No. 2: Louisville has to slow down Boopie Miller
Boopie Miller has undoubtedly been SMU's best player this season, averaging 19.4 points, 6.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds, while shooting 45% from the field and 37% from three. Miller dropped 27 against UNC and 23 against Clemson this season, and when he has struggled, so has SMU. Against Virginia, where he only dropped 12 points, the Mustangs lost, and in a game against FSU, where he only had 11 points, SMU barely scraped by with a two-point win over one of the worst teams in the ACC.
Louisville will have to contain Miller and keep him from getting hot from the floor, which will likely come down to how Mikel Brown, Ryan Conwell, and Isaac McKneely defend him throughout the game. Miller has shot 5-of-25 from three in his last five games, and if Louisville can force Miller to take outside shots instead of driving to the rim, that will likely be the best plan of attack for Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals.
If the Cardinals can contain Miller and limit him from scoring,SMU will have to look for other ways to score, which has not worked too well for the Mustangs this season.