Miami Hurricanes runner-up in Wooden Legacy encouraging for season

The Miami Hurricanes runner-up finish in the Wooden Legacy and the 5-1 start to the 2018-19 season is encouraging. After five straight games against mid-majors, Miami lost 83-81 to Seton Hall in the Wooden Legacy Championship Game late Sunday night.

The Miami Hurricanes began the Wooden Legacy with back to back victories over LaSalle on Thanksgiving Day and Fresno State on Friday afternoon. The Hurricanes blew out the Explorers 85-49 and won a 78-76 thriller over the Bulldogs on Friday.

The Miami Hurricanes won Friday’s game on a putback dunk by Zach Johnson with less than a second remaining. The Hurricanes had a chance to win the game in the final seconds against Seton Hall.

After a Pirates turnover, Miami had the ball down one. After being double teamed Johnson got the ball to Anthony Lawrence. Lawrence missed an open three from the top of the arc and Ebuka Izundu’s follow up rolled off the rim. Seton Hall Myles Cale was fouled after getting the rebound off the Izundu miss.

Myles made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second. With less than a second remaining Miami had no chance to make a play and lost by two. Seton Hall’s Myles Powell was named the Wooden Legacy’s Most Outstanding Player. He had 17 points against Miami.

Johnson, Sophomore point guard Chris Lykes and Lawrence continued their stellar play to begin the season. Johnson finished with 18 points on five of seven from the floor, two of three on three-point attempts and six of six from the free throw line.

Johnson, Lykes and Junior Guard Dejan Vasiljevic were named to the Wooden Legacy All-Tournament team. Johnson was named to the first team, Lykes to the second team and Vasiljevic honorable mention.

Lykes scored points 18 on seven of 13 from the floor, two of five on three-point attempts and had four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Lawrence was a key part of the Miami offense against Seton Hall. He finished with 17 points on eight of 16 from the floor. Lawrence made eight of 11 inside the arc but missed all five of this three points attempts. After making 43.2 percent of his three-point attempts in 2017-18, Amp is shooting 26.9 percent from three this season.

Miami returned home early Monday morning. They will get ready for Rutgers on Wednesday night in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. It’s the Hurricanes second consecutive game against a former Big East Rival.

Unlike their in-state Rutgers’ in-state rival Seton Hall, the Hurricanes have fared much better against the Scarlet Knights. Miami holds a 10-5 advantage in the series against Rutgers. The Hurricanes won the most recent meeting 73-61 at the Watsco Center two seasons ago. Miami and Rutgers tipoff at 7:15 PM ET Wednesday night.