SMU Mustangs Struggle to Regain Footing Ahead of ACC Tournament

Injuries and late-season skid have pushed SMU from NCAA tournament lock to likely needing a deep run in Charlotte to secure a bid.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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The SMU Mustangs men's basketball team has stumbled down the stretch, losing four straight games to close out the regular season and falling from a projected NCAA tournament 6-7 seed to now likely needing help to make the field. An ankle injury to starting guard BJ Edwards has contributed to the Mustangs' struggles, as they've seen their scoring and defense decline without his production. Now the 11-seed in the ACC tournament, SMU will need to make a deep run, likely requiring wins over top-6 Louisville and 3-seed Miami, to convince the selection committee they can still play their best basketball in March.

Why it matters

SMU was once considered a lock for the NCAA tournament, but their late-season collapse has put their March Madness hopes in jeopardy. The Mustangs' struggles highlight how quickly a team's fortunes can change in the high-stakes environment of college basketball's postseason. This story also underscores the impact key injuries can have, especially at the most critical time of the season.

The details

SMU entered the final weeks of the regular season projected as a 6-7 seed in the NCAA tournament, but a four-game losing streak, including a 91-78 defeat at Florida State on Saturday, has pushed them to the bubble. The Mustangs' slide coincides with an ankle injury to starting guard BJ Edwards, who averages 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Without Edwards' production and defense, SMU's scoring has dropped from 86.7 points per game to just 72.8, while their defense has allowed 7 more points per game on average.

  • SMU was projected as a 6-7 seed earlier this season.
  • In late February, SMU was projected around a 10-seed.
  • On March 4, SMU lost 91-78 at Florida State, their fourth straight defeat.
  • The ACC tournament begins on Tuesday, March 11.

The players

Andy Enfield

The head coach of the SMU Mustangs men's basketball team.

BJ Edwards

SMU's starting guard who is averaging 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game before suffering an ankle injury.

Boopie Miller

An SMU player who scored a career-high 32 points in the loss to Florida State.

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What they’re saying

“We're trying to learn how to play without [BJ] in crunch time of the season, which is not the right time to do that. No one's gonna feel sorry for us.”

— Andy Enfield, Head Coach (dallasnews.com)

What’s next

SMU will be the 11-seed in the ACC tournament on Tuesday afternoon in Charlotte and face the 14-seed at 3:30 p.m. CT. That will be either Syracuse (which SMU lost to 79-78) or Wake Forest (which SMU beat 91-79). To change their NCAA tournament outlook, the Mustangs will likely need to win at least two games in the ACC tournament, including victories over No. 6 Louisville and No. 3 Miami.

The takeaway

SMU's late-season collapse serves as a cautionary tale about the fragility of a team's NCAA tournament hopes. Injuries, poor play, and a lack of depth can quickly derail a season that once looked promising. The Mustangs now face an uphill battle to secure a March Madness bid, underscoring the importance of peaking at the right time in college basketball.