SMU Coach Rips Refs After Close Loss to Louisville in ACC Tournament

Andy Enfield criticized the officiating after his team's 62-58 defeat, putting their NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 11:25pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

SMU basketball coach Andy Enfield harshly criticized the officiating following his team's 62-58 loss to Louisville in the second round of the ACC Tournament. Enfield felt the Cardinals were "clutching and grabbing on every possession" without being called for many fouls, giving Louisville an unfair advantage. The close defeat has put SMU's NCAA Tournament hopes in a precarious position, as they were already on the bubble heading into the conference tournament.

Why it matters

SMU was looking to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume with a strong showing in the ACC Tournament, but the close loss to Louisville has left their March Madness chances in limbo. Enfield's criticism of the officiating highlights the high stakes and small margins involved in these crucial late-season games for bubble teams.

The details

SMU entered the ACC Tournament on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament, needing a strong showing to solidify their at-large bid. They won their first-round game against Syracuse, but then fell 62-58 to Louisville in the second round. In the postgame press conference, Enfield ripped the officials, saying Louisville was "clutching and grabbing on every possession" without being called for many fouls, giving them an unfair advantage in the close game.

  • SMU defeated Syracuse in the first round of the ACC Tournament on March 10, 2026.
  • SMU lost to Louisville 62-58 in the second round of the ACC Tournament on March 11, 2026.

The players

Andy Enfield

The head coach of the SMU basketball team.

Louisville

The opposing team that defeated SMU in the second round of the ACC Tournament.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The margin for error in games like this is very small. I'm not sure I've been in a college basketball game where a team (Louisville) has only two team fouls going into the last minute. They were clutching and grabbing on every possession. Small margin.”

— Andy Enfield, Head Coach, SMU Basketball

What’s next

SMU's NCAA Tournament hopes now rest on Selection Sunday, as their close loss to Louisville has put their at-large bid in jeopardy. They will have to wait anxiously to see if the selection committee deems their body of work strong enough to warrant an invitation to the Big Dance.

The takeaway

This game highlights the fine line bubble teams walk in the high-stakes environment of late-season conference tournaments. A close loss can be devastating to NCAA Tournament hopes, and Enfield's criticism of the officiating underscores the frustration coaches feel when they believe their team was unfairly disadvantaged in a pivotal game.