Three SMU players UNC must contain in first ACC road test

North Carolina will travel to Dallas for its first Atlantic Coast Conference road game of the season to take on the SMU Mustangs. 

Saturday’s matchup at Moody Coliseum in Dallas is expected to draw a near-capacity crowd, as it will be North Carolina’s first appearance on SMU’s home court. Coming off a win over Florida State and facing an explosive SMU team on its own floor, the Tar Heels walk into a textbook trap scenario — one they can’t afford to overlook and one that figures to be tight from start to finish.

Here are three players UNC fans should watch out for from SMUwhen the Tar Heels take on the Mustangs.

Boopie Miller

Miller is a fifth-year senior in his second season at SMU after previous stops at Central Michigan and Wake Forest. He has averaged nearly 15 points, 4.8 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game in his career.

After earning All-ACC honors last season, Miller is having the best season of his career, averaging 19.9 points, 7.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game. He also is shooting 47.2% from the field, 42.6% from 3-point range and 92.2% from the free-throw line, leading the ACC.

He is third in the ACC in assists and steals per game, fourth in scoring and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.77).

Jaron Pierre

Pierre has transitioned nicely to SMU after transferring from Jacksonville State. He is averaging 18.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He also is an efficient shooter, converting 46.6% of his field-goal attempts and shooting 33% from beyond the arc.

While at Jacksonville State, he was the Conference USA Player of the Year after averaging 21.6 points per game, leading the league and ranking fourth nationally.

BJ Edwards

Edwards is one of the most versatile combo guards in the country and is SMU’s version of Seth Trimble. He is averaging 13.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game, which ranks sixth in the ACC.

What makes him especially dangerous is what he does on the defensive end. Edwards averages 2.6 steals per game, leading the ACC. Earlier this season, he had 10 steals in SMU’s 100–69 win over Arkansas State on Nov. 21, 2025.

Edwards is the only player in the country with two triple-doubles this season. He recorded 21 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in SMU’s most recent game against Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 30. His first triple-double came in the win over Arkansas State, when he finished with 24 points, 13 assists and 10 steals.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: Three SMU players Carolina must contain ahead of ACC clash