SMU is likely to play its fifth consecutive game without leading scorer Boopie Miller when the Mustangs travel Saturday to play host Stanford in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
The Mustangs (21-7, 12-5 ACC) are 2-2 since Miller has been out with a bruised foot. SMU had won five straight before Miller’s injury, including an 85-61 verdict over Stanford Feb. 1 in Dallas.
Miller leads the Mustangs with 13.4 points and 5.7 assists per game while also averaging 1.6 steals.
The Cardinal (18-10, 10-7) have won two straight home games, including a 78-60 win Wednesday over Boston College. Stanford stands 15-2 at home overall and 8-1 in the ACC. The lone home ACC loss was a 79-73 setback to Wake Forest on Feb. 5. Saturday’s game is Stanford’s home finale.
“If you’re having success, you’re going to feel good about it and I think our players do,” Stanford first-year coach Kyle Smith said of his team’s success at home. “It’ll be great — Senior Night — hopefully we can control our emotions. It’ll be lovely to finish out with another home win, but SMU is a very good team and we’ll have our hands full. But I’m excited for our guys to see if they can respond and get one more — keep the magic at Maples going.”
Seven-foot-1 Cardinal center Maxime Raynaud owns a national-best 21 double-doubles and ranks as the ACC’s No. 2 scorer (20.0 ppg) and top rebounder (11.1 rpg). He set Stanford’s record for single-season double-doubles in Wednesday’s win with 23 points and 10 rebounds. He was 9 of 14 from the field, including four 3-pointers. Guards Oziyah Sellers and Jaylen Blakes are averaging 14.0 and 13.6 points a game — both career-highs.
SMU had five players score in double figures Wednesday win for the 12th time this season. Kario Oquendo, who has started in Miller’s place, had 10 points.
“It’s changed our game plan a lot, when you lose your leading scorer, leading assist guy, your point guard,” SMU coach Andy Enfield said. “The last four games we haven’t had him and we’ve struggled with turnovers. He was playing at a very, very high level before he was injured.”
–Field Level Media
