Yankovich Named AAC Coach of the Year

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (SMU) – SMU’s Tim Jankovich was named the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, and junior Semi Ojeleye was named the Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Jankovich, who is one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year award, led No. 12/15 SMU to the American Athletic Conference regular season title following a 27-4 regular-season record, including a 17-1 mark in conference play. Jankovich owns the best winning percentage by an NCAA coach at their current school (.900, 36-4) and has the most wins among coaches in their first full season at their current school (27). He remains undefeated at Moody Coliseum (25-0), as the Mustangs finished 18-0 at home this season, the first perfect home record since 1955-56.

Ojeleye ranks near the top of The American in points (18.5, 3rd AAC), rebounds (6.5, 16th AAC), field goal percentage (48.4, 9th AAC) and 3-point percentage (43.1, 2nd AAC). The junior has scored 10 or more points in 30 of 31 games, including the last 23, and has 20 or more points in 11 contests this season. His on-court success also earned him a spot on the All-Conference first team and the USBWA All-District VII team. During the regular season, Ojeleye was named The American Player of the Week twice, along with earning AAC Weekly Honor Roll six times. This is the third straight year an SMU player has won the Player of the Year award. Nic Moore won the honor the previous two seasons.

In the classroom, the junior maintains a 3.65 GPA in psychology, and earned a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-America second team.

The Mustangs have won 13 straight, and 23 of its last 24 games. SMU has held 22 of their last 24 opponents to 66 points or less. For the season, SMU ranks third in the nation in scoring defense (59.4) and field goal defense (38.5), second in rebound margin (+9.8), sixth in scoring margin (15.2) and seventh in assist turnover ratio (1.5).

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