Preview: SMU Mustangs vs. Louisville Cardinals in ACC Tournament

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — A rubber match with significant NCAA Tournament implications tips off Wednesday when the SMU Mustangs and Louisville Cardinals meet in the men’s ACC Championship.

The No. 7-seed Mustangs (20-12) and the No. 2-seed Cardinals (22-9) split their regular-season series, setting the stage for a decisive third clash at Spectrum Center. Louisville won the first meeting 88-74 at home on Jan. 31, but SMU answered with a 95-85 victory in Dallas on Feb. 17.

The winner advances to the tournament quarterfinals, with both teams seeking to bolster their postseason resumes. Louisville, with a stronger overall record, is positioned for a higher NCAA seed, while SMU likely needs a deep conference run to secure an at-large bid.

The matchup features two of the league’s hottest guards. SMU’s Boopie Miller enters on a scoring tear, averaging 24.3 points over his last four games. He was instrumental in the Mustangs’ Feb. 17 win over Louisville, posting 23 points and nine assists. Miller is coming off a 25-point effort in Tuesday’s 86-69 first-round win over Syracuse.

Louisville counters with Ryan Conwell, who has averaged 21.3 points in his last three contests. He scored 24 in Saturday’s 92-89 road win at Miami, a victory that solidified the Cardinals’ standing. Conwell was held to 12 points in the loss at SMU last month.

SMU arrives with momentum from its convincing win over the Orange, where Jaron Pierre Jr. added 21 points. Louisville has been idle since Saturday, earning the double-bye as a top-four seed.

The Cardinals have been efficient offensively but have shown vulnerability on the road, with recent losses at Clemson and North Carolina. SMU has been inconsistent away from home, dropping its final four regular-season road games before Tuesday’s neutral-site victory.

Wednesday’s contest will hinge on backcourt execution and which team controls the tempo. SMU will rely on Miller’s dynamic playmaking, while Louisville will look to Conwell and a more balanced attack that includes J’Vonne Hadley and Isaac McKneely.

Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 7 p.m. EDT following the conclusion of the preceding tournament game.