Cal Hopes to Slow SMU’s ACC-Leading Offense

SMU and Cal will face off on Wednesday for the first time as Atlantic Coast Conference rivals in Dallas. Both teams bring momentum into the matchup, with SMU aiming to solidify its place atop the standings and Cal looking to continue its recent surge.

SMU’s Offense Leading the Way

The Mustangs (15-5, 6-3 ACC) have been dominant on offense, leading the conference with 83.1 points per game while shooting an impressive 48.0% from the field. Their ability to push the tempo and spread the scoring has been key to their success.

Freshman Samit Yigitoglu is coming off a breakout performance, scoring a season-high 20 points in SMU’s 63-57 road win over NC State. He is one of five Mustangs averaging double figures, contributing 10.3 points per game.

Leading the charge is Boopie Miller, who is averaging a team-best 13.8 points per contest. While SMU’s offensive firepower has been the focal point, head coach Andy Enfield praised the team’s defense in their latest win, holding NC State to just 29.2% shooting.

“Our guys played tremendous defense all day,” Enfield said. “We knew this was going to be a close game, and we stepped up when it mattered.”

Cal’s Resurgence and Key Injury Question

After a slow start to conference play, Cal (11-9, 4-5 ACC) has turned things around with three straight wins, including an impressive 98-94 overtime victory over Miami on Saturday.

The Bears have found ways to win despite missing their leading scorer, Andrej Stojakovic (18.9 PPG), who has been sidelined for the last two games due to illness. Head coach Mark Madsen remains uncertain about Stojakovic’s availability, stating that his status is “somewhere between day-to-day and week-to-week.”

“There’s always a chance,” Madsen said when asked if Stojakovic could return against SMU.

In his absence, Jeremiah Wilkinson stepped up with a 30-point performance against Miami, while DJ Campbell added 22 points.

“I would say guys really rallied,” Madsen said of his team’s ability to adjust without their star player.

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Can Cal Slow Down SMU?

While SMU has the ACC’s most potent offense, Cal has recently shown resilience in tough matchups, securing wins against Florida State, NC State, and Miami.

History is on SMU’s side, as the Mustangs have won the past two meetings between these programs, including a 67-65 victory in the 2014 NIT quarterfinals.

With Cal playing some of its best basketball of the season and SMU looking to maintain its offensive dominance, Wednesday’s matchup could come down to whether the Bears can slow down the Mustangs’ high-powered attack.