Everything SMU’s Andy Enfield said at ACC Basketball Tip-Off

SMU Basketball coach Andy Enfield met with the media on Wednesday at the ACC Tip-Off event. Here’s what he had to say during his main media session.

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.

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