DALLAS — So far, it's been a stunning year for SMU athletics following the school's realignment to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Now, Mustang basketball is taking center stage against new foes -- and they'll be doing so with a new coach.
While there may be some uncertainties coming into the season, the good news for the Mustangs is that head coach Andy Endfield is no stranger to the game. Before his most recent 11-year stint at USC, Enfield captivated the nation in 2013 when he guided Florida Gulf Coast to a historic NCAA Tournament run that earned the team the nickname “Dunk City.”
This run served as a launchpad for his already-blossoming coaching career, giving him enough credibility to earn a job with the USC Trojans.
Enfield said while at USC, his coaching staff made it a point to recruit within the Southern California region, the home of the university, and now that he's in Dallas -- he said his method hasn't changed.
"We're doing the same thing here at SMU," Enfield said at SMU Basketball's Media Day. "We're recruiting a lot of Texas high school players to have them come, take ownership of this program. SMU has a great reputation so we can fill in those recruiting spots with some national high school players."
Enfield has already made a significant impact on recruiting in Texas. He announced that SMU’s 2025 recruiting class will be the highest-ranked in program history, highlighted by three four-star recruits, including Jermaine O’Neal Jr., the son of former NBA All-Star Jermaine O’Neal.
Attracting talented players from within the state's high schools is a necessary part of building any program, along with bringing in transfers, which is something Enfield has not been timid about.
The new head coach has brought in seven transfers while returning three starters from last season.
"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," Enfield said. "So it's fun to be around those guys. They all have different experiences, play in different systems, different coaching staffs."
Some of the transfers have contributed immensely so far during the 2024-2025 season. Kevin "Boopie" Miller is averaging 18.4 points and 6.2 assists per game and Yohan Traore is averaging 10.2 points and six rebounds per game.
As the Mustangs navigate the first month of the regular season, they are set to conclude non-conference play on Dec. 3 before opening ACC competition against Virginia on Dec. 7.
Just under a month later, SMU will host the perennial powerhouse Duke Blue Devils on Jan. 4 and then travel to North Carolina to face the Tar Heels on Jan. 7.
While this may seem like a daunting task for most schools -- especially ones that are new to the conference -- Enfield said he feels excited to be a part of these big games with historically good teams.
"I've always had a special place in my heart because I grew up an ACC basketball fan and now with the addition of certain schools like Notre Dame, Louisville, Syracuse -- the ACC has grown and now SMU and Cal and Stanford," Enfield explained. "So it's a tremendous conference and just excited to go to some of these cities that I haven't been to and compete."
Despite the challenges ahead in the ACC, Enfield isn't going to necessarily be taking on hell with a squirt gun. With a solid mix of seasoned transfers and a strong 2025 recruiting class, he's confident the Mustangs will be able to compete, even if it's not this year.
Enfield also believes Dallas' passionate basketball fanbase will provide the necessary momentum when the Mustangs compete in big games.
"It is a basketball city, in my opinion," Enfield said. "I don't know what you think, but when the Mavericks went to the championship game, this city was great to be in and you just feel the energy walking down the street. We hope to bring some of that magic to Moody Coliseum."
With a strong foundation being built and the support of a basketball-energized city behind them, the road to success for the Mustangs may not be easy -- but it's certainly one worth watching.
