California Golden Bears vs Smu Mustangs Picks and Predictions February 26th 2025

Cal Needs Win Over SMU to Make Late ACC Tourney Push

Cal will have its top player available, while SMU likely won’t when the two Atlantic Coast Conference teams face off in a pivotal rematch Wednesday night in Berkeley, Calif.

The Golden Bears (12-15, 5-11 ACC) are clinging to hopes of securing a spot in the ACC Tournament, while SMU (20-7, 11-5) is aiming to solidify its position among the conference’s top four teams.

The Mustangs won the first meeting 76-65 in Dallas last month, powered by Boopie Miller’s all-around performance. The star point guard contributed 13 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals in the victory. However, Miller has missed the last three games due to a bruised left foot, and his status remains doubtful for this road trip.

SMU coach Andy Enfield is optimistic about Miller’s return but isn’t taking any chances.

“We’re hoping for the best,” Enfield said. “We miss Boopie.”

Despite Miller’s absence, SMU has been one of the best road teams in ACC play, boasting a 6-1 record away from home. After Wednesday’s game, the Mustangs will continue their Bay Area trip with a visit to Stanford before finishing the regular season against Syracuse and Florida State.

Cal Fighting for ACC Tournament Spot

For Cal, every game is now critical. The Golden Bears enter the week in a tight battle for the final spots in the ACC tournament. They sit one loss behind Florida State, Virginia, Pitt, and Notre Dame, tied with Syracuse, and just ahead of Boston College and North Carolina State.

While the team has struggled with consistency, freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson and sophomore Andrej Stojakovic have stepped up. Wilkinson has averaged 21.5 points over the past four games, while Stojakovic notched a double-double in Cal’s most recent game, a 66-61 loss at Stanford.

Stojakovic, Cal’s leading scorer at 17.6 points per game, missed the earlier matchup against SMU due to a hip injury. His presence this time could be a game-changer for the Golden Bears.

With only two home games left on the schedule, Cal coach Mark Madsen hopes the fans will rally behind the team’s young stars, especially as they may become high-profile transfer targets in the offseason.

“The phrase we’ll use is this: Key players are going to be retained. And every effort is going to be made to retain key players,” Madsen said. “This is going to be a lot of stakeholders locking arms and doing everything possible to get this done.”

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The Stakes Are High

While SMU is focused on securing a strong finish in ACC play, Cal is simply trying to keep its postseason hopes alive. With Stojakovic healthy and SMU possibly missing its best playmaker, the Golden Bears have a golden opportunity to turn their season around.

Can Cal capitalize on its home-court advantage and break its four-game losing streak, or will SMU’s depth prove too much to overcome?