The Miami basketball team will face one of its two biggest tests of the season when the Hurricanes host number 16 Virginia Tech on Saturday. Miami defeated then number 16 Louisville at the Watsco Center last month. The Hurricanes are hoping to build on their victory over Duke on Monday.
Miami has not won back to back games since December 4 and 8 over Stetson and Purdue. Prior to the victory over Duke, Miami lost 10 of their previous 13 games. Injuries have plagued the Hurricanes for the third consecutive season. Preseason All-ACC senior point guard Chris Lykes has only played in two games.
Freshman wing Earl Timberlake has played in only seven of the 17 Miami basketball games. Seniors, center Rodney Miller and forward Sam Waardenburg are out for the season. Add freshman forward Matt Cross being dismissed from the team last week and Miami has only six healthy scholarship players.
Timberlake will miss the game against Virginia Tech on Saturday. Without word from Miami head coach Jim Larranaga, Lykes should also be expected to be out. Guard Elijah Olaniyi set his Miami career-high with 21 points and Isaiah Wong and Anthony Walker scored 16 each in the Miami victory over Duke on Monday.
Earl Timberlake (left arm/shoulder) has been ruled out for tomorrow’s game vs #16 Virginia Tech, per head coach Jim Larrañaga.
— Cal Friedman (@friedman_cal) February 5, 2021
"Game Information:GAME 18 | FEB. 6, 2021 • 12 P.M. ET • CORAL GABLES, FLA.#16 Virginia Tech Hokies (13-4, 7-3 ACC)Head Coach: Mike Young (Emory & Henry, 1986)Record at VT: 29-20 (second season), Career Record: 328-264 (19th season)Miami Hurricanes (7-10, 3-9 ACC)Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga (Providence, 1971)Record at UM: 197-123 (10th season), Career Record: 667-457 (37th season)Series HistoryAll-Time: 24-18 (24-18 since rebirth) | Home: 12-5 | Away: 8-10 | Neutral: 4-3 | Coach L: 14-8 (14-8 at UM)Streak: Lost 1 | Last Meeting: 80-78 road loss (Dec. 29, 2020) | First Meeting: 85-74 road loss (Jan. 10, 2001)Courtesy MiamiHurricanes.Com"
Miami lost to Virginia Tech in the ACC opener in December. That game got lost on the Hurricanes sports calendar with the football team playing in the Cheez-it Bowl at the same time. Despite not playing for the first time until 2001, Virginia Tech is Miami’s fourth most frequent rival. Miami has played Boston College, Florida and FSU more.
"Broadcast Information:RSN • Play-by-Play: Evan Lepler • Color: Brian Oliver | FOX Sports Sun |Streaming: WatchESPNRadio: WQAM 560 AM • Joe Zagacki • Danny Rabinowitz | WQAM.Radio.comWMYM 990 AM • Alfredo Alvarez • Jose Martinez • Lorenzo Berry | UnanimoDeportes.comWVUM 90.5 FM • Alex Bitchatchi • Brendan Reilly | WVUM.org"
The Miami basketball team will follow up against Virginia Tech with a pair of tough games. The Hurricanes travel to North Carolina on Monday in another nationally televised game by ESPN. Miami plays at Notre Dame on February 14. Notre Dame defeated Miami 73-57 on January 24 in Coral Gables.