Morning Rumble: Mudiay says Mustangs could have won the NCAA title, Kentucky's Hawkins has surgery

Today in the Morning Rumble, Emmanuel Mudiay talks SMU hoops, scouts are interested in Josh Jackson and Kentucky has lost a bench player for the next month.

Boy have things changed at SMU. Before last season, the Mustangs were projected to be one of the top ten teams in the nation thanks to the presence of top recruit, Emmanuel Mudiay, but weeks later Mudiay decided to take his talents overseas to play in China. Now the program is facing NCAA sanctions and a Larry Brown suspension.

Mudiay is making Mustang fans feel even worse as he told reporters that 'SMU would have won the title with me.'

2016 five-star small forward Josh Jackson is ranked third on ESPN's top 100 recruiting list and NBA scouts are already starting to rave about his talent. He has current offers from Arizona, Duke, Kansas, Michigan State, Kentucky, Louisville, UCLA, UNLV, North Carolina and Maryland.

Kentucky has depth but not to the extent of last season especially after their latest injury. Guard Dominique Hawkins needs surgery on a broken right hand after injuring it during practice. Hawkins is a solid defender who received very few minutes last season but was making progressions this offseason to help Calipari off the bench.

This is an outstanding gesture from Notre Dame as the school will give students free tickets to their college basketball games this season. Sure, there is no more Jerian Grant but with the Irish play in the ACC and future pro Demetrius Jackson will be taking the court. Students should take advantage of this opportunity right away!

Great insight from NBC Sports' Rob Dauster as he explains why Rick Pitino will keep his job at Louisville despite the swirling escort scandal. It's hard to believe that Pitino would have knowledge of the situation for four years and let this form of prostitution surround his program but certainly more details are needed to make an ultimate conclusion.

Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks have given more information on Cheick Diallo to the NCAA and are still awaiting word on whether the big man from Mali will be eligible in 2015-16. Diallo will be a critical piece to the team's front court as his motor, rebounding, ability to run the floor, toughness and energy will help free up opportunities for both Carlton Bragg and senior Perry Ellis.

Who is college basketball's most under appreciated player? Is it Bryce Alford? DeAndre Bembry? Nic Moore? or is it a player completely off the nation's radar in Jalan West? Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports has it covered, giving us the top 15 under appreciated talents in the country for the upcoming season.