SMU Mustangs Prepare for Raucous Crowd in NCAA Tournament First Four

Miami (Ohio) campus just an hour from Dayton, where the First Four is held

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:21pm

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The SMU Mustangs are preparing to face a hostile road environment in their NCAA Tournament First Four matchup against Miami (Ohio) in Dayton, Ohio. With Miami (Ohio)'s campus just an hour away from the University of Dayton, where the First Four is held, the Mustangs expect a rowdy crowd cheering against them. SMU coach Andy Enfield hopes the energetic atmosphere can inspire his players, even if the crowd is rooting for the opposition.

Why it matters

SMU struggled on the road this season, going just 3-8 away from their home court. The Mustangs will need to overcome their road woes and embrace the underdog mentality if they want to advance in the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Despite being favored by 7.5 points, the Mustangs enter the game with a chip on their shoulder as the last team selected into the NCAA Tournament field. SMU's players say the boos and energy from the crowd will only motivate them to play harder.

  • The First Four game between SMU and Miami (Ohio) will take place on Wednesday, March 17, 2026.

The players

Andy Enfield

The head coach of the SMU Mustangs basketball team.

Miami (Ohio) RedHawks

The opponent of the SMU Mustangs in the NCAA Tournament First Four game, located just an hour away from the University of Dayton.

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What they’re saying

“I think our players feed off of energy. There will be a lot of energy in our arena tomorrow.”

— Andy Enfield, Head Coach, SMU Mustangs

“The boos and everything against us, that motivates us and makes us go harder.”

— Miller, SMU Mustangs Player

What’s next

The winner of the SMU vs. Miami (Ohio) First Four game will advance to face the #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This First Four matchup will test the Mustangs' ability to overcome their road struggles and embrace the underdog mentality in a hostile environment. SMU will need to channel the energy of the crowd, both positive and negative, to fuel their NCAA Tournament run.