Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Smu Mustangs Picks and Predictions February 19th 2025

With Coach on Hot Seat, Notre Dame Hosts SMU

Both teams are looking for a bounce-back win when SMU and Notre Dame meet for the first time as Atlantic Coast Conference opponents on Wednesday in South Bend, Ind.

SMU Aims to Stay in NCAA Tournament Picture

The Mustangs (19-6, 10-4 ACC) sit in fifth place in the conference standings and are squarely on the bubble for an NCAA Tournament bid. They had won five straight before suffering a 77-66 home loss to Wake Forest on Saturday.

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SMU boasts one of the most efficient offenses in the ACC, ranking:

• Third in scoring (77.6 PPG)
• Fourth in 3-point shooting (38.0%)

However, the Mustangs might be without leading scorer Boopie Miller (13.4 PPG), who missed the Wake Forest game due to a bruised foot. Miller also leads SMU in assists (5.7 per game) and steals (1.6 per game).

“Certainly hurts when you lose your leading scorer and leading assist guy,” SMU coach Andy Enfield said. “With his quickness and dribble penetration to set guys up, we missed a little bit of that tonight.”

Frustration Mounts for Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish (11-14, 5-9 ACC) are heading toward a third consecutive losing season and have lost four of their last five games, including a 75-60 home setback to Louisville on Sunday.

Coach Micah Shrewsberry’s frustration boiled over after that loss, knocking over a microphone in his postgame press conference.

“You think I should be fired? Good for you. You’re allowed to have opinions,” Shrewsberry said. “A lot of people have given up on this team and given up on me. I don’t really give a damn. I believe in myself and I believe in these guys.”

Notre Dame leans on its defense, ranking among the best in the ACC in steals and blocked shots, led by:

• Markus Burton (team-high 31 steals)
• Keba Njie (team-high 16 blocks)

That defense will be put to the test against SMU’s high-powered offense, especially if Miller is available.

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Key Matchups to Watch

• Notre Dame’s Defense vs. SMU’s Perimeter Shooting – The Mustangs shoot 38% from deep, while Notre Dame allows opponents to shoot nearly 35% from three.
• Markus Burton (Notre Dame) vs. SMU’s Ball Movement – Burton’s defensive intensity will be key in disrupting SMU’s offense, especially if Miller plays.
• Can SMU Win Without Boopie Miller? – If Miller sits, who steps up to run the offense for the Mustangs?

Can SMU Secure a Crucial ACC Win?

The Mustangs need a strong finish to stay in the NCAA Tournament conversation. Will they handle business on the road, or will Notre Dame fight to salvage its season?

Can Notre Dame Silence the Doubters?

With Shrewsberry on the hot seat, the Irish are running out of time. Will they rise to the challenge or continue their downward spiral?