SMU (0-0) vs Tarleton State (0-0)
David B. Miller Court at Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Monday, November 4, 2024 – 7:30 p.m. CT
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There is a lot of 'new' surrounding the SMU men's basketball program entering the season that begins on Monday night.

The Mustangs have a new coach, new players and are in a new conference. An era with new excitement and optimism begins with Monday's 7:30 p.m. game against Tarleton State at Moody Coliseum.

"It's exciting. We're all excited," first-year SMU head coach Andy Enfield said. "Our players, our coaching staff, the surrounding SMU community, a lot of students we've spoken to are excited for this basketball season, to go in the ACC, to be the first time SMU's ever played in the ACC. We'll take the court Monday as an ACC member and there's nothing better than that to compete at the highest level of college basketball."

Enfield was brought in to lead the Mustangs into their inaugural ACC season and a roster rebuild. Only three scholarship players return from last season — B.J. Edwards, Chuck Harris and Keon Ambrose-Hylton. 

He brought in seven transfers and another high school signee to join the two others to create the team that will usher in a new era of SMU basketball. 

That involves a learning process they have all been going through.

"I think every team is different," Enfield said. "As a coaching staff, we try to play to our strengths and sometimes as you have new players, you have to coach them awhile before you really understand what everybody's strengths (are) and also how you can do that out of a team concept. We're learning our roster. I think the preseason — the scrimmages, the games, the intra squad scrimmages — we've had has really helped everybody."

Going into the season, Enfield has seen some things that can be the strong suit of this year's team. He's also seen some things that have to be worked on through the early part of the schedule.

But that's what it's there for.

"These games, starting Monday, are very important for us to try to set an identity with our team, set an identity for our individuals," Enfield said. "We have to come out of this preseason knowing who we are going into ACC play. ACC play starts early this year, the first week of December. … That's how we'll try to prepare for it and try to improve dramatically here from the first game through December."

Harris, Ambrose-Hylton and Boopie Miller have been named the team captains. Miller brings ACC experience with him after spending last season at Wake Forest. Fellow transfer Matt Cross also has experience in the conference, playing at Miami and Louisville before his latest stop at UMass.

Tibet Görener played at Arizona, Kario Oquendo at Georgia at Oregon, Jerrell Colbert at LSU and Kansas State and Yohan Traore at Auburn. AJ George comes from a mid-major, but made the NCAA tournament last season with Long Beach State. 

"They're all about the team," Enfield said. "They know that they have to perform as individuals, but within a team concept. They're veteran guys, we have a good mix of youth and our three freshmen have been very, very good. They're improving, but we'll rely on our veterans, especially early in the season."

The Mustangs have played in a scrimmage, an exhibition and some scrimmages against each other, but they have never been at full strength. That includes Colbert who missed the exhibition at Oklahoma State and true freshman Samet Yiğitoğlu who is awaiting to be cleared by the NCAA. 

The ability to score is emerging as an early strength for this year's team. But a lot of that is based on talent. The defensive side of things is more about the scheme and working together, which takes time.

"Probably our offensive ability to score the basketball and create for each other," Enfield said of this team's strength so far. "Defensively, we have some things to work on, it's been a work in progress. We have the ability to be a good defensive team, especially when we get everybody out there on the court. We have great size and length on our team. But the offense is probably a little ahead of the defense early on."

One thing is for sure, Enfield, his staff, the transfers, the freshmen and the returners didn't come or stay at SMU without goals in mind. They don't want to just go through the motions. They want to show they belong, like other programs have already done in their first ACC seasons.

"I think our expectations were, this will be a very competitive team. They've matched that. They play hard, they practice hard. I think early in the season there are always things that surprise a coaching staff, individual players as well as what the team can do together. We're hopeful those surprises are on the positive side."