SMU picked to win AAC despite postseason ban

SMU coach Larry Brown and his two star players, Nic Moore and Markus Kennedy, sat quietly at a table tucked about 100 paces from the court at the Amway Center Tuesday morning.

Definitely not a spot fitting for the defending American Athletic Conference champions, yet somewhat ironic when you consider all that has fallen on the Mustangs basketball program in recent weeks.

In late September, the NCAA's Committee on Infractions cited SMU's men's basketball program for multiple violations, including academic fraud and unethical conduct. The Mustangs were banned from participating in the 2015-16 postseason including the conference tournament to be played in Orlando. Brown was cited for lack of…