The Miami basketball team will play its first game in eight days Sunday night at Notre Dame. Miami had its game canceled at North Carolina this past Monday night due to COVID-19 contact tracking. The Hurricanes will play the Fighting Irish after a deflating 80-76 loss to Virginia Tech last Saturday.
Miami enters its game with Notre Dame 7-11 overall and 3-10 and 14th in the ACC a half-game ahead of Boston College. The Eagles earned their only ACC victory this season against Miami versus nine losses and are 3-13 overall. Miami has five losses this season of five points or less with four of those in the ACC.
Notre Dame won its last game, 93-89 at Duke on Tuesday against a reeling Blue Devils. Duke is an astounding 7-8 overall and 5-6 in the ACC. Notre Dame is 8-10 overall and 5-7 in the ACC. Sophomore guard Isaiah Wong has been a bright spot for Miami this season averaging 17.4 points per game and 5.5 rebounds.
The Fighting Irish defeated the Hurricanes 73-57 in Coral Gables last month. As has happened far too frequently this season, Notre Dame scorched Miami making 10 of its 18 three-point attempts. Prentiss Hubb, a high school teammate of injured Miami star Chris Lykes scored 19 points on five of seven three-point attempts.
"GAME 19 | FEB. 14, 2021 • 6 P.M. ET • NOTRE DAME, IND.Miami Hurricanes (7-11, 3-10 ACC)Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga (Providence, 1971)Record at UM: 197-124 (10th season), Career Record: 667-458 (37th season)Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-10, 5-7 ACC)Head Coach: Mike Brey (George Washington, 1982)Record at ND: 445-243 (21st season), Career Record: 544-295 (26th season)SERIES HISTORYAll-Time: 12-13 (12-13 since rebirth) | Home: 6-6 | Away: 5-6 | Neutral: 1-1 | Coach L: 5-6 (5-5 at UM)Streak: Lost 2 | Last Meeting: 73-59 home loss (Jan. 24, 2021) | First Meeting: 126-73 home loss (Feb. 22, 1986Courtesy MiamiHurricanes.Com"
He's got the largest PPG increase in the league, he's made clutch bucket after clutch bucket...
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) February 12, 2021
There's no doubt in our mind Zay Wong deserves the @accmbb Most Improved Player award. pic.twitter.com/Q97qddIUb5
The Miami basketball team had their last game won against Virginia Tech. A controversial three-point shot at the buzzer in regulation sent the game to overtime. The Hokies pulled away in the additional five minutes for the four-point victory. Miami has to improve their three-point defense against Notre Dame.
Notre Dame ranks fourth in the ACC in three-point attempts made per game at 8.7, sixth in three-point attempts at 22.8 and third in the ACC with a 38.1 three-point percentage. The three-point defense for Miami this season has often been the difference between being blown out and one-possession games late.
"BROADCAST INFORMATIONACCN • Play-by-Play: Wes Durham • Color: Paul Biancardi | WatchESPNWQAM 560 AM • Joe Zagacki • Danny Rabinowitz | WQAM.Radio.com"
Following the game at Notre Dame, the Miami basketball team will have another six days off. No makeup game has been announced for the cancelation against North Carolina. The possibility is that Miami could play North Carolina on Thursday. That would be the middle of four games in eight days for the Tar Heels.
The ACC stated during the football and basketball seasons that winning percentage is how the standings will be judged if not all games can be complete. Amazingly, Jim Larranaga has kept his team COVID free while others teams have had to put their seasons on pause. The 13 games Miami has played are the most in the ACC.