3. SMU: The Mustangs haven’t reached the NCAA tournament since 1993 but the future looks promising under hall of fame coach Larry Brown, who returned to the college ranks last season. After a mediocre first season, Brown’s biggest accomplishment at the school thus far includes landing McDonald’s All-American and top recruit Keith Frazier. Additionally, all five of SMU’s starters — including Nick Russell and Jalen Jones — return. Top junior college prospect Yanick Moreira will join the roster and Illinois State transfer Nic Moore is now eligible. Other starter candidates include top recruit Sterling Brown, Illinois transfer Crandall Head, and Villanova transfer Markus Kennedy. Unlike last season, Brown will have depth to work with. With all the returning and arriving talent, it’d be difficult to label this team a Cinderella, but a huge turnaround might not come to fruition until March. SMU could easily be that No. 8 or No. 9 seed that advances farther than expected in the field of 68.