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College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 12

By Nathaniel Reeves

Mar 26, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self reacts to a play against the Villanova Wildcats during the first half of the south regional final of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self reacts to a play against the Villanova Wildcats during the first half of the south regional final of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 12, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Tim Jankovich (right) talks with guard Jarrey Foster (10) during the first half at Fifth Third Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Tim Jankovich (right) talks with guard Jarrey Foster (10) during the first half at Fifth Third Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

23. SMU Mustangs 

Tim Jankovich has quietly done an excellent job with an overhauled SMU roster this season, as the Mustangs have clearly established themselves as a top two team in the AAC.

SMU obliterated struggling Connecticut in Dallas on Thursday night to start off its week. The more impressive victory came on Saturday night, as the Mustangs breezed by a decent Houston team to move to 17-4 overall on the season and 7-1 in conference play.

After losing a lot of talent and head coach Larry Brown last offseason, the Mustangs were out of sync during a 5-3 start to the season that included a blowout loss to Michigan and defeat at Boise State. Since then, SMU has won 12 of its past 13 games, with the only loss coming by two points on the road to conference favorite Cincinnati.

Jankovich has his team controlling the pace, as SMU averages the fourth fewest possessions per game in the nation and ranks fourth in scoring defense. The offense has been the surprise, as Duke transfer Semi Ojeleye has emerged out of nowhere to lead an offense that ranks 23rd in adjusted efficiency per KenPom.

While the Mustangs have the look of a team capable of advancing to the second weekend of the tournament, we won’t learn much about them in the weak AAC. The Mustangs’ lone game this week will be Wednesday night on the road against Tacko Fall and Central Florida.