sportsSMU Mustangs
SMU basketball scheduling update: Tim Jankovich unhappy with Georgia for trying to get out of game at Moody Coliseum
Additionally, the SMU-Arizona State series is likely canceled, with the possibility it can begin in 2021.
Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Tim Jankovich yells instruction to his players during the first half against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Moody Coliseum in University Park, Texas, Tuesday, November 5, 2019. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
By Sam Blum
4:35 PM on Oct 5, 2020 CDT
If there's one thing that can be said about 2020, it's that no plan is safe from alteration or cancellation.
The 2020 SMU men's basketball schedule is no exception. After putting together a strong nonconference slate, some previously planned games are no longer on the books.
The Arizona State-SMU series, which was supposed to start in Tempe on Nov. 13, will no longer be played, SMU coach Tim Jankovich told The Dallas Morning News.
And it's likely that the Georgia-SMU game, which was scheduled to take place on Nov. 25 at Moody Coliseum, will not take place either.
"They're trying to get out of that, and probably can do it," Jankovich said. "Ethically, not so much. The fact [is] they have wiggle room right now, they don't want to return the game."
The reasons for the wiggle room are a bit complicated. The NCAA pushed back the start of the college basketball season from Nov. 10 to Nov. 25, making all scheduling contracts before Nov. 25 basically null and void — i.e., the SMU-Arizona State series.
The SMU-Georgia game is scheduled right on Nov. 25. So, in theory, it doesn't have to be voided. But that game is part of a multi-team event called the Global Sports Invitational. Technically, SMU's participation in the multi-team event starts on Nov. 22.
Georgia's position, according to a team spokesman, is that the multi-team event was canceled by the event organizer.
Jankovich feels as though SMU went to Georgia last season only because it agreed to do a home-and-home series. Jankovich feels Georgia should hold up its end of the bargain and come play at SMU this season. In his mind, there is nothing preventing Georgia from coming to Moody Coliseum.
"Ethically, I have issues because, in good faith, we entered into a home-and-home. And we went there last year," Jankvoich said.
SMU is still scheduled to play Wofford, which is noteworthy because Wofford was the other team that SMU was playing in that multi-team event. It's unclear what date SMU will play the Terriers this season.
SMU also still has Dayton, Vanderbilt and UNLV on its schedule. As of now, SMU doesn't plan to add any additional games. It is still trying to salvage playing a multi-team event, which would allow SMU to play a 27-game schedule. Because of that, it's possible a multi-team event of some kind could still be added to SMU's schedule.
"It's not like we're depleted in any way, but we had an incredible schedule," Jankovich said. "You know, we really did. You add Arizona State and Georgia to it, and it's about as good a schedule as we've maybe ever had."
SMU lost 87-85 in double overtime at Georgia in the first game of the series last season.
Jankovich is optimistic that the Arizona State series can be rescheduled to begin next year.
New assistant: Jankovich said he's been familiar with new assistant coach John Cooper for a long time, but didn't know him well.
Cooper had been a special assistant to the head coach at Oklahoma State and was previously a head coach at Tennessee State and Miami (Ohio).
"A lot of people had great interest," Jankovich said. "Of course, in our business, there's an awful lot of people trying to get very few spots. That's just the way college basketball works. ... Just his background and profile and recommendations were just a tremendous package."
Jankovich will not immediately replace the role of associate head coach, previously filled by K.T. Turner, who recently took the same role at Texas.
Transfer awaits eligibility ruling: Jankovich said that Oklahoma State transfer Yor Anei has not yet been cleared by the NCAA to be eligible to play this season. Anei is hoping to receive a waiver to play immediately for the Mustangs.
Related: Police kick out SMU student section mid-game after crowd didn't adhere to mask-wearing, social-distancing protocols
Find more SMU stories from The Dallas Morning News here.
Sam Blum, Staff Writer. Sam covers SMU athletics and the Texas Rangers for The Dallas Morning News, and previously covered Auburn University athletics for AL.com. He's also covered University of Virginia athletics for The Daily Progress in Charlottesville. He graduated from Syracuse University.
Top Sports Stories
Los Angeles Chargers hire ex-Cowboys OC Kellen Moore to same position
3 takeaways from Texas' win over Baylor: Six-game losing streak against the Bears snapped
Only 31 games remain but can Luka Doncic, Mavs still claim a playoff spot in the West?
College basketball poll: Baylor Bears continue climb in AP rankings
Photos: Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham visits, donates to his former elementary school in Grand Prairie
UNT just landed one of its highest-rated recruits ever in Houston linebacker Jayven Anders
South Oak Cliff three-star linebacker Dylan Brown-Turner commits to Florida State
Back from injury, Abbie Boutilier is helping Flower Mound reach new heights
Dallas-area basketball, soccer games postponed due to winter storm warning
Ticket Ticker
Get the latest D-FW sports news, analysis, scores and more.