SMU’s Struggle to Compete Against Top Teams in the ACC
UNIVERSITY PARK — In SMU’s first journey into the challenging world of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Clemson remains the Mustangs’ nemesis.
This wasn’t as heartbreaking as a 56-yard field goal on the final play to beat SMU in the ACC championship game in Charlotte. But the Tigers’ 79-69 victory at Moody Coliseum in which the visitors coasted with a big lead much of the second half did not enhance SMU’s NCAA tournament chances.
It’s one thing to have 20 wins with four games to play, to be tied for fourth in the conference with an 11-5 record. That sounds like a resume for a tournament team under ordinary circumstances.
The Problem: Failure to Compete Against Top Teams
SMU’s problem is a failure to compete against the big boys. Duke, Clemson, Louisville, and Wake Forest (the team the Mustangs are tied with) all own double-digit wins over SMU. In fact, all four losses came here at Moody. With Clemson making almost half of its 3-point attempts (14 for 29), the big four have shot better than 42% on 3-pointers in these victories here that have prevented the Mustangs from having a single Quad 1 win this season. Those are defined as home wins over the top 30 (NET ranking), neutral site wins over the top 50 or road wins over the top 75.
Coach Andy Enfield’s Perspective
"We’ve lost to the teams above us, so that’s why we’re where we are in the standings," first-year SMU Coach Andy Enfield said. "We didn’t lose to anybody else except North Carolina on the road. To have 20 wins at this point is a credit to the players, and we still have a lot to play for.
"Our goal on Wednesday night (at Notre Dame, a 97-73 victory) was to go win our 20th game. Not many people thought we could do that. We were picked 13th in the preseason. Now we’ve lost a couple of tough games here at home which is frustrating because you like to win your home games, but when you play at home your best players have to play very well."
Boopie Miller’s Injury and Return
SMU’s best player is junior guard Boopie Miller, the team leader in points and assists. He didn’t play at all Saturday afternoon, missing his third straight game with a foot injury. It’s likely he will return sometime during these last four regular season games and if the Mustangs can stay the course and then pick up a win or two in Charlotte, something around the 25-win mark is likely to earn the team an NCAA berth no matter the quality of all those victories.
Clemson’s Strength
Saturday’s loss came against one of the hottest teams in the country and one that could make a deep run during March Madness. Clemson, an Elite Eight team a year ago before losing to Alabama, starts three players who made that run a year ago. The player the Mustangs had trouble accounting for, though, was 23-year-old guard Jaeden Zackery, a transfer from Boston College who made his first five 3-point tries in the first half.
Coach Brad Brownell’s Thoughts
"I mean SMU has been a great addition. Obviously, it starts with the football team, right?" Brownell said. "Just the success they had there, and you know there’s a lot of support at this school and athletics are important. I anticipate SMU basketball being very good. I mean there are a ton of players in Texas, period, but obviously the D-FW area, this is a hotbed. I think being part of the ACC will help their recruiting. I know it already has."
SMU’s Freshman Class
SMU’s freshman class for next year, which features Jermaine O’Neal Jr. and Jaden Toombs, both nationally ranked players from Dynamic Prep in Irving, is ranked No. 6 in the country by ESPN and No. 7 by 247 Sports. Of course, today’s college game is also about the transfer portal, and Enfield will have to mine that as well as he did in getting Boopie Miller to transfer from Wake Forest this season.
The Hunt for a Tournament Bid
But the hunt for a tournament bid, which would be the school’s first since 2017, is ongoing. The Mustangs hope to pile up some wins this week at Cal and Stanford, regular opponents Enfield faced while coaching USC the last 11 seasons. "We know where to eat, and where not to go," he said.
Conclusion
SMU’s struggle to compete against top teams in the ACC has hindered their NCAA tournament chances. With a 20-5 record, the Mustangs are tied for fourth in the conference, but their inability to win against the big four teams (Duke, Clemson, Louisville, and Wake Forest) has put their tournament hopes in jeopardy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the problem with SMU’s performance in the ACC?
A: SMU’s problem is a failure to compete against the big boys, specifically Duke, Clemson, Louisville, and Wake Forest, who have all beaten them by double digits.
Q: What is the current record of SMU in the ACC?
A: SMU is 11-5 in the conference, tied for fourth place with Wake Forest.
Q: When will Boopie Miller return to the team?
A: It’s likely he will return sometime during these last four regular season games.
Q: What is the impact of the return of Boopie Miller on SMU’s NCAA tournament chances?
A: If the Mustangs can stay the course and pick up a win or two in Charlotte, something around the 25-win mark is likely to earn the team an NCAA berth no matter the quality of all those victories.
