SMU basketball returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017, but a late slide and First Four loss showed where Andy Enfield’s team still must grow.
SMU basketball is back in the national conversation, and that may be the biggest takeaway from the Mustangs’ 2025-26 season.
In Andy Enfield’s second year, SMU returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017, posted a third straight 20-win season and gave fans a clear sign that the program is trending up in the ACC.
That doesn’t mean the ending was easy to swallow.
The Mustangs saw their season end in the First Four with an 89-79 loss to Miami (Ohio), finishing 20-14 after dropping six of their final seven games.
It was a frustrating exit, especially for a team that had built a strong resume with a NET ranking of 37 and several quality wins.
“If you look at our whole body of work, we deserve to be in the NCAA Tournament,” Enfield said. “With our NET being 37 and the quality of wins, we deserve to be in the tournament.”
For most of the season, SMU looked like one of the ACC’s most dangerous offensive teams.
The Mustangs ranked near the top of the league in scoring, field goal percentage and rebounding. Boopie Miller led the way with 19.1 points and 6.4 assists per game, while Jaron Pierre Jr. added nearly 18 points per contest as another major scoring threat.
Corey Washington stretched defenses by knocking down nearly 40 percent of his 3-pointers, and Samet Yigitoglu gave SMU a steady interior presence.
The biggest swing factor may have been BJ Edwards. His defense, playmaking and conference-leading steals helped balance out a team that struggled to get stops consistently. When Edwards went down late with an ankle injury, SMU’s defensive issues became even harder to cover up.
There were still major moments. The 97-83 win over North Carolina turned heads. The dramatic 77-76 win over Virginia Tech, capped by Miller’s half-court dagger, became one of the season’s signature highlights.
“Yeah, I did,” Miller said when asked if he thought the shot was going in. “I missed too many free throws. So, you know, I knew it was going in.”
SMU didn’t make a March run, but Enfield has clearly built a foundation. Now the next step is making sure the Mustangs don’t just reach the tournament again, but arrive ready to stay.
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