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How to Watch Louisville Take On SMU in ACC Tournament Opener

The Cardinals will face the Mustangs in their first game of the conference tournament.
Matthew McGavic|
Jan 17, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward Vangelis Zougris (53) brings the ball up court against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Jan 17, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward Vangelis Zougris (53) brings the ball up court against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Before the Big Dance gets underway next week, we first have the "little dance" this week. The Louisville men's basketball program will be making the trek to Charlotte for the ACC Tournament, and their run in the conference tournament set to begin against SMU.

The Cardinals were perceived as a top-10 team and a potential national championship contender entering the 2025-26 season, but they haven't lived up to those expectations thus far, and wound up earning a single bye and the No. 6 seed for the ACC Tournament. However, they do head to Charlotte with some slight momentum, capturing their first Quad 1A win of the season in their regular season finale at Miami.

Shooting guard Ryan Conwell was tabbed as a Second Team All-ACC selection earlier this week, while point guard Mikel Brown Jr. earned a Third Team All-ACC nod and was named to the ACC All-Rookie Team.

As for the 11th-seeded Mustangs, they were able to hold off 14th-seeded Syracuse in their ACC Tournament opener, winning 86-69 on Tuesday night. SMU led by a single point at halftime, only to out-score the Orange 47-31 in the second half. Boopie Miller led the way with 25 points, with their bench contributing just one rebound and two steals.

Once on the positive side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, the Mustangs are trending in the wrong direction. They entered the ACC Tournament on a four-game losing streak, and are losers in seven of their last 12.

This will be the 14th all-time meeting between the two programs, with the Cardinals holding a 10-3 advantage. They split their two regular season meetings with the Mustangs, winning 88-74 at the KFC Yum! Center back on Jan. 31 but falling 95-85 back on Feb. 17 in the rematch in Dallas.

ACC Tournament Second Round | No. 6. Louisville Cardinals (22-9, 11-7 ACC) vs. No. 11 SMU (20-12, 8-10 ACC)

  • Date/Time: Wednesday, Mar. 11 at 2:30 p.m. EST.
  • Place: Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.
  • TV: ESPN - Play-by-play and analyst TBD.
  • Channel (Louisville)/Live Stream: Spectrum: 31; Dish: 140; DirecTV: 206.
  • Radio (Louisville): 93.9 FM - Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Bob Valvano (analyst).

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(Photo of Vangelis Zougris: Charles LeClaire - Imagn Images)

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Matthew McGavic
MATTHEW MCGAVIC

McGavic is a 2016 Sport Administration graduate of the University of Louisville, and a native of the Derby City. He has been covering the Cardinals in various capacities since 2017, with a brief stop in Atlanta, Ga. on the Georgia Tech beat. Also an avid video gamer, a bourbon enthusiast, and fierce dog lover. Find him on Twitter at @Matt_McGavic

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