SMU & 2nd Place
Zhuric Phelps averaged 19.7 PPG in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic
Going into the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic tournament there was not high hope for the Mustangs to make a run. After watching the 1st half of the game vs. Iona Mustangs fans could feel the inevitable coming. SMU was struggling to just inbound the basketball let alone break the Gaels full court press. Turnover after turnover, getting out hustled up and down the court while Iona could not miss from 3PT range. Double zeroes hit for half-time, in the 2H SMU came out guns-a-blazing and its entire season was ready to change.
As we wrote about in the post Iona game breakdown - the SMU Mustangs came out playing with hustle, aggression and a entirely new team was born. The two games prior to the tournament SMU played Arizona State and TCU both DDSN 24 Pack schools at the time. SMU was outscored 47 to 24 vs. the Sun Devils in the 2H and was unable to close the gap vs. the Horned Frogs losing 83 to 75. Against Iona, SMU found a way to close the game.
SMU began to play Iona’s aggressive fast pace game with them by breaking the press and converting open buckets. The Gaels could not keep up and loss. SMU shot 60% from the field, made its FTs and committed less turnovers. They earned that win.
In the semi-finals vs. Utah State, a team that loves to shoot the 3PT shot, it smelled blood in the water at tip-off after seeing how SMU could not keep the Gaels off of the 3PT line. Think again, Aggies. SMU won this hard fought game from start to finish by playing defense and greatly improving its deficiencies. The Mustangs forced the Aggies to shoot 10-36 27.8% from 3PT and only committing 5 turnovers. SMU also had 8 steal to Utah State’s 1.
A new SMU star in the making shined as bright as can be in guard Zhuric Phelps, the new go-to man for the Mustangs. Phelps from Midland, Texas took over the game to secure the victory for SMU in a huge way. He and senior guard Zach Nutall from Bryan, Texas will be relied when the Ponies get into a pinch and need a bucket.
With two great wins in hand the Mustangs head into the Championship game to face-off the host school the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors. SMU seemed to have control of the game early but could not put a cushion together until the final minutes of the 1st half when Zhuric Phelps exploded and helped the Mustangs take a 31 - 22 point lead into half-time.
SMU kept its lead the entire 2H but could not put a run together and put the game away. The Rainbow Warriors fueled by its crowd did not want to lay down. With four minutes left the Mustangs were leading 52 -46. The Rainbow Warriors had shot twice as many FT as the Mustangs and were in the double bonus with SMU not yet in the bonus. Again, SMU could not put the game away. With 58 seconds left the Mustangs led 57 - 55 after trading baskets with Hawai’i not able to put the game away. Zhuric Phelps had the ball in isolation to try and put the game away but his fadeaway jumper didn’t fall. The defense was suffocating. Hawai’i gets a chance to tie or take the lead with 31.9 seconds left. SMU plays tough defense and does not allow a bucket. This is where things got ugly for the Mustangs. SMU could not convert multiple FTs after being great all tournament. With 5 seconds left, SMU still led 57-55 with Hawai’i inbounding the ball with full court to go. Watching live I felt (and was adamant about it) like the player inbounding for Hawai’i traveled. SMU missed both FTs so the inbounder is not allowed to run the floor but he made multiple steps to inbound the pass. The SMU defense - two guards up top trying slow down the ball carrier and 2nd pass - looked to be playing very loose most likely to prevent a 3PT shot foul (the irony). The Hawai’i player takes 5 dribbles and heaves up a 3PT with about 0.6 remaining … he drains it leaning forward - whistle blows and the shooter is also fouled. He misses the FT after discussion about how much time was remaining. It did not matter - SMU missed the full court shot.
A tournament filled with such energy, turnaround and hope felt like it was all wiped away after one shot. SMU basketball fans should not feel that way after witnessing the play of the Mustangs the last three games. After the 1H vs. Iona, Coach Lanier has these players and the program heading in the right direction. The improvements on 3PT defense, turnovers, hustle, defense and playmaking have been huge the past week. There is definitely plenty of work left to do but also a great deal of enthusiasm to watch these Ponies run in the AAC this year.
