Miami basketball at Louisville for first ACC road game of 2019
After a tough loss to North Carolina State at home on Thursday night, the Miami basketball team begins a two-game road trip at Louisville on Sunday night.
The Miami basketball team faces a tough stretch in the next two games. The Hurricanes began their two-game road trip when they travel to Louisville for the Cardinals ACC Opener. Louisville went 9-4 in non-conference. They are one game ahead of where Miami is at 8-5 this season.
Louisville has struggled to score occasionally during their non-conference schedule. Jordan Nwora has been the Cardinals only consistent scorer in 2018-19. Nwora is Louisville’s only player averaging in double figures.
The days of Louisville playing the up-tempo pressing style under Rick Pitino left with David Padgett not being kept as the Head Coach after the 2017-18 season. The Cardinals are 192nd in pace this season. Miami is 149th. Louisville is 8-1 at home this season. Their lone loss was 71-58 to Kentucky last Saturday.
Miami Hurricanes
The slow pace is an enigma for the Miami basketball team. With their lack of depth, it would help the Hurricanes conditioning and if they get in foul trouble. The slower pace hurts point guard Chris Lykes strengths in the running game.
Lykes has been the best player for the Miami basketball team this season. He is averaging 17.5 points per game, 2.5 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists and1.7 steals. He is coming off the best game of his career in the loss to North Carolina State. Lykes had 28 points on 10-15 from the floor and 3-4 on three-point attempts.
Louisville has owned the all-time series with Miami 10-4. The Hurricanes have won two of the last three. That includes an exhilarating 78-75 victory in Coral Gables last season. Miami won the game last season behind Freshman Lonnie Walker’s 25 points and clutch play. Louisville has won all four meetings with Miami at home.
Both teams rosters were depleted after last season. Lykes is the most prominent player back this season who contributed in last season’s game. The Sophomore had nine points and four assists.
"GAME 14 • JAN. 6, 2019 • 6 P.M. • LOUISVILLE, KY.MIAMI HURRICANES (8-5, 0-1 ACC)Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga (Providence, ‘71)Record at UM: 169-84 (8th season), Career Record: 639-418 (35th season)LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (9-4, 0-0 ACC)Head Coach: Chris Mack (Xavier, ‘92)Record at UL: 9-4 (1st season), Career Record: 215-97 (10th season)Date/Time: Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019/6 p.m.Location: Louisville, Ky./KFC Yum! Center (22,000)Television: ESPNU; Online: WatchESPNPlay-by-Play: Anish Shroff, Color: Corey AlexanderRadio: WQAM 560-AM (PxP: Joe Zagacki)Satellite Radio: Sirius 133, XM 391, XM Internet 965Series vs. UL: Miami trails, 10-4Road: 0-4 | Home: 4-5 | Neutral: 0-1Courtesy of HurricaneSports.Com"
After playing Louisville the back half of the Miami basketball road trip is at Florida State on Wednesday night. The Seminoles will plummet from their number nine ranking on Monday. Florida State lost 65-52 at Virginia on Saturday. FSU needed a 16-0 run to close the game out for the final margin.
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After Wednesday night Miami returns home to play four of their next five at the Watsco Center. The loss to North Carolina State was damaging. The Hurricanes face a very real possibility of beginning ACC play 0-3.