SMU Basketball Embarks on a New Era in the ACC

As SMU's football team continues to battle through its ACC schedule, the university's men's basketball team is gearing up for a season of change. With a new head coach, Andy Enfield, and an almost entirely new roster, the Mustangs are poised to make their mark in one of the nation's top basketball conferences.

Unlocking the Potential of a Revamped Roster

Enfield's Arrival Sparks Transfers and Retains Top Talent

The decision to bring in Andy Enfield as the new head coach has proven to be a pivotal move for the SMU basketball program. Enfield's success at USC has not only attracted high-level transfers to the Mustangs but also convinced key returners to stay and contribute to the team's success.Chuck Harris, Keon Ambrose-Hylton, and B.J. Edwards, who were rotation players last year, saw Enfield's track record and believed he could help them reach their ultimate goal of making the NCAA tournament. "He talked to me a little bit about the guys he was trying to bring in," Harris said. "Obviously, it's my final year in college, so I was hoping to go out on a high note and make the NCAA tournament, and he has similar plans to me. We connected pretty easily on that."The new transfers, such as Jerrell Colbert from Kansas State, have also expressed their confidence in Enfield's approach. "He believes in me and believes in all of us," Colbert said. "The staff was telling me how they wanted me to bring my real self, my real basketball self out. They're bringing my confidence out for sure."

Experienced Transfers Bring ACC Expertise

As SMU transitions to the ACC, the team has welcomed two transfers with previous experience in the conference. Wake Forest transfer Kevin "Boopie" Miller and UMass transfer Matt Cross, who played at Miami and Louisville, are expected to play key roles for the Mustangs."SMU is transitioning to the ACC, and we have two players on our team that have already played in the ACC, so that's a big advantage," Enfield said. "But a lot of our guys have power-conference experience, and they have transferred once or twice and now they've all come together here to try to compete for an ACC championship."Both Miller and Cross are confident in the team's ability to compete at the highest level. "I feel like this group has all the pieces to go really far in not just the ACC but into March," Cross said. "It's just going to come down to what I feel like a lot of teams come down to — how you plan on the court and how you handle adversity."

Returning Players Provide Valuable Leadership

While the roster has undergone significant changes, SMU's three returning rotation players – Harris, Ambrose-Hylton, and Edwards – are expected to play crucial roles in the team's success. Enfield has praised Harris, the team's second-leading scorer last season, for his outstanding shooting and playmaking abilities.The returning players' experience and leadership will be invaluable in guiding the new-look Mustangs. "They've been seasoned. They've been in college for a long time," said transfer Kevin Miller. "So they're definitely teaching the young guys all the little things that are gonna help us win big games down the road."

Building Chemistry in a Diverse Roster

With a roster that features a mix of returners and transfers from various backgrounds, the primary focus for the Mustangs in the coming weeks is to build chemistry both on and off the court. The team has been working on developing a rapport through early practices and by attending football games together.Despite the unfamiliarity, the players are optimistic about their ability to come together as a cohesive unit. "At first, I was kind of hesitant because there were only three guys coming back and everyone else was transfers," said Ambrose-Hylton. "But after the first week, things went great. A lot of guys knew each other from previous schools. … I think we're in a very good place."

Embracing the Challenge of the ACC

The move to the ACC has generated a palpable sense of excitement within the SMU basketball program. Players like Harris and Cross are eager to compete at the highest level, with Harris expressing his desire to "leave [his] mark on college basketball the best that [he] can."For Enfield, the transition to the ACC holds personal significance, as he grew up watching the conference and has always had a "special place in [his] heart" for ACC basketball. The opportunity to coach in such a prestigious conference, with its big stages and national exposure, is a challenge the Mustangs are eager to embrace.As SMU embarks on this new era in the ACC, the team's focus on building chemistry, leveraging experienced transfers, and capitalizing on the leadership of its returning players will be crucial in their quest to make a statement in one of the nation's top basketball conferences.