The No. 22 Miami Hurricanes head to Dallas to face SMU at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday.
Miami enters at 23-6 overall and 12-4 in the ACC, sitting third in the ACC standings behind Duke and Virginia. SMU is 19-10 overall and 8-8 in conference play, right in the middle of the pack.
The Mustangs are 15-2 at Moody Coliseum, and they score 85.8 points per game, shoot 49.8% from the field and 37.9% from 3-point range.
Here are three things to watch Wednesday night.
1. Can Miami slow down one of the ACC's best offenses?
SMU wants to turn the game into a track meet. SMU's offense is one of the best in the country (top-20 caliber), but Miami's defense grades out much stronger than SMU's.
Miami will need to get back in transition, avoid turnovers, and make SMU beat them late in the shot clock. The Hurricanes have been solid on the defensive end all season, allowing 70.0 points per game.
2. The glass and the paint battle
Miami has shown they can get second chances. In the Feb. 25 win at Florida State, the Hurricanes posted a 42-23 rebounding edge, grabbed 16 offensive boards, and turned those into 25 second-chance points.
SMU can rebound, too. In its recent loss at Cal, SMU still outrebounded the Bears 44-33, but turnovers and missed free throws ended the Mustangs hope for a win.
If Miami can keep winning the glass while also taking care of the ball, the Canes should be able to pull this one out.
3. Guard play and who controls tempo
Tre Donaldson leads the Hurricanes in assists at 5.8 per game and is also scoring 16.6 points per game.
Miami's top scorer is Malik Reneau at 19.2 points per game, and Shelton Henderson is sitting at 14.1 points per game while shooting 57.1% from the field.
Miami's best basketball comes when Donaldson plays well, Reneau controls the paint, and Henderson isn't forcing anything.
SMU’s backcourt can absolutely answer. The Mustangs are led by Boopie Miller (18.9 ppg) and Jaron Pierre Jr. (17.6 ppg), with B.J. Edwards (12.7 ppg) and Corey Washington (11.6 ppg) providing more scoring punch.
If Miami lets Miller get downhill early and Pierre get comfortable from deep, SMU can win.
Miami closes the regular season Saturday at home against Louisville, then the ACC Tournament begins next week in Charlotte.