PHILADELPHIA (SMU/The American) – The SMU men's basketball team was picked to finish third in the American Athletic Conference in the AAC preseason coaches' poll, the league announced Monday. Senior Ben Moore was named to the preseason all-conference first team, while sophomore Shake Milton was named to the second team.

The Mustangs, who finished second last season after winning the conference in 2014-15, were picked behind Cincinnati and Connecticut, respectively.

Last season, Moore averaged 11.9 points (22^nd AAC), 7.4 rebounds (10^th AAC), 1.4 blocked shots (7^th AAC) and 2.2 assists. His 2.9 offensive rebounds per game were sixth in the conference. Milton was a unanimous AAC All-Rookie selection after averaging 10.5 points (28^th AAC), 3.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists (13^th AAC) with a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio. The preseason Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year candidate ranked third in the league for 3-point percentage (42.6, 52-122). This summer, Milton was a shooting guard at the 2016 Nike Hoops Summit in Los Angeles and went to Croatia with a Global Sports Academy U.S. Team.

Head Coach Tim Jankovich, who takes over the men's program after four seasons as associate head coach, helped guide the Mustangs to a 25-5 record last season. SMU finished the year ranked No. 24 after reaching a high of No. 8 as the last unbeaten team in the country at 18-0. The Mustangs won the Las Vegas Classic title during the season-opening streak. The Mustangs return three starters Moore, Milton and Sterling Brown. Letterwinners Jarrey Foster and Jonathan Wilfong are also back for SMU. The Mustangs' roster includes juniors Ben Emelogu II and Semi Ojeleye, both of whom sat out last season. The newcomers include Harry Froling, Tom Wilson, Dashawn McDowell and Leo Kontopoulos. Jimmy Whitt will sit out this season after transferring from Arkansas.

The Mustangs open the 2016-17 season at home in Moody Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 11 versus Gardner-Webb at 7 p.m.

2016-17 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
 

Team (First-Place Votes)	Pts.
Cincinnati (6)	95
UConn (5)	94
SMU	76
Houston	75
Memphis	63
Temple	56
East Carolina	39
UCF	37
Tulsa	34
USF	25
Tulane	11

 
2016-17 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
PRESEASON INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Preseason Co-Players of the Year            
Troy Caupain, G, Sr., Cincinnati
Dedric Lawson, G/F, So., Memphis         
                 
Preseason Rookie of the Year   
Alterique Gilbert, G, Fr., UConn
                 
Preseason All-Conference Teams           
First Team          
Troy Caupain, G, Cincinnati*      
Gary Clark, F, Cincinnati*             
Dedric Lawson, G/F, Memphis  
Ben Moore, F, SMU       
Damyean Dotson, G, Houston   
                 
Second Team    
Shake Milton, G, SMU  
Jalen Adams, G, UConn
Jahmal McMurray, G, USF           
Rob Gray, Jr., G, Houston            
B.J. Tyson, G, East Carolina         
                 
* unanimous selection