The Miami basketball team will take a four-game losing streak into their game against Duke on Monday night at the Watsco Center. Miami also has four straight losses against Duke that dates back to the 2018 season. Five of the Hurricanes last six games have been double-digit losses. Miami lost 66-54 to Wake Forest Saturday.
The 12 point loss to the Demon Deacons on Saturday was the closest game for the Miami basketball team since a 78-72 victory over then number 16 Louisville on January 16. Miami needed 30 points from Isaiah Wong to defeat Louisville. Freshman Matt Cross who has since been dismissed from the team had 16.
Miami has relied too much on Wong this season. The Hurricanes offense has far too frequently been stagnant in games this season. Opponents have been able to go on big runs because of the inconsistency of the Miami offense. Wake Forest took control against Miami with a 15-0 first-half run.
Duke played its best game of the season Saturday with a 79-53 victory over Clemson. After an extremely uncharacteristic three-game losing streak, Duke has won its last two games. Duke is led by sophomore forward Matthew Hurt who is the only Blue Devil to start all 12 games and is averaging 18.7 PPG and 7.7 RPG.
"GAME 17 | FEB. 1, 2021 • 7 P.M. ET • CORAL GABLES, FLA.Duke Blue Devils (7-5, 5-3 ACC)Head Coach: Mike Krzyzewski (Army, 1969)Record at DU: 1,091-296 (41st season), Career Record: 1,164-355 (46th season)Miami Hurricanes (6-10, 2-9 ACC)Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga (Providence, 1971)Record at UM: 196-123 (10th season), Career Record: 666-457 (37th season)Series HistoryAll-Time: 7-22 (6-22 since rebirth) | Home: 5-9 | Away: 2-11 | Neutral: 0-2 | Coach L: 5-8 (5-7 at UM)Streak: Lost 4 | Last Meeting: 89-59 road loss (Jan. 21, 2020) | First Meeting: 71-69 home win (Dec. 21, 1962)Courtesy MiamiHurricanes.Com"
Hurt leads three Blue Devils averaging in double figures. Freshman D.J. Steward and Jalen Johnson have made impacts in their first collegiate seasons. Steward is averaging 13.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG and 2.3 assists per game. Hurt and Johnson, who is averaging 12.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.4 APG will give Miami trouble on the frontline.
The Hurricanes are down to redshirt senior Nysier Brooks, sophomore Anthony Walker and redshirt sophomore Deng Gak upfront with the dismissal of Cross. Miami should be expected to be without senior guard Chris Lykes and freshman wing Earl Timberlake who have been out indefinitely.
Lykes has missed the last 14 games. Timberlake has played in only seven of the 16 Miami basketball games this season with a pair of injuries. Miami played with only six scholarship players against Duke. The rotation is extremely tight for the Hurricanes and they have understandably worn down quickly.
"Broadcast InformationTV: ESPN • Play-by-Play: Sean McDonough • Color: Jay Bilas | WatchESPNRadio: Compass Media Networks • Bill Rosinski • Chucky Brown | CompassMediaNetworks.comWQAM 560 AM • Joe Zagacki • Danny Rabinowitz | WQAM.Radio.comWMYM 990 AM • Alfredo Alvarez • Jose Martinez • Lorenzo Berry | UnanimoDeportes.comWVUM 90.5 FM • Cal Friedman • Josh White | WVUM.org"
Duke will be the biggest game on the Miami basketball game this season. ESPN is televising the game with one of its lead announcing teams of Sean McDonough on play-by-play and top analyst Jay Bilas on color. The game is also being broadcast on national radio. Miami has a chance to make a statement.
Miami is almost certaintly headed towards its third straight losing season with a 6-10 record. A victory over Duke coupled with the win over Louisville will give Jim Larranaga and his staff something to build on with a young team for the 2021-22 season. Watching Miami basketball has been extremely frustrating.