With coach on hot seat, Notre Dame hosts SMU

Both teams are looking for a bounce-back win when SMU and Notre Dame meet for the first time as Atlantic Coast Conference opponents on Wednesday in South Bend, Ind.The visiting Mustangs (19-6, 10-4 ACC) are in fifth place in the league standings and squarely on the bubble to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament. SMU won five in a row before Saturday’s 77-66 home loss to Wake Forest.The Fighting Irish (11-14, 5-9), meanwhile, are heading toward a third straight losing season and have dropped four of their last five games, including a 75-60 home setback Sunday against Louisville.The frustration level is high at Notre Dame, with coach Micah Shrewsberry knocking over a microphone following the loss to the Cardinals.”You think I should be fired?” Shrewsberry said. “Good for you. You’re allowed to have opinions. A lot of people have given up on this team and given up on me. I don’t really give a damn. I believe in myself and I believe in these guys.”The Fighting Irish are leaning on a defense led by Markus Burton (team-high 31 steals) and Keba Njie (team-high 16 blocked shots).