SMU's Boopie Miller Carries on March Madness Legacy of Cousin Sterling Brown

Miller led the Mustangs back to the NCAA Tournament after a 9-year drought, following in the footsteps of his cousin who helped the team reach the Big Dance twice in the 2010s.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:22pm

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Boopie Miller, a senior point guard for the SMU Mustangs, has led the team back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 9 years. Miller's cousin, Sterling Brown, played for SMU from 2013-2017 and helped the team reach the tournament in 2015 and 2017. Brown's mentorship and advice played a key role in Miller's decision to commit to SMU, and now Miller looks to do something Brown never accomplished - lead the Mustangs to an NCAA Tournament win.

Why it matters

The Miller-Brown family connection represents a continued legacy of March Madness success for SMU basketball, which has struggled to consistently make the NCAA Tournament in recent years. Miller's leadership has reignited excitement around the program, and his tournament appearance could help raise the profile of SMU hoops nationally.

The details

In his second and final season, the 6'1" senior point guard Miller led the Mustangs to a 23-10 record and an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, averaging 19.2 points and 6.4 assists per game. His cousin Sterling Brown, who played for SMU from 2013-2017, helped the Mustangs reach the tournament in 2015 and 2017, but never won a tournament game. Brown was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2017 NBA Draft and has played for several NBA teams.

  • Miller arrived at SMU two seasons ago in 2024.
  • Brown played for SMU from 2013-2017.
  • Brown led SMU to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2015 and 2017.
  • Miller led SMU to the NCAA Tournament in 2026, ending a 9-year drought.

The players

Boopie Miller

A senior point guard for the SMU Mustangs who led the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 9 years, averaging 19.2 points and 6.4 assists per game in his final season.

Sterling Brown

Boopie Miller's cousin, who played for SMU from 2013-2017 and helped lead the Mustangs to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2015 and 2017. Brown was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2017 NBA Draft and has played for several NBA teams.

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What they’re saying

“I talk to him a lot. He be motivating me, just telling me to keep going and keep winning. He said I can go in there and make my mark, and that's what I did.”

— Boopie Miller, SMU Guard (dallasnews.com)

What’s next

SMU will face off against the winner of the First Four matchup in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, looking to win their first tournament game since 2017.

The takeaway

Boopie Miller's leadership has reignited March Madness excitement around SMU basketball, as he looks to build on his cousin Sterling Brown's legacy and lead the Mustangs to their first NCAA Tournament win in nearly a decade.