Louisville delivered a resounding 88-74 victory over Southern Methodist at the KFC Yum! Center, with Mikel Brown Jr. leading the charge with 20 points. The Cardinals' win was predicted by CHD Scout, who forecasted a 9.2-point margin of victory, and while the actual margin was slightly larger at 14 points, the outcome was never truly in doubt after a dominant second-half performance.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with SMU taking a 47-44 lead into the break. Boopie Miller was unstoppable for the Mustangs, scoring 20 points to match Brown Jr.'s total. However, the Cardinals' defense stiffened in the second half, holding SMU to just 27 points. Meanwhile, Louisville's offense continued to hum, with Brown Jr. and Isaac McKneely, who added 14 points, leading the charge. Khani Rooths chipped in with a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
The second half was a masterclass in defensive adjustments, as Louisville completely flipped the script on SMU. The Mustangs, who had been so potent in the first half, were unable to find any rhythm after the break. Miller and Samet Yigitoglu, who finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds, did their best to keep SMU afloat, but it was not enough to overcome the Cardinals' balanced attack.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
The victory marks a key Q2 win for Louisville, who improve to 15-6 on the season. The Cardinals' net ranking of 19 will likely receive a boost, as they continue to build a strong tournament resume. For SMU, the loss is a Q1 defeat, which will not hurt their chances significantly, but does prevent them from gaining ground on the likes of Louisville.
CHD Scout's prediction of a Louisville win by 9.2 points was spot on, as the Cardinals' margin of victory was just 4.8 points more than forecasted. The accuracy of the prediction is a reflection of the scouting report, which clearly identified Louisville's advantages in this matchup.
As the season enters its final stretch, wins like this one matters for Louisville's tournament chances. The Cardinals have established themselves as a formidable opponent, and their Q2 win over SMU will look good on their resume come selection time. With their strong defense and balanced offense, Louisville is poised to make a deep run in the tournament. For now, they will enjoy this dominant victory, and look to build on the momentum in their next outing. The win over SMU is a significant one, and it will be interesting to see how the Cardinals' resume continues to take shape in the coming weeks.