Louisville is gearing up for what it hopes will be another exciting run in the ACC Tournament, starting with a Wednesday afternoon clash against SMU.
The Mustangs, holding the 11th seed, advanced by defeating No. 14 Syracuse 86-69 in a first-round game in Charlotte on Tuesday.
SMU's Boopie Miller, a Second Team All-ACC standout, was the star of the show, dropping 25 points while pulling down seven rebounds and dishing out four assists. Jaron Pierre Jr. contributed with 21 points, despite a challenging 5-of-17 shooting night from beyond the arc. Jaden Toombs added a solid double-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
Even without their third-leading scorer, B.J. Edwards, due to an ankle injury, SMU's starting lineup carried the load, with all five starters scoring in double figures. The bench, however, remained scoreless.
The season series between Louisville and SMU has been evenly matched. Louisville secured an 88-74 victory at the Yum Center on January 31, while SMU bounced back with a 95-85 win in Dallas on February 17.
This upcoming game is crucial for SMU, as they are teetering on the edge of the NCAA Tournament bubble, making every performance count.