Miami Hurricanes NCAA Tournament prospects depend on matchups

Lykes has shined in his Freshman season. In ACC play Lykes has been the main ball handler and playmaker. He is averaging 11.9 points per game and 3.1 assists in ACC Games. Lykes has only scored in single digits three times in the last 11 games. In that time span, he is averaging 13.1 PPG and 3.1 APG.

Walker has become the go-to player without Brown healthy. He tied the game with a last-second shot against Louisville to send the game to overtime. He then blocked a shot in the final seconds of overtime to preserve the win. Later in the season, Walker hit the game-winning three with 2.9 seconds remaining to defeat Boston College.

After a slow start coming off surgery last summer for a torn MCL Walker has shined in the second half of the season. He is averaging 13.6 points per game in ACC Games versus 11.5 PPG overall. He is also averaged four more minutes per game in conference play.

The ACC has given the Hurricanes a lot of looks at different styles of play. They have faced Syracuse’s matchup zone, Virginia’s pack-line defense and the up-tempo style of North Carolina.

Miami has struggled this season against the zone. They have been a streaky three-point shooting team and for the most part a poor free throw shooting team.