SMU Faces Undefeated Butler in Key Early-Season ACC Clash
DALLAS – SMU (3-0) will host Butler (3-0) Saturday at 1 p.m.CT at Moody Coliseum in a matchup of undefeated teams and an early-season test within the American Athletic Conference. The game presents a significant prospect for the Mustangs to build momentum following a successful start to their inaugural ACC season under head Coach Andy Enfield.
SMU began its ACC tenure with a 24-11 overall record in 2023-24, earning a No. 1 seed in the NIT and finishing tied for fourth in the conference with a 13-7 record. Enfield, hired April 1, 2024, brought a proven track record to the hilltop, having previously led Florida Gulf Coast to a sweet 16 appearance in 2013 and USC to five NCAA Tournament berths, including an Elite Eight run in 2021.During his 11 seasons at USC, Enfield compiled a 220-147 record.
The Mustangs’ roster features sophomore center Samet Yiğitoğlu, who has shown promising early returns, averaging 10.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting 53.5% from the field. Senior guard Trey Utter has appeared in 5 games, including 2 ACC contests, and redshirt freshman Niccolo Kalischer-Stork is developing after a successful high school career at Harvard-Westlake School, where the team went 91-9 from 2021-24.
Butler enters the game with a 3-0 record, seeking to establish itself as a contender in the ACC. The bulldogs will test SMU’s defense and offensive efficiency as both teams aim to remain perfect on the season.
