Miami Hurricanes at Virginia:Live Streaming and Game Info
After getting two crucial home victories last week, the Miami Hurricanes travel to Charlottesville, Virginia to face the Virginia Cavaliers on big Monday.
The Hurricanes are coming off of home victories over Georgia Tech and Clemson last week. They are currently a tenth seed in the consensus bracketology rankings by the Bracket Matrix. Tonight begins an extremely difficult four game stretch to finish the regular season.
After the game at Virginia, the Hurricanes return home Saturday to host Duke on Senior Day and then travel to Virginia Tech and Florida State to finish the regular season. The meeting with UVA is also the final game of a three-game suspension for point guard Ja’Quan Newton.
Newton was suspended three games for breaking an unspecified team rule that commenced with the game against Georgia Tech last Wednesday. He was also suspended for the final three games of the 2016 season for breaking an unspecified team rule.
Related Story: Miami Hurricanes Suspend Ja’Quan Newton for Three Games
Miami Head Coach Jim Larranaga discussed the suspension after the win over the Yellow Jackets:
"“Discipline is about teaching,…We’re going to try to help you learn the difference between doing things right and doing things that aren’t quite so right.”"
Bruce Brown has handled the point admirably in Newton’s absence while battling tonsillitis. The Hurricanes are going to need to continue to receive good contributions from Ebuka Izundu, DJ Vasiljevic and Dewan Huell to continue to make an NCAA Tournament push.
The Hurricanes travel to Charlottesville having won four of their last five and six of their last eight games. Larranga discussed the key to his team’s recent success after the victory over Clemson on Saturday:
"“Part of the key for us is being able to hold people under 70,” coach Jim Larranaga told reporters Saturday. “If we can do that and do some good things offensively, then we have a good chance.”"
The Hurricanes are 16-2 when holding opponents under 70 points. The game is likely to be a low scoring one. Virginia and Miami are two of the three best defensive teams in ACC. The Cavaliers top the conference and the nation allowing 55.9 points per game. The Hurricanes are third in the ACC allowing 64.3 PPG
Virginia has been offensively challenged at times this season. Head Coach Tony Bennett runs former Wisconsin and Washington State Coach and his father Dick’s archaic system. Bennett commented on his team’s offensive difficulties this season after they were blown out 65-41 by North Carolina on Saturday night:
"“Offensively, we’ve struggled,…It’s no mystery we don’t score a ton inside, so when we’re missing some perimeter shots – some were pretty good shots – that puts a lot of pressure on us defensively.”"
Virginia is a good match-up for the Hurricanes and the Cavaliers are reeling. They have lost three in a row and five of their last seven. That contrasts to the Hurricanes who have been on the rise lately. A win virtually guarantees the ‘Canes an NCAA Tournament bid.
The winner on Monday night takes sole possession of sixth place in the conference while the loser falls into a seventh place tie with Syracuse. The Hurricanes lost at the Carrier Dome last month so they would essentially be in eighth place with a loss.
With the Cavaliers low scoring offense, Miami should be able to be successful on the defensive end. Senior guard London Perrantes and Junior forward Austin Nichols are are the only Cavaliers averaging in double figures.
Perrantes was named to the ACC’s preseason first team all league. He finished third in the voting for preseason Player of the Year behind Duke’s Grayson Allen and Clemson’s Jaron Blossomgame.
Perrantes averages 12.6 points per game and 3.8 assists per game. He shoots 38.1 percent on three-point attempts and and 80.9 percent from the line. Nichols averages 11.0 PPG and 3.0 RPG. The only Cavalier that should be a concern on the boards in 6’8 junior forward Isaiah Wilkins who averages 7.5 PPG and 6.3 RPG.
The Cavaliers rank fourth in the ACC in rebounding margin at 4.2. The Hurricanes are third at 5.9
Setting the Scene
Date: Monday, Feb. 20, 2017
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: John Paul Jones Arena | Charlottesville, Va.
-/rv Miami Hurricanes (18-8, 8-6 ACC)
Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga
Record at Miami: 136-65, sixth season
ACC Record at Miami: 62-40
Career Record: 606-399, 33rd season
14/15 Virginia Cavaliers (18-8, 8-6 ACC)
Head Coach: Tony Bennett
Record at Virginia: 183-80, eighth year
Career Record: 252-113, 11th year
Broadcasts
TV: ESPN – Sean McDonough, Doris Burke, Allison Williams
Radio: 940 WINZ – Joe Zagacki
Internet: ACC Network Extra – http://es.pn/2lMpLYa
Series
All-time: 11-9 Since rebirth in 1985-86: 9-9
Home: 7-1
Away: 3-6
Neutral: 1-2
Under Coach Larrañaga: 2-5
Coach L all-time vs. Virginia: 2-6
Current streak: Virginia won 1.
Last matchup: March 11, 2016. No. 4 UVa def. No. 11 Miami 73-68.
Last Miami win: Feb. 22, 2016. No. 12/11 Miami def. No. 3 UVa 64-61.
Polls
Miami – AP: NR / USA Today: RV (7) / RPI: 54 / KenPom: 36 / Warren Nolan: 50
Virginia – AP: 14 / USA Today: 15 / RPI: 15 / KenPom: 3 / Warren Nolan: 16
Next: Miami Hurricanes Get Crucial Win over Clemson
Next Game: The Hurricanes return home on Saturday for Senior Day to face a surging Duke. The Blue Devils have gotten healthy after battling injury problems earlier in the season. Duke is 22-5 overall and 10-4, second in the ACC a game behind North Carolina. They have won seven straight and eight of their last nine. Duke plays at Syracuse on Wednesday night.