THE BIG TEN ACC CHALLENGE (sort of)
SMU’s head coach Toyelle Wilson’s problem was the opposite of Oregon State’s Rueck’s. Whereas OSU moved down from the PAC 12 to the WCC, SMU moved up from the AAC to the ACC (what a difference a letter makes). SMU was welcomed to the Atlantic Coast Conference with a pre-season projection of 16th in an 18 team League.
Toyelle Wilson is in her fourth season with the Mustangs. She arrived on the Hilltop after assistant coaching stints with Michigan (two years) and Baylor (six years working for Kim Mulkey).
Wilson was hired in April 2021 after SMU parted ways with Travis Mays following various lawsuits and a player exodus citing abusive behavior by Mays. It was also a team which played a six loss covid shortened season.
Despite these headwinds, Wilson guided the Mustangs to back to back 5th place AAC finishes and back to back WNIT appearances. The records were around ,500; but it was progress.
Last season was a step back. Citing injuries, SMU finished 11th in the 14 team AAC (8-10).
Then in late Spring the move to the ACC was announced and Toyelle Wilson hit the transfer portal for some immediate upgrades. Seven players answered the call. The two most prominent were:
5’7” junior guard Nya Robertson a scorer from George Washington. Robertson, a Fort Worth native, is averaging 22 points, 6.7 rebounds in 32.8 minutes per game, She is a three point threat.
5’5” graduate guard Zanai Jones is an experienced player from Villanova where she played with future Hawkeye Lucy Olsen. She is averaging 4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds in 27.3 minutes per game.
SMU is 2-1 after 3 games. They defeated North Carolina A&T 77-64, lost to Old Dominion 70-79 and defeated Western Michigan 72-44. The Mustangs will face Arizona State before lining up against the Gophers.
Other players of note:
6’1” senior forward Chantae Embry is averaging 13.3 points, 7.7 rebounds in 26.7 minutes. And 6’2” senior center Jessica Peterson is averaging 10.3 points, 10 rebounds in 29 minutes. Peterson missed last season with an injury.
Conference reorganization sunk the old ACC-B1G challenge. Here’s hoping for a return,
