The Miami basketball program will play its first NCAA Tournament game against USC on Friday at 3:10 PM ET in Greenville, South Carolina. Miami has not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2016 when they advanced to the Regional Semifinal. USC lost in the West Regional Final last season to Gonzaga.
The matchup will likely be decided by the ability of Miami to force turnovers from a USC team prone to them versus the size of USC. Six players in the USC rotation are 6’7 or taller. Starting center Sam Waardenburg and backup forward Anthony Walker both 6’9 are the only Miami players over 6’7.
Miami has been excellent away from home this season. The loss to Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals broke a seven-game winning streak for Miami away from the Watsco Center. Miami has a veteran team that has dealt well with adversity all season. Miami is 11-7 in games decided by two possessions or less.
Miami is making its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last 10 seasons. Prior to the hiring of head coach Jim Larranaga, Miami had six NCAA Tournament appearances in program history. The four NCAA Tournament wins Miami has under Larranaga equal what the Hurricanes had before he was hired.
Miami basketball game versus USC
"GAME 34 | MARCH 18, 2022 • 3:10 P.M. ET • GREENVILLE, S.C.[10] Miami Hurricanes (23-10, 14-6 ACC)Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga (Providence, 1971)Record at UM: 223-140 (11th season), Career Record: 693-474 (38th season)#21/22 [7] USC Trojans (26-7, 14-6 P12)Head Coach: Andy Enfield (Johns Hopkins, 1991)Record at SC: 225-143 (ninth season), Career Record: 184-115 (11th season)SERIES HISTORYAll-Time: 0-2 (0-2 since rebirth) | Home: 0-0 | Away: 0-1 | Neutral: 0-1 | Coach L: 0-0 (0-0 at UM)Streak: Lost 2 | Last Meeting: 86-66 neutral-site loss (Dec. 27, 1992) | First Meeting: 92-71 road loss (Dec. 1, 1990)Courtesy MiamiHurricanes.Com"
Miami has an advantage playing much closer to home than USC who is traveling nearly from coast to coast for the first-round NCAA Tournament game. Both teams are battle-tested in Power Six conferences. USC was last eliminated in the conference tournament a week ago to UCLA in the Pac 12 semifinals.
Miami basketball versus USC Odds: Line, Spread, Over/Under
WynnBet lists USC as a two-point favorite over Miami with an over/under of 140.0 points. The moneyline for is +115 for Miami, and -140 for USC.
1️⃣ day, 3️⃣ chances to support the Canes in South Carolina on Friday!! 🙌
— Miami Hurricanes (@MiamiHurricanes) March 15, 2022
𝐌 𝐈 𝐀 𝐌 𝐈 𝐌 𝐀 𝐃 𝐍 𝐄 𝐒 𝐒:@CanesWBB vs. USF in Columbia at 11:30 AM@CanesHoops vs. USC in Greenville at 3:10 PM@CanesBaseball at Clemson at 6 PM
Who's doing it all? Let us know👇 pic.twitter.com/GlXz5pCNtp
Miami versus USC prediction
The Miami basketball team has been at its best this season when forcing turnovers. The Hurricanes are 22nd nationally with a plus 4.2 turnover margin per game. USC is 303rd nationally committing two more turnovers than their opponents. Miami can neutralize the USC height advantage by forcing turnovers.
With 18 of the 32 Miami basketball games this season decided by one possession or less, the game against USC should be the 19th. Miami needs good performances from guards Kameron McGusty, Charlie Moore and Isaiah Wong against USC. Wong has been inconsistent at times this season.
What Channel is the Miami basketball Game On?
"BROADCAST INFORMATIONtruTV • Play-by-Play: Jim Nantz • Color: Grant Hill • Color: Bill Raftery • Reporter: Tracy Wolfson | March Madness LiveWestwood One • Bill Rosinski • Jordan Cornette | WestwoodOneSports.comAM 560 WQAM • Joe Zagacki | audacy.com/wqam"
Whatever happens on Friday, Jim Larranaga has turned the program around after three straight losing seasons. This year has built a good foundation for the future. The Hurricanes have added size in their 2022 class with all four players 6’6 or taller. A win in the NCAA Tournament would help the culture for the future.