Miami basketball faces first major team versus Purdue in ACC-Big 10 Challenge

Dec 4, 2020; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2020; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Miami basketball team will play its first major team in the 2020-21 season when they host Purdue in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge on Tuesday night.

After victories over North Florida and Stetson, the Miami basketball team will play the first major team of the 2020-21 season on Tuesday night. Miami will host Purdue in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge on Tuesday night. Purdue has victories this season over Liberty, Oakland and Valparaiso and a loss to Clemson this season.

Purdue has defeated Miami all three times they have played. The victories for the Boilermakers over the Hurricanes includes the second round of the 1999 NCAA Tournament and the 2011 ACC-Big 10 challenge in West Lafayette. Purdue also won in Miami in 1987. Miami has won five out of their last six in the Challenge.

Miami has been led in its first two games by Sophomore guard Isaiah Wong. Wong is averaging 18.5 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game and shooting 51.7 percent from the floor. Senior guard Chris Lykes was named preseason first-team All-ACC and is averaging 15.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG and five assists.

Lykes is shooting 36.4 percent from the floor, made five of his 11 three-point attempts and 10 of his 11 free throw attempts. Freshman forward Matt Cross has started the first two games for Miami and been impressive. Cross is averaging 10.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, made 9-12 from the floor and 3-5 three-point attempts

"Game Information:GAME 3 | DEC. 8, 2020 • 5 P.M. ET • CORAL GABLES, FLA.Purdue Boilermakers (3-1)Head Coach: Matt Painter (Purdue, 1994)Record at PU: 340-175 (16th season), Career Record: 365-180 (17th season)Miami Hurricanes (2-0)Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga (Providence, 1971)Record at UM: 192-113 (10th season), Career Record: 662-447 (37th season)Information Courtesy of MiamiHurricanes.Com"

Miami won last season in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge 81-79 at Illinois. Purdue was blown out last season by defending National Champion Virginia 69-40 at Mackey Arena. Miami is 10-5 all-time in the ACC-Big 10 challenge, Purdue 11-8. The Hurricanes are 4-2 at home in the Challenge, the Boilermakers 3-6 on the road.

Purdue has a big team and has relied on a pair of freshmen in its first four games of 2020-21. Junior guard Sasha Stefanovic leads the Boilermakers averaging 14.0 PPG and 3.8 assists per game. Freshman guard Brandon Newman has started all four games and is averaging 12.0 PPG and shooting 42.1 percent on three-point attempts.

"SERIES HISTORYAll-Time: 0-3 (0-3 since rebirth) | Home: 0-0 | Away: 0-1 | Neutral: 0-2 | Coach L: 1-1 (0-1 at UM)Streak: Lost 3 | Last Meeting: 76-65 road loss (Nov. 29, 2011) | First Meeting: 110-82 neutral loss (Dec. 30, 1987)BROADCAST INFORMATIONTV: ESPN2 • Play-by-Play: Kevin Brown • Color: Robbie Hummel | Watch ESPNRadio: WQAM 560 AM • Joe Zagacki • Danny Rabinowitz | WQAM.Radio.comWVUM 90.5 FM • Brendan Reilly • Josh White | WVUM.org"

Canadian 7’3 285-pound center Zach Eddy will be a load for Miami inside. Eddy is averaging 13.8 PPG and 5.0 RPG off the bench. Redshirt senior centers Nysier Brooks and Rodney Miller will likely be assigned to guarding Eddy. Brooks is averaging 7.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG and is the best interior defender Miami has.

Miami is a perimeter-oriented team this season with guards, senior Kameron McGusty averaging 10.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG and 3.5 APG and sophomore Harlond Beverly 8.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 4.0 APG. The teams in scoring averages with Miami at 79.5 and allowing 59.5 PPG and Purdue 77.0 PPG and 64.0 PPG allowed.

Next. Miami basketball will be led by backcourt in 2020-21. dark

Miami’s next game is Saturday when they host Florida Gulf Coast at Noon. The Hurricanes open ACC play on December 16 at 6:00 PM. The first six games of the 2020-21 season for Miami are at home. Miami will play its first road game of the season on December 29 at Virginia Tech.