- Matchup: Louisville Cardinals vs SMU Mustangs
- Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
- Venue: Moody Coliseum, Dallas, TX
- Broadcasting: ESPN+
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The Louisville Cardinals (19-6) are traveling to Moody Coliseum this Tuesday to take on the SMU Mustangs (17-8).
In their previous game, the Louisville Cardinals secured a victory over Baylor, finishing with a score of 82-71. The Cardinals achieved an impressive 56.0% shooting from the field (28 of 50) and connected on 8 out of 18 attempts from beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, Louisville excelled, converting 18 of 20 attempts for a remarkable 90.0% accuracy. The team collected 27 rebounds, with 4 being offensive, and recorded 18 assists, while forcing 9 turnovers and gaining 6 steals. Defensively, they allowed Baylor to shoot 36.7% (22 of 60). Baylor managed 10 assists and 7 steals, snatching 25 boards (11 offensive, 14 defensive) but did not register a block. Baylor’s free-throw shooting was solid at 83.3%, converting 25 of 30 chances, though they struggled from 3-point range, making just 2 of 22 attempts. The Cardinals concluded the game with 20 personal fouls, compared to Baylor’s 17.
Mikel Brown Jr. played a crucial role in the victory, scoring 29 points on 8 of 14 shooting in 35 minutes of play. He also contributed 3 rebounds and 6 assists, showcasing an efficient 57.1% shooting percentage from the field.
The Cardinals enter this game with a strong record of 19-6 this season. They average 11.6 turnovers per game and commit 18.8 personal fouls. Louisville grabs an average of 39.9 rebounds per game and has accumulated 447 assists this season, ranking 32nd nationally. The team shoots 35.7% on 3-point attempts (291 of 816) and achieves a 77.2% success rate from the free-throw line. They score an impressive 86.9 points per game (16th in Division 1) and convert 47.3% of their field goal attempts.
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Defensively, the Cardinals force an average of 12.2 turnovers per game and commit 18.7 personal fouls. They allow opponents to shoot 32.3% from beyond the arc and are ranked 100th in the nation for points allowed per game (70.9). The Cardinals hold their opponents to a 40.3% shooting percentage (607 of 1,507) and average 33.7 rebounds allowed per game. They rank 45th in college basketball for assists allowed, conceding 292 this season.
In their latest matchup, the SMU Mustangs narrowly lost to Syracuse, with a final score of 79-78. In terms of rebounds, SMU allowed Syracuse a total of 32 boards (8 offensive). They shot 36.7% from three-point range, converting 11 of 30 attempts, and were effective at the charity stripe, hitting 14 of 18 (77.8%). Defensively, they allowed Syracuse to hit 27 of 60, resulting in a 45.0% shooting percentage for the game. SMU’s overall shooting percentage was 43.3%, hitting 29 of 67 attempts, with 35.0% on three-pointers (7 of 20). They capitalized on free throws, landing 13 of 17 attempts, resulting in a 76.5% accuracy. SMU garnered 36 total rebounds, with 24 defensive and 12 offensive boards.
Jaden Toombs made significant contributions for the Mustangs in the game, scoring 19 points on 7 of 11 shooting for a 63.6% shooting percentage in 30 minutes. He also secured 5 rebounds but did not register any assists.
The Mustangs hold a season record of 17-8. They average 17.2 personal fouls per game and are successful 76.2% of the time from the free-throw line. Their assist rate stands at 17.6 per game (24th nationally), with an average of 11.5 turnovers per game. SMU has tallied 2,155 points this season, averaging 86.2 points per contest, and they pull down 38.1 rebounds per game. The Mustangs’ shooting percentage from the field is 49.5%, ranking them 23rd in the nation.
On the defensive front, SMU ranks 281st in points allowed per game (77.6). They force an average of 12.6 turnovers and have allowed opponents to shoot 43.4% from the field (144th in college). The Mustangs concede 32.8% on three-point attempts (236 of 720) and allow opposing teams to make 71.3% of their free-throw attempts. They allow 16.3 assists and 34.2 rebounds per game, placing them 341st and 170th in college basketball.
Who will prevail in this NCAA matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Take SMU
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