU’s best players who went pro early.
SMU now joins an improved non-conference schedule that thus far includes the Jamaica Classic (matchups not yet announced), Richmond (home), Illinois (road) and Syracuse (road).