The Miami basketball program will begin the 2020-21 season hosting North Florida at the Watsco Center Sunday afternoon.
The 2020-21 season begins for the Miami basketball program when they host North Florida on Sunday afternoon. The Hurricanes finished 15-16 in 2019-20. North Florida travels to Coral Gables with an 0-2 record. The Ospreys lost 80-67 to Eastern Kentucky and 86-51 at North Carolina State.
North Florida is coming off of a 21-12 season and finished 13-3 in the Atlantic Sun Conference to tie for the regular-season title with Liberty. The Ospreys are led by 6’7 junior forward Carter Hendricksen who averages 15.5 points per game, six rebounds and has made eight of 18 three-point attempts.
The Miami defense which was below what they have been during the nine-year Jim Larranaga tenure will have a chance to improve in their first game of the season against North Florida who is averaging 59 PPG in its first two. The Ospreys are allowing 83 points per game in the losses to Eastern Kentucky and NC State.
Miami will be led by their starting backcourt of seniors Chris Lykes and Kameron McGusty and sophomore Isaiah Wong. True freshman stretch four Matt Cross is projected to start with redshirt senior transfer Nysier Brooks at center for Miami. Star freshman wing Earl Timberlake is dealing with a sprained ankle.
"Game Information:GAME 1 | NOV. 29, 2020 • 6 P.M. ET • CORAL GABLES, FLA.SERIES HISTORYAll-Time: 5-0 (5-0 since rebirth) | Home: 4-0 | Away: 1-0 | Neutral: 0-0 | Coach L: 3-0 (3-0 at UM)Streak: Won 5 | Last Meeting: 86-65 home win (Nov. 25, 2018) | First Meeting: 85-63 home win (Dec. 20, 2007)North Florida Ospreys (0-2)Head Coach: Matthew Driscoll (Slippery Rock, 1992)Record at NF: 184-181 (12th season), Career Record: 210-258 (16th season)Miami Hurricanes (0-0)Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga (Providence, 1971)Record at UM: 190-113 (10th season), Career Record: 660-447 (37th season)Courtesy MiamiHurricanes.Com"
Our first three game times and 📺 have been finalized.
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) November 27, 2020
Nov. 29 vs. UNF (6 pm, ACCN)
Dec. 4 vs. Stetson (8 pm, ACCN)
Dec. 8 vs. Purdue (5 pm, ESPN2) pic.twitter.com/an8vU7uMcN
The status for Timberlake on Sunday is not known. Sophomore guard Harlond Beverly, senior center Rodney Miller, sophomore forward Anthony Walker and redshirt sophomore forward Deng Gak, who returns after missing most of the last two seasons will be available for Miami off the bench.
The tipoff to the 2020-21 season is tough for the Miami basketball team having to compete against the last hour of NFL games on Sunday. Miami was supposed to tipoff this past Wednesday against Stetson. The Hurricanes and Hatters will now play on Friday, December 4 at the Watsco Center.
"BROADCAST INFORMATIONACC Network • Play-by-Play: Mike Corey • Color: Jordan Cornette | Streaming WatchESPNWAXY 790 AM • Joe Zagacki • Danny Rabinowitz | radio.com/theticketmiamiWVUM 90.5 FM • Alex Bitchatchi • Cal Friedman | WVUM.org"
Next up for Miami is the game against Stetson on Friday. Miami leads the all-time series 9-0 with Stetson. The Hurricanes last defeated the Hatters 87-79 in November 2012. Miami will be the Division I game of the season for Stetson. Miami will follow that up with Purdue in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge on December 8.