Our Cardinals will be looking to get back on track and looking to get a quality win before heading into the post season when they face #18 SMU on Wednesday night. SMU and Louisville are meeting for the 10th time, and the second time this season. The Cards beat SMU back in January 71-63. Louisville leads the series 7-2. Wednesday’s game is the second collegiate match-up for Hall of Famers Larry Brown and Rick Pitino. The two met 17 times in the NBA (Brown 11-6). SMU is coming into this game (23-6, 12-4 American) and are ranked in both polls for the second-straight week. The Mustangs are 15-0 at home, including a 9-0 mark in newly renovated Moody Coliseum. The Cardinals (24-5, 13-3 American) come into this game after a tough loss this past weekend in Memphis.

Southern Methodist may not Jump out to everyone as a respectable opponent or national contender, but boy are they ever. Larry Brown is a helluva coach and he has assembled a roster that can compete with any team in the American and the country. The Mustangs are second in the nation in field-goal percentage defense (1st American), holding opponents to 36.9%. The Mustang defense is allowing just 61.2 points per game, 17th in the NCAA (2nd American). SMU has held 28 of its last 38 (22 of 29 this year) opponents under 40% shooting. SMU has outrebounded 22 of 29 opponents this season.
On offense, SMU is leading the conference in field-goal percentage, shooting 49.2% (9th NCAA). The Mustangs are also shooting 36.9% from beyond the arc, second in the conference. SMU is third in the league in assists per game at 15.2 (42nd NCAA), and is averaging 72.1 points per game. Additionally, the Mustangs have outscored 25 of 29 opponents in the paint by an average of 34.5-21.2.

They return four starters from last season, Nick Russell (9.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.3 apg), Ryan Manuel (5.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.8 apg), Cannen Cunningham (5.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.7 apg), and Shawn Williams (4.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.7 apg). They have three transfers giving them great production with leading scorers Nic Moore (14.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.7 apg), Markus Kennedy (11.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.6 apg), and Yanick Moreira (7.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.4 apg). SMU also signed one of the best shooting guards in the country in McDonald’s All-American Keith Frazier (5.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.0 apg).

This team has seven players averaging at least 5.3 points. Nic Moore and Markus Kennedy are averaging double figures. Individually, Nick Moore is 12th in scoring (14.1), 12th in FG% (47.6), 3rd in assists (4.7), 5th in FT% (84.1), 2nd in 3PT FG% (45.1), 5th in 3PT made (2.1), 7th in assist/turnover ratio (2.0) and 9th in minutes played (32.0) He has made the American Athletic Conference Honor Roll eight times this season.
Markus Kennedy is 6th in FG% (54.0), 5th in blocked shots (1.4), 5th in rebounding (7.0) 4th in defensive rebounds (5.2), and has been named American Athletic Conference Honor Roll four times.
This is one of those teams that can come out of nowhere in the NCAA tournament and be the surprise of the college basketball season winning it all. They are deep, talented and versatile and they have great leadership in their Hall of Fame head coach.

SMU’s
2013-14 OVERALL RANKINGS
-POINTS PER GAME
72.1
149th
OVERALL
-REBOUNDS PER GAME
38.6
83rd
OVERALL
-ASSISTS PER GAME
15.2
42nd
OVERALL
-FIELD GOAL PCT
.492
8th
OVERALL

Kenpom Ranks
Overall – #18
Defense Adjustment Efficiency
– 92.8 ranks 12th
Offensive Adjustment Efficiency
– 110.6 ranks 61st

This will be the third hostile road environment that our Cards have face in the last four games and this just may be the most hostile of them all. Tonight’s game is the hottest ticket in Dallas and the Mustangs and their fans are hungry for a win against our Cardinals. SMU and Louisville have both improved since the last time these teams played. They have other players that are stepping up and we got guys like Montrezl and Rozier who are now big contributors. It will take the best effort of the year from the Cards to go into Dallas tonight and get a win. Luke and Russ will need to show some leadership, VanTreese and Mango will have to get some production in that 5 spot and Wayne Bkackshear will have to show some sign of life. Chris Jones is also due for a big game especially after the egg he layed in Memphis.

This one is gonna be rough, rowdy and really intense. It’s gut check time for the Cardinals and we’ll see if they are ready to put that Memphis debacle behind them and enter the post season swinging. I do think our Cards pull out a very close game tonight, but be ready to hang on the edge of your seats. Go Cards!