The Miami basketball team plays at Florida State on Wednesday night hoping for a victory against the number 16 team in the country for the second straight time. Miami defeated then number 16 Louisville earlier this month. The Hurricanes are coming off of a 73-59 loss to Notre Dame at the Watsco Center on Sunday night.
Miami has played Florida State 73 times which is 21 times more than Boston College who are the Hurricanes’ two most frequent opponents in the history of the basketball program. Florida State has won five straight games against Miami dating back to the 2017-18 season. Miami’s last win versus FSU came earlier that season.
Florida State enters Wednesday night second in the ACC with a 5-1 overall record. The Seminoles are one game behind Virginia in the conference and their 9-2 overall record is second to the Cavaliers in the ACC. Florida State has defeated Miami by an average of 9.8 points per game during the five-game winning streak.
Senior M.J. Walker leads five Florida State players averaging at least 9.4 points per game. Walker is averaging 14.5 PPG, 2.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. As usual Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton has a deep rotation. Florida State plays seven players nearly 20 minutes per game. The short Miami rotation will be challenged.
"Miami basketball at Florida State Game information:GAME 15 | JAN. 27, 2021 • 6 P.M. ET • TALLAHASSEE, FLA.Miami Hurricanes (6-8, 2-7 ACC)Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga (Providence, 1971)Record at UM: 196-121 (10th season), Career Record: 666-455 (37th season)#16 Florida State Seminoles (9-2, 5-1 ACC)Head Coach: Leonard Hamilton (UT-Martin, 1971)Record at FS: 368-225 (19th season), Career Record: 578-435 (33rd season)Series HistoryAll-Time: 36-49 (15-26 since rebirth) | Home: 28-15 | Away: 8-32 | Neutral: 0-2 | Coach L: 8-11 (8-11 at UM)Streak: Lost 5 | Last Meeting: 99-81 road loss (Feb. 8, 2020) | First Meeting: 80-61 home win (Dec. 19, 1950)Courtesy MiamiHurricanes.Com"
Kameron McGusty had a season-high 20 points and his second-best output for Miami in the Hurricanes’ loss to Notre Dame. Isaiah Wong scored 16 points but struggled shooting 6-17 from the floor and 1-8 on three-point attempts in the loss to Notre Dame. In its last three losses, Miami is 9-63 on three-point attempts.
"Broadcast Information:ACCN • Play-by-Play: Mike Couzens • Color: Jordan Cornette | ESPN.com/watchWQAM 560 AM • Joe Zagacki • Danny Rabinowitz | WQAM.Radio.com"
Miami is heading towards its third straight losing season. The Hurricanes have been hindered by injuries throughout all three of those seasons. Chris Lykes will likely miss his 13th straight game and freshman wing Earl Timberlake will also be out. Miami had to play with a predominately seven-man rotation against Notre Dame.
With the depth of Florida State, the Hurricanes’ lack of depth will be a big issue against the Seminoles. Seven Miami basketball players played all but three minutes against the Fighting Irish. Wong played 39 minutes, guard Elijah Olaniyi 34 and McGusty in just his second game in a month played 33 minutes.
After Florida State, Miami will end its stretch of five out of seven games on the road when they play at Wake Forest. The Hurricanes will return home following Wake Forest to host Duke on Monday night. Miami opens February with two straight home games and has a stretch of four out of six at home.