The SMU Mustangs ignite Moody Coliseum offense, aiming to dominate the struggling Irish and surge in ACC standings.
SMU basketball returns home Tuesday night with a chance to strengthen its position in the ACC standings as Notre Dame comes to Moody Coliseum for a primetime conference matchup.
Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT, and the Mustangs enter the game trending in the right direction at the perfect time.
SMU has been one of the most efficient offensive teams in the ACC all season. The Mustangs lead the league in scoring at 86.4 points per game and rank near the top in shooting efficiency, hitting 49.6 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from three-point range.
Ball movement has also been a major strength, with SMU averaging 17.3 assists per game, the second-best in the conference.
Much of that success starts in the backcourt.
Boopie Miller, B.J. Edwards, and Jaron Pierre form one of the ACC’s most reliable guard trios, each ranking among the league leaders in minutes played.
Their ability to create offense, push tempo, and stretch the floor makes SMU difficult to defend for a full 40 minutes - especially at home, where the Mustangs are 12-2 this season.
Notre Dame arrives in Dallas facing an uphill climb.
The Irish are 11-13 overall and 2-9 in ACC play, including an 0-5 road record since conference play began. While Notre Dame showed flashes earlier in the season, consistency has been hard to find, particularly away from home. That contrast is amplified against an SMU team that can score in waves and rarely struggles to reach the 80-point mark.
SMU is also coming off a confidence-boosting 86-67 road win at Pittsburgh, a performance that may signal the Mustangs are finding their rhythm again after a brief midseason dip.
If SMU controls the tempo and continues to shoot at its usual efficiency, the Mustangs will put significant pressure on a Notre Dame team that lacks the offensive firepower to trade baskets.
With conference momentum on the line, SMU has every reason to be aggressive from the opening tip.