Virginia Tech at Miami Hurricanes: Live Streaming and Game Info
The Miami Hurricanes return home to face Virginia Tech after getting a huge road win at North Carolina State on Saturday. This is another game the NCAA Tournament committee will be watching. Both teams are on the proverbial bubble.
The 84-79 win in Raleigh on Saturday was a big one for the Hurricanes. Road wins are important when the NCAA Tournament committee gathers in Indianapolis next month. It was only Miami’s third win on the road this season and broke a two game road losing streak.
NC State is ranked just 102nd in the RPI. Miami has to win games against the teams below them and likely needs to get one or two more high profile wins. The win over North Carolina last month was huge. The Hurricanes are currently 54th in the RPI to the Hokies 43rd spot. A win over VA Tech is essential.
The Hokies come to Coral Gables rested after a week off. They lost to Virginia 71-48 last Wednesday. Their most impressive wins this season are defeating Duke and winning at Michigan and Syracuse.
Virginia Tech has incredible balance. They have an almost unheard of for college basketball, six players averaging in double figures. The Hokies are led byZach LeDay. LeDay is the leading scorer at 16.6 Points per game and second on the team with 6.6 rebounds per game.
This will be the fourth game in a row Miami’s highly ranked defense will be tested. The Hokies are the Hurricanes fourth consecutive opponent that is in the top 50 in the country in scoring. The Hurricanes did a great job against North Carolina and held North Carolina State’s highly ranked offense in check in the second half.
The Hokies are an adept three-point shooting team. The connect on 38.3 percent of their attempts, good enough for 48th in the country. Their three-point brigade is led by Seth Allen at 47.1 percent. That would be good enough for fifth in the country if he had enough attempts to qualify.
The Hurricanes are likely to dominate on the boards once again. The Hurricanes outrebounded North Carolina who is the nation’s leader in rebounding margin and they completed dominated the Wolfpack on Saturday. Miami’s incredible 17 offensive rebounds against NCState was more than the Wolfpack’s 16 defensive boards.
Miami will need more great play from their bench. Jim Larranaga swapped Anthony Lawrence with Dewan Huell in the starting lineup once again on Saturday. Lawrence responded with a career high 19 points. Ebuka Izundu also had a career high 16. The 35 points off the bench was a high in ACC play this year and one of the Hurricanes’ highest totals off the bench this season.
Davon Reed continued his hot play. The Senior guard also contributed a career high 26 points. He is having the best year of his career by far. His stats have improved every year, but he is more than just a stat sheet stuffer.
Reed switched on to NC State’s best player Dennis Smith Jr. (a likely lottery pick in June) in the second half against the Wolfpack and held him in check after the star freshman didn’t miss a shot from the floor in the first half. Reed is also the team leader.
Setting the Scene
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017
Time: 9 p.m.
Location: Watsco Center | Coral Gables, Fla.
-/RV Miami Hurricanes (15-7, 5-5 ACC)
Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga
Record at Miami: 133-64, sixth season
ACC Record at Miami: 59-39
Career Record: 603-398, 33rd season
Virginia Tech Hokies (16-6, 5-5 ACC)
Head Coach: Buzz Williams
Record at VT: 47-43, third season
Career Record: 200-129, 10th season
Broadcasts
TV: RSN – Wes Durham, Cory Alexander
Affiliates
FOX Sports South, FOX Sports Carolinas, FOX Sports Florida, FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports Indiana, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic Plus, YES, NESN, ROOT Sports Pittsburgh, SportsTime Ohio, FOX Sports Detroit Plus, FOX Sports North Plus, FOX Sports Wisconsin Plus, FOX Sports Southwest Plus, FOX Sports West, ROOT Sports Rocky Mtn., ROOT Sports Northwest
Radio: 560 WQAM – Joe Zagacki
Internet: ACC Network Extra
Series
All-time: 19-13 Since rebirth in 1985-86: 19-13
Home: 9-4
Away: 6-7
Neutral: 4-2
Under Coach Larrañaga: 9-3
Coach L all-time vs. Virginia Tech: 9-3
Current streak: Miami won 1.
Last matchup: March 10, 2016. No. 11 Miami won 88-82.
Last Virginia Tech win: March 5, 2016. VT def. No. 7 Miami 77-62.
Polls
Miami – AP: NR / USA Today: RV (4) / RPI: 55 / KenPom: 39 / Warren Nolan: 55
VT – AP: NR / USA Today: NR / RPI: 40 / KenPom: 55 / Warren Nolan: 44
Next Game: Miami travels to Louisville next in the first of four difficult road games to close out the regular season. The Hurricanes will also play at Virginia, Virginia Tech and Florida State in the remainder of their road games.
The Cardinals are 19-5, 7-4 in the ACC and ranked fourth in the country. They are fifth in the RPI. They are one of three ACC schools in the top five nationally in the RPI Florida State and North Carolina are the other two.
Next: How Super Bowl LI reminded us of the Miami Hurricanes
Louisville lost 71-55 at Virginia Monday night. They are off until they play the Hurricanes on Saturday.