The SMU Mustangs are having a tremendous season on the hardwood as they are one of two undefeated teams left in the nation and look like one of the very best teams in college basketball. Unfortunately for them they haven't had quite the same success off the court as they are not eligible for postseason play this year and things continue to get worse. Guard Keith Frazier has now left the program for what is being called personal reasons, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
Frazier was the Mustangs' top scorer off the bench so far this season and was in the middle of having a career year before he decided to leave the team. In 10 games the junior was averaging a career high 11.9 points and 4.4 rebounds and was a big part of the success the Mustangs have had so far this season.
Frazier did not appear in SMU's last game against South Florida and it doesn't seem like he has any intention of returning to the program this season or at all. Some had speculated that the reason Frazier left was because he was unhappy that he was replaced in the starting lineup by freshman Shake Milton but it appears the real reason might be because he felt blamed for the sanctions levied against the SMU basketball program, according to Bill Nichols of the Dallas Morning News.
SMU currently has a postseason ban for this year and head coach Larry Brown was suspended for the teams first nine games all stemming from an issue with Frazier. Frazier was ruled academically ineligible for the second semester of 2015 and after investigating the NCAA found that Frazier had his online coursework finished for him by an administrative assistant back in 2013 in order for him to be eligible as a freshman.
Frazier's departure leaves SMU with just seven scholarship players as this comes on the heels of Duke transfer Semi Ojeleye deciding to red-shirt this season. It is unknown what the future holds for Frazier in terms of basketball as he is currently just taking time with his family to regroup after "hitting a boiling point" with all the negativity surrounding him this year. Frazier was a former McDonald's All-American and is an extremely talented player so we will likely see him again at some point it is just a question of whether he will return to SMU or transfer to another school.
