Read more for our full Virginia vs SMU prediction and preview.
Virginia basketball heads to Texas after a loss at No. 13 Florida in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Wednesday. The Cavaliers will face off against SMU in both teams’ first ACC game of the season. The Mustangs are coming off a 101-72 victory over Alabama State on Tuesday.
General Information:
Teams: Virginia (5-3) and SMU (7-2)
Tip time: 2:15 EST
Watch: The CW Network
Listen: Virginia Sports Radio Network
Latest on SMU basketball:
The Mustangs are playing their first-ever ACC game, having spent the last 11 seasons in the AAC. Last year, SMU went 20-13, 11-7 in conference. The Mustangs made the NIT, where they got eliminated in the first round by Indiana State. SMU was predicted to finish 13th in the ACC this season.
Head coach Andy Enfield is in his first season at SMU’s helm. He was previously the head coach at Florida Gulf Coast (2011-13) and USC (2013-24). Entering this season, he has a career record of 261-175, 127-115 in conference. He played at Johns Hopkins from 1987-91 as a shooting guard and still holds the all-time NCAA record for free throw percentage. He also spent time in the NBA as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks (1994-96) and Boston Celtics (1998-2000).
SMU had no players make the Preseason All-ACC Team. But the Mustangs have a deep offense that has averaged 88 points per game so far. They have five players averaging double-digit points, led by junior guard Boopie Miller, who ranks 14th in the ACC with 15.6 per game. Miller also leads SMU with 5.8 assists per game, good for second in the conference.
The Mustangs are big. Led by 7-foot-2 freshman center Samet Yigitoglu, 6-foot-11 junior forward Yohan Traore and 6-foot-7 senior forward Matt Cross, SMU leads the ACC in rebounding at 43.3 boards per game. The Mustangs rank in the top 10 in the country in offensive rebounding percentage (38.7%) and 20th in 2-point defense shooting percentage. They are big and will make life difficult in the paint for the Cavaliers.
Latest on Virginia basketball
UVA is coming off a 87-69 loss to No. 13 Florida. It’s becoming a recurring theme for the Cavaliers in recent years — when they lose, they tend to lose by a lot. 10 of Virginia’s 11 losses last year were by double digits, and all of the Cavs’ three losses this season have been by at least 18 points. It’s something they’ll need to sort out if they want to remain competitive in the ACC this season.
The Cavaliers had a seven-point lead early in the first half against the Gators, but a long scoring drought allowed Florida to seize control and then take over in the second half. Junior forward Elijah Saunders and junior guard Isaac McKneely were the only Cavs to score in double figures, scoring 19 and 12, respectively.
Virginia needs McKneely to shoot more. He’s averaging 8.9 shots per game so far this season, which is down from the 10.2 mark he had last year. He is the Cavaliers’ main scoring threat, especially from behind the arc, and he’s been efficient, shooting 25-50 (50%) from three this year. If he shoots more, that’ll open up driving lanes for junior guard Andrew Rohde and sophomore guard Dai Dai Ames.
Still, regardless of how much McKneely shoots, this game will be won in the paint. If the Cavs can keep SMU off the glass and prevent offensive rebounds, they will have a shot. UVA interim head coach Ron Sanchez might even choose to go with a jumbo lineup of Saunders (6-foot-8), freshman forward Jacob Cofie (6-foot-10) and sophomore center Blake Buchanan (6-foot-11) to combat the Mustangs’ size. Still, expect SMU to pull away late in the game.