As the guards go, so goes the SMU men's basketball team — and so far they are off and running this season.
The Mustangs brought Boopie Miller and B.J. Edwards back from last season and added Jaron Pierre Jr., giving them a three-headed monster in the backcourt. They are averaging 52.6 points, 14.7 rebounds, 13.5 assists and 5.6 steals per game through 12 games.
"I think if you look at their statistics for the season, Boopie is playing at a very high level, statistically, from points, assists, his efficiency," SMU head coach Andy Enfield said. "B.J. Edwards has been playing very well. He's still playing very well. He was just in a little shooting slump. It was nice for him to make three 3s (against Central Arkansas), get back. He's a good shooter. Then Jaron, same thing. It's all about efficiency with our guards, and they've all improved."
One of the three has been the team's high scorer in every game so far this season. They push each other to be better and make each other better.
"I would definitely say so," Miller said of the three guards feeding off each other. "Because the three guards, those types of guys are the guys who can score, drive and kick, and pick up on defense."
Pierre was the piece SMU needed to add this season. Even though the Mustangs were bringing back a handful of key players, there was a lot of production lost from last season and a lot of young faces joining the team.
He's scored in double digits in all 12 games, including at least 20 in five games. He scored a season-high 35 points in 40 minutes as the Mustangs beat Texas A&M in overtime on Dec. 7.
"He was spectacular on offense with his shot making, shot creation, and that's what we needed," Enfield said after the Texas A&M win in Arlington. "We lost three double-figure scores off of last year's team, and we knew we needed some scoring, and he provides that. He was great (against A&M). … He was really good at making plays for himself and his teammates in the second half, of taking the right shot at the right time. He was great."
Edwards was also tasked with helping more in the scoring department. He averaged 9.9 points per game a year ago and is just under 13 points per game this season. He scored at least 20 points in three of the first six games of the season, including a 24-point, 13-assist, 10-steal triple-double against Arkansas State.
He just missed another triple-double against A&M, finishing with nine points, nine rebounds and 11 assists. The Central Arkansas win had him break out of a 1-for-20 slump from beyond the 3-point line, making three in the win.
"He fills the stat sheet up, and he's a big glue guy, whatever you want to call him. I just call him a really good basketball player," Enfield said of Edwards after the A&M win. "He just does those things on a consistent basis, and that's why he was first team all-defense in the ACC last year and is expected to be this year."
As good as Pierre and Edwards have been this season, it is Miller who makes it all happen.
Miller, just like Pierre, has scored in double figures every game this year, reaching the 20-point mark six times in 12 games, has double-digit assists in three games and has a 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Even though he had a good season a year ago, Miller knew there was work to do this offseason and is never satisfied with where he is.
"I definitely feel (like I've taken it up a notch)," Miller said. "This summer, I worked on my body a lot. I feel like I didn't do that before the season last year. I feel like I did it, but I feel like I can always do more. I definitely think I can take another leap in this."
SMU remained perfect at home this season with the win against Central Arkansas on Sunday, finishing just shy of the 100-point mark. The Mustangs have scored at least 100 points three times, have hit the 90-point mark three other times and are averaging 89.5 points per game this season.
A lot of that has to do with Miller, Edwards and Pierre.
"I think you see 99 points (against Central Arkansas), should have had 100-some. We missed a couple down the last two minutes," Enfield said. "But anytime you have 26 assists and score 99 points, that means your guards are playing pretty well. And those three really had good games."
