ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE BASKETBALL TIPOFF MEDIA DAY

October 9, 2024

Andy Enfield

Boopie Miller

Chuck Harris

SMU Mustangs

Men's Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Coach Enfield.

Q. It's been 13 years since you were in the ACC back then as an assistant with Florida State. What does it mean to be back in the conference, and what did you learn from Leonard Hamilton about the league?

ANDY ENFIELD: Well, it's a great conference with the storied tradition of a lot of teams, programs, and great basketball. Coach Hamilton was in my opinion a Hall of Fame coach. Been doing this for over 50 years.

To be one of his assistant coaches for five seasons gave me great insight into the ACC as a conference, but also he gave me insight into how to build a basketball program. Gave me a lot of responsibilities as an assistant coach, so I'm just thrilled to be back here 13, 14 years later.

Q. Coach, to be in a unique situation with you coming into SMU and then SMU coming into the ACC, just bring me into that as the school itself is experiencing a new horizon, so are you.

ANDY ENFIELD: There's a lot of energy in the city of Dallas around SMU community for the ACC. To play in this league, to have the quality of teams that are going to come in on a weekly basis into Moody Coliseum is really exciting. What the Mavericks did for the city to go to the championship, you could just feel the energy. We feel that at SMU now, the energy of going into the ACC. We can't wait for the season to start.

THE MODERATOR: Of the eight transfers, six average double figures in college before arriving in Dallas. With so much scoring, with so much power, how do you manage that rotation? But as importantly, how do you manage the expectation for the time to be playing with these student-athletes knowing that everybody can contribute?

ANDY ENFIELD: That's right. We have seven transfers. Three returning players and three freshmen. We just signed one freshman from overseas in the summer.

Brand new team. We've had players with big game experience, like the two gentlemen here with Boopie and Chuck. Quite a few of our players have played in the power conferences before and played in some high-profile and big games.

So we have a very experienced basketball team, and as far as individual goals they came here to try to win a championship, and they know they have to do that together. How many points you average doesn't matter. We have to have scoring obviously, but we're so impressed as a coaching staff with their attitude, their unselfish spirit, and they know that they have to rely on each other to have a season we want to have.

Q. Coming from USC and coming into the ACC and to the Atlantic Coast and then seeing Stanford and Cal, Pacific Coast teams coming in that are familiar obviously to the PAC and your history there, what does that say about realignment that unique world that you have lived in to leave the PAC and now some of the PAC is in the ACC?

ANDY ENFIELD: Well, it's interesting. I loved the Bay Area trip. Great food, great hotels, so that was one of my favorite trips of the season. So we're very familiar with the Bay Area.

But Cal and Stanford are great institutions, have great sports. It is ironic to go to SMU and then have them come and be the three new teams here in the ACC.

But the travel and the conference realignment, it is what it is. At USC joining the Big Ten with UCLA and then Washington and Oregon following, the travel for the West Coast teams I think is going to be very tough and challenging, especially academically.

Dallas is in a much better location. We can go to everywhere within an hour and a half, maybe two-hour flight, and then get back for class. The wear and tear on your bodies as student-athletes and coaching staff will be manageable at SMU.

THE MODERATOR: Following up the coaching staff comment you made a moment ago, describe having your staff from USC with you in this transition. How much of an asset is that to you?

ANDY ENFIELD: Well, as a head coach, you're only as good as your assistant coaches, your staff, and your players. We have great players, but my staff, it's such an advantage. When I made the decision as a head coach to go to SMU, leave USC, weren't sure how many staff would follow, but they all did, and very fortunate.

Kurtis Schultz, our strength coach, has been with us 12 years. Chris Capko, our associate head coach, same thing. Mike Swets and Eric Mobley, Jay Morris, Kurt Karis. So it's a big advantage.

Then hiring Dana Ford, who has ten years of head coaching experience, and Jeremie Hart and Jack Chu from the Indiana Pacers. We feel like it's a group that can get in the work every day and we enjoy being around each other where.

As a head coach it means so much to be able to walk on the court, and everybody knows what we're supposed to be doing.

THE MODERATOR: When we think about the student-athletes that you could have brought with all of the power, star power that you have, how is it you decided on these two young men?

ANDY ENFIELD: Boopie Miller played in the ACC last year. Had a very successful season as a team and individual. He's a leader. He's one of our lead guards and just a wonderful player to coach because he's all about the team and making his teammates better.

Then in Chuck Harris, another league guard. He had a great year last year, shooting 40% from the three-point line as our best shooter. He's just improved so much in this offseason. We're really excited as a program to see what these guys can do together and lead our team.

THE MODERATOR: Coach, thank you. You can switch spots with Boopie. Questions for Boopie, please.

Q. You know the league pretty well. How is it that you will use your knowledge of the ACC in imparting what to expect from your teammates?

BOOPIE MILLER: Basically being in the league last year helped a lot make a name for myself as well. Coming into the league this year you know just giving that exposure to my teammates, letting them know what's going to happen and the type of crowds and arenas we go to. Just helping them on that standpoint and just trying to win games moving forward.

Q. Just kind of going off of that experience in the ACC being at Wake Forest and knowing what this conference looks like, do you feel that it's not getting the respect that it deserves and that maybe that can change this season? We hear undervalued from the Commissioner. Do you get a sense for that as well having played within it and knowing the talent that's in this conference?

BOOPIE MILLER: I definitely feel like it's going to come. We have a lot of NBA players that came out of the ACC, so the respect is going to come both ways, so competing every single night and bringing the new three teams to this league is going to help us get better and better in the ACC.

Q. Hardest arenas to play in.

BOOPIE MILLER: Hardest arenas to play in I would say the NC State arena. The fans were crazy. It was loud. The loudest gym I've ever played in, so I would definitely say the NC State arena.

THE MODERATOR: On a lighter note, for those that don't know, how did the name Boopie come about?

BOOPIE MILLER: My mom's brother name was Boobie who passed away, so she put the P at the end and called me Boopie.

Q. Building on that question, what's your mom call you when she gets really mad at you? Does she use your middle name?

BOOPIE MILLER: She calls me Boopie. She don't really use the -- I know moms say the whole name, but she calls me Boopie. But she doesn't really get mad at me. I'm a good kid, so that's good.

THE MODERATOR: Describe Chuck Harris in one word.

BOOPIE MILLER: Spectacular.

THE MODERATOR: Let's switch places. Chuck, describe Boopie in one word.

CHUCK HARRIS: Easygoing.

THE MODERATOR: It's hyphenated. We'll take that. Questions for Chuck, please.

Q. Chuck, what should the ACC and the country know about what SMU is bringing to the table here in 2024/25?

CHUCK HARRIS: I think we're going to be an exciting team to watch. High-level play, high-level possessions, and we're just going to be fun to watch in each and every game.

THE MODERATOR: When you look at the roster, there are quite a big number of your teammates that come from pretty much all over the country and beyond. It's almost like a melting pot. So many different styles of basketball coming into Dallas. What is it that you have learned from your teammates to this point, and how do you think these different styles are going to be a benefit to the Mustangs this year?

CHUCK HARRIS: I think we're a very experienced team. We have a lot of older guys, and I think just all our knowledge coming from different places and different leagues, it's gelled well in practice, and I think it's going to gel well in games.

Q. SMU has embraced obviously the city of Dallas and wearing that on a lot of different things. We've seen jerseys and just kind of designs that really lean on Dallas, Texas. What does it mean to you to represent Dallas and to have that culture and that city right around you?

CHUCK HARRIS: I think Dallas is a big sports city. We've got teams like the Cowboys and the Mavericks, but we don't really got no college team to back it up.

Definitely SMU going to the ACC, making it more big names going through the city, I think we can make it into a college town as well. I think that's exciting.

THE MODERATOR: Do you have to win a championship in order to call it a successful season?

CHUCK HARRIS: I personally think so. To make the tournament is also a pretty good accomplishment as well.

THE MODERATOR: SMU, again, welcome to the league, and good luck this season.