SMU starting big man Markus Kennedy will be ineligible for the first semester, a source close to the situation told ESPN.

The 6-foot-9 senior averaged 12.4 points and 7.1 rebounds last season.

This is a significant blow for an SMU team that was also supposed to have elite freshman Emmanuel Mudiay. However, Mudiay is playing in China.

Larry Brown's team is ranked 22nd in both the Preseason AP and the Coaches Poll.