NBA legend Larry Brown is the coach of the Southern Methodist Mustangs, or #18 SMU (23-6, 12-4), in Dallas, TX? I'd known it since last year, but for some reason the fact just hasn't sunk in until maybe their most recent wins over Connecticut and UCF. Out of the nation's spotlight and free from its pressures, an SMU gig is a pre-retirement move by Brown. But that doesn't mean he can't try for some late career magic.
After going 15-17 in Brown's first year, the Mustangs are in position to qualify for their first NCAA tournament since 1993.
Even if they lose their last two games (which they could as their next game is at #20 Memphis) and in the first round of the AAC tournament, SMU will probably get in on the strength of a still semi-sterling record and wins against Connecticut, Memphis, and Cincinnati. Defeat Louisville tonight and they'll have a chance at the regular season conference title and favorable NCAA seeding.
Lucky for the viewers (and for SMU), the game (7:00 pm EST, CBSSN) is in Texas. Plus, SMU, winners of seven of their last eight, played the Cardinals fairly close last meeting in an eight point loss so tonight should be exciting to watch. Vegas is mostly behind that notion based on the hypothetical 3.5 points they're giving SMU backers.
It also doesn't hurt that Louisville lost their last game, 72-66 to Memphis after a late game lead.
"I knew we were in trouble when we went up seven, and our guys acted like junior high kids," coach Rick Pitino told ESPN. "I knew they weren't focused to put the team away. That was very disappointing for a defending national champion to act like they just won the game being only up seven points on the road."
While actual basketball skills weigh in Louisville's favor, the rest of the game's deciding factors lean towards the Mustangs. Appropos of Brown's year, I'll side with intangibles -- magic -- and pick the 'Stangs.
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Record: 22-35 (C'mon, 13 in a row, let's do it)
Butler @ Creighton: L (picked Butler, +10.5)
UConn @ Memphis: L (picked Memphis, -7.5)
Depaul @ Villanova: W (picked Villanova, -17.5)
Pittsburg @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -5.5)
Creighton @ Villanova: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)
Baylor @ Kansas: W (picked Baylor, + 10.5)
Indiana @ Michigan State: L (picked Michigan State, -12)
Iowa @ Michigan: L (picked Iowa, + 1.5)
Colorado @ Arizona: W (picked Colorado, + 14.5)
Illinois @ Ohio State: W (picked Illinois, + 11)
Michigan @ Michigan State: W (picked Michigan, + 4.5)
Villanova @ Marquette: W (picked Villanova, -3)
Utah @ Arizona: W (picked Utah, + 15)
Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State: W (picked Oklahoma, + 4.5)
Villanova @ Georgetown: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)
Michigan State @ Iowa: W (picked Michigan State, + 5)
St. John's @ Creighton: W (picked St. John's, + 12)
Iowa State @ Kansas: L (picked Iowa State, + 8.5)
Syracuse @ Wake Forest: L (picked Syracuse, -10)
Purdue @ Michigan: L (picked Michigan, -12)
Florida @ Mississippi State: W (picked Miss. State, + 15)
Duke @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -3)
Xavier @ Villanova: L (picked Xavier, + 10)
Nebraska @ Michigan: L (picked Nebraska, + 13)
Boston College @ Virginia: L (picked Virginia, -13)
Oregon @ Arizona: L (picked Arizona, -11)
Oklahamo State @ Texas Tech: W (picked Texas Tech, + 6.5)
West Virginia @ Kansas: L (picked WVU, + 14)
Maryland @ Virginia: L (picked Virginia, -11)
Iowa State @ West Virginia: L (picked Iowa State, - 1.5)
Michigan @ Ohio State: L (picked Ohio State, -3.5)
Florida @ Tennessee: W (picked Florida, - 1.5)
Syracuse @ Pittsburg: W (picked Syracuse, + 2.5 -- absurd line)
Villanova @ Depaul: W (picked Villanova, -14)
Creighton @ Butler: L (picked Creighton, -8.5)
West Virginia @ Texas: W (picked Texas, -6)
Florida @ Kentucky: L (picked Kentucy, -2)
VCU @ Saint Louis: W (picked VCU, +4.5)
Villanova @ Creighton: L (picked Villanova, -3.5)
Texas @ Iowa State: L (picked Texas, +6)
Villanova @ Providence: L (picked Villanova, -4.5)
Wichita State @ Loyola: L (picked Loyola, + 13.5)
Creighton @ Marquette: W (picked Creighton, -3)
Gonzaga @ BYU: L (picked Gonzaga, +2)
Duke @ North Carolina: L (picked Duke, -2)
St. John's @ Villanova: W (picked St. John's, + 8.5)
Seton Hall @ Creighton: L (picked Creighton, -13.5)
Syracuse @ Maryland: L (picked Syracuse, -4.5
Indiana @ Wisconsin: W (picked Wisconsin, -10.5)
Butler @ Villanova: L (picked Villanova, -14.5)
North Carolina @ North Carolina State: L (picked UNC, -4)
Arkansas @ Kentucky: W (picked Arkansas, + 10.5)
Missouri State @ Wichita State: L (picked Missouri State, + 17.5)
Syracuse @ Virginia: L (picked Syracuse, +3.5)
Marquette @ Villanova: W (picked Villanova, -10.5)
Notre Dame @ North Carolina: L (picked North Carolina, -10.5)
Creighton @ Georgetown: L (picked Creigton, -3.5)
