Freshman phenom Mikel Brown Jr. ignites Louisville's offense in a high-stakes ACC battle against SMU, promising a scoring duel.
DALLAS - No. 21 Louisville isn’t leaving Texas just yet. After knocking off Baylor in Fort Worth, the Cardinals stay in the Lone Star State for a pivotal ACC showdown Tuesday night against SMU in Dallas.
With both teams jockeying for conference tournament positioning, this matchup carries serious March implications.
Louisville (19-6, 8-4 ACC) enters on a five-game winning streak, and the engine behind the surge has been freshman sensation Mikel Brown Jr. The 6-5 point guard has caught fire at exactly the right time.
Brown poured in 29 points in Saturday’s 82-71 win over Baylor, continuing a jaw-dropping stretch that included a 45-point explosion against NC State on Feb. 9. That performance tied a Louisville single-game record and set a new ACC freshman scoring mark.
Before that outburst, Brown was averaging 15.4 points per game after missing eight contests with a lower back injury. Now he’s up to 17.9 points per game, ranking eighth in the ACC.
And he’s doing more than scoring. Brown grabbed nine rebounds against NC State and swiped five steals versus Baylor, showcasing his all-around impact. Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey has repeatedly referred to Brown as the “quarterback” of the team, a player who controls tempo and makes winning plays on both ends.
The Cardinals bring the ACC’s top offense into Moody Coliseum, averaging 86.9 points per game. They’ll be tested by an SMU squad that sits right behind them at 86.2 points per contest, setting the stage for a potential shootout.
The Mustangs (17-8, 6-6 ACC) are looking to rebound from a heartbreaking 79-78 loss at Syracuse, where they surrendered a late lead.
Freshman big man Jaden Toombs came off the bench to score 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, providing a strong interior presence. Meanwhile, Boopie Miller, who averages 18.9 points per game, was limited to 11 points but still contributed seven assists and six rebounds.
Jaron Pierre Jr., averaging 17.4 points, adds another scoring punch for SMU. He had posted three straight 20-point performances before being held to 12 in the Syracuse loss.
Louisville also leans on Ryan Conwell, who averages 18.7 points and leads the ACC with 3.4 made 3-pointers per game, though he’s been battling a recent shooting slump.
With both teams fighting for byes in the ACC Tournament, Tuesday’s contest could swing momentum heading into the final stretch. Expect pace, points, and plenty of star power when Louisville and SMU tip off in Dallas.