Miami Basketball gets back to ACC Play at Clemson: Game Info

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 27: Dejan Vasiljevic #1 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates with Chris Lykes #0 against the Florida State Seminoles during the first half at Watsco Center on January 27, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 27: Dejan Vasiljevic #1 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates with Chris Lykes #0 against the Florida State Seminoles during the first half at Watsco Center on January 27, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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After a 10 day layoff, the Miami basketball team returns with a New Year’s Eve matinee at Clemson. The Hurricanes travel to South Carolina with a four-game winning streak and are 8-3, 0-1 on the season.

The Miami basketball team has situated itself for a chance to make a run at an NCAA Tournament berth after sitting out last season following three straight bids. The Hurricanes lost their season opener to Louisville and struggled offensively early before the recent four-game winning streak. Now Miami gets back to ACC play.

Miami has played only four games this month prior to traveling to Clemson on New Year’s Eve. They began the month with a key road win at Illinois in the Big Ten ACC Challenge and defeated Temple by one point in Brooklyn two weeks ago. The Hurricanes are currently 83rd in the Net Ratings that replace the RPI.

A win at Clemson would go a long way towards helping the Miami basketball program back to the NCAA Tournament. Clemson is currently 6-6 and113th in the net ratings. Winning at Clemson would be a quadrant two victory for the Hurricanes. Clemson has struggled since advancing to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 2018.

The Tigers were 20-14 last season and lost at home to Wichita State in the second round of the NIT. Clemson has only two NCAA Appearances in 10 years under head coach Brad Brownell. The first came in his inaugural season with the Tigers in 2011. Brownell could be on the hot seat after the 2019-20 season.

"GAME 12 | DEC. 31, 2019 • 4 P.M. ET • CLEMSON, S.C.Miami Hurricanes (8-3, 0-1 ACC)Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga (Providence, 1971)Record at UM: 183-100 (ninth season), Career Record: 653-434 (36th season)Clemson Tigers (6-6, 0-2 ACC)Head Coach: Brad Brownell (DePauw, 1991)Record at CU: 175-133 (10th season), Career Record: 342-218 (19th season)Courtesy of HurricaneSports.Com"

The game between Clemson and Miami seems destined to be low scoring. Both teams are far better defensively than offensively. The Hurricanes combined to scored 113 points in back to back losses during their last trip to the Palmetto State last month for the Charleston Classic. Miami finished fifth.

Clemson has good size with no player smaller than 6’2. They are led by wings, Amir Simms, Tevin Mack and John Newman III. Simms, Mack and Newman are between 6’5 and 6’8. Miami point guard Chris Lykes could have trouble with the Tigers size on the perimeter. The series with Miami and Clemson has been competitive.

"SERIES HISTORYAll-Time: 12-14 (12-11 since rebirth) | Home: 8-3 | Away: 2-8 | Neutral: 2-3 | Coach L: 6-3 (6-3 at Miami)Last Meeting: 65-64 home win (Feb. 17, 2019) | First Meeting: 98-96 neutral-site loss (Jan. 5, 1956)BROADCAST INFORMATIONACCN • Play-by-Play: Steve Schlanger • Color: Dan Bonner | Streaming: ESPN.ComWQAM 560 AM • Joe Zagacki | WQAM.Radio.com"

Next. Miami wins huge non-conference game versus Temple. dark

Since Miami joined the ACC the Hurricanes are 11-9 against Clemson in conference play. The teams have alternated wins in the last seven meetings with the Hurricanes winning four. The home team won all seven of those meetings. A win at Littlejohn Coliseum would be big for the Hurricanes. Miami next hosts Duke on Saturday.