There's a lot to learn about this year's Mustangs.

Everything is new: the coaches, the players, the system and the culture.

The first thing head coach Adia Barnes wants you to know is, "I'm here to create something special."

"We want to make this an incredible environment for women's basketball," Barnes said. "We have a great city. We have great people here supporting us. It's an amazing school. We just need support from the community. We need to build this, and we have the perfect venue, in Moody Coliseum for women's basketball. Step by step, I want to create something special. I think an amazing environment helps you win games."

The first time to see the new-look Mustangs in a game that counts, is the home opener on Tuesday, November 4, when they take on Grambling State at 11 a.m. at Moody Coliseum. It's Education Day, so plenty of children will be in attendance. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX and on the SMU Mobile App.

Other games to circle on the schedule include Kansas State on November 8 – they received votes in the preseason AP poll – Texas Tech on November 13 and Arkansas on December 4, which is part of the ACC/SEC Tournament Challenge.

But really, every game is going to be challenging and competitive as Barnes schedules teams with different looks during the non-conference to help prepare her squad for the rest of the season. And no team is ever a cakewalk. As she pointed out, teams you wouldn't expect were losing in exhibitions and scrimmages.

"I don't take any team lightly," Barnes said. "I'm focused on us getting better every day. (Of course, we look at) who we are playing but there are certain things we have to improve on. I'm more focused on things like, 'OK, how do we get better? What's the daily process of us getting better? What does that look like?'"

As far as chemistry goes, Barnes was thoughtful in the players and the people she brought in when putting together the team last spring. Everyone came in with the same purpose: to have a great season and help put SMU back on the map.

The Mustangs had a seemingly easy connection once they arrived on campus over the summer. Graduate guard Tyi Skinner said it was all about being intentional about what they are trying to do at SMU.

"We understand that we're a new team," Skinner said. "We all came here buying into Coach Barnes and her vision, and we all want to win. You have to put action behind those words. … Just putting in that work and being intentional about hanging out off the court. Getting to know each other, trying to make each other better and wanting the best for each other. … I think we do have a special group this year."

So special that early internal expectations for the Mustangs include being in the top half of the ACC.

Barnes added, "I think it would be an amazing year if we made the NCAA Tournament. I think if we click right and we put some things together, we have the potential to do something special."

Who to watch
Barnes' fun, pro-style system includes playing on both ends of the court. A tenacious defense that creates offense. There will also be a lot of scoring. Barnes said they can shoot the 3, are versatile and much more athletic than her teams in the past.
While Barnes is not ready to share her starting five just yet, she was quick to talk about the Mustangs to keep an eye on.

It all starts with Skinner, who averaged 16.8 points, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals last year at Arizona State. She is always someone opposing coaches' game plan, as she is hard to stop.

"Tyi is a really good shooter," Barnes said. "She's a fun player to watch. She loves to drive and collapse the defense and kick out the shooters. She's a great person, too. I think once the fans get to know her, they fall in love with her. Her personality is amazing and super contagious."

Next up is senior guard Kyla Deck, who transferred from North Texas. She averaged 10.4 points and 2.1 steals per game last year. She can also play on both ends of the court. She can play denial defense, is athletic and can shoot. Barnes also pointed out that Deck is one of the toughest Mustangs.

One of the youngsters on a roster that leans heavily towards upperclassmen (10 of 15) is sophomore guard Zahra King, a transfer from Cal. As a freshman on a packed Golden Bears team, she played in 19 games and averaged 2.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and dished 10 assists.

"Zahra is a lefty, really athletic, and her handles are on a string," Barnes said. "She shoots the ball well. She has these amazing moves, like 'Wow! Where did that come from?' She's also a super high-IQ student, really smart. She's in the Cox Business School, which is really hard to get into. You can be a 4.0 student and not get in. She's the total package."

Grace Hall, a senior forward who transferred from Penn State, shot nearly 46% from the floor last season. She is another experienced player, who Barnes said has "an extremely high basketball IQ, makes our offense flow and is really good at distributing the ball from the post. She knows the right reads."

Another guard in the mix is senior Jzaniya Harriel, a transfer from Stanford. She shot almost 40% from the field and 43% from beyond the 3-point line last season. On the floor, she is "really calm, poised, super analytic, understands the game, has a very high basketball IQ and is from a winning program," Barnes said.

Two players who came with Barnes from Arizona, senior guard Paulina Paris and junior forward Sahnya Jah, may have seen the most growth during the offseason.

"Paulina is playing at a really high level," Barnes said. "She's doing a good job running our team. I think she's been one of our most consistent players as far as shooting the ball. She's improved her mid-range game. She's improved significantly defensively, like night and day. She knows our system, and I think she'll have a great year."

Meanwhile, Jah, who is athletic and has always had a lot of potential, came in ready, in "phenomenal shape," Barnes said.

"She's taking care of the basketball right now," Barnes said. "She's shooting the three better. She's just improved so much. She's playing a lot more in control with purpose, playing inside now, playing multiple positions for us. I think she's going to have a great year, too."