The Miami basketball team survived USC 68-66 Friday on two Charlie Moore free throws with three seconds remaining to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Miami plays Auburn on Sunday night. The Tigers were impressive in an 80-61 first-round win over Jacksonville State on Friday.
Miami will face another team with significantly more size than they have. Auburn starts 7’1 center Walker Kessler and 6’10 forward Jabari Smith. Sam Waardenburg at 6’9 is the only Miami starter taller than 6’7. Miami is going to have to continue to force turnovers. USC had 18 turnovers with Miami only committing three.
Auburn takes care of the ball better than USC. The Tigers had only 10 turnovers in their first-round win over the Gamecocks. Smith finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds and four assists against Jacksonville State. Kessler finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine blocks. Kessler and Smith are a tough matchup for Miami.
Miami will need Isaiah Wong to stay out of foul trouble. Wong led Miami with 22 points in only 24 minutes before fouling out. Miami needs more than 24 minutes from Wong against Auburn. The Hurricanes’ three-guard lineup needs to produce for Miami against Auburn. Moore carried Miami after Wong fouled out.
The Round of 32
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) March 19, 2022
No. 10 Miami 🆚 No. 2 Auburn
Sunday at 7:45 PM on truTV#MarchMadness x Miami pic.twitter.com/rGzr4N3jTL
GAME 35 NOTES
"Miami Hurricanes (24-10, 14-6 ACC) 10 SeedHead Coach: Jim Larrañaga 38th Season (694-474), 11th season at Miami (224-140)#8/7 Auburn Tigers (28-5, 15-3 SEC) 2 SeedHead Coach: Bruce Pearl, 27th Season (614-242), 8th Season at Auburn (152-97)SERIES HISTORYAll-Time: 1-1 (0-1 since rebirth) | Home: 1-0 | Away: 0-1 | Neutral: 0-0 | Coach L: 0-0 (0-0 at UM)Streak: Lost 1 | Last Meeting: 60-58 road loss (Mar. 14, 2001 NIT) | First Meeting: 87-73 home win (Dec. 12, 1966)Some information Courtesy HurricanesSports.Com"
Miami should be used to the size and talent that Auburn has after wins over Duke and North Carolina during the regular season and USC. Smith will be an NBA lottery pick this summer. Paolo Banchero of Duke is a similar player. Kessler who was previously at UNC is an old school center that Miami will have to be aware of at the rim.
Miami basketball versus Auburn Odds: Line, Spread, Over/Under
WynnBet lists Auburn as a 7.5-point favorite over Miami with an over/under of 143.0 points. The moneyline for is +270 for Miami, and -340 for Auburn.
Miami versus Auburn prediction
The two-point Miami victory over USC was the 19 for the Hurricanes this season decided by one-point or less. Auburn is another step up in competition from USC. Miami played Duke tight before losing 80-76 in the ACC Tournament. Based on their history this season, Miami should cover the 7.5 point spread.
The 143 point total is high for an NCAA Tournament game. Miami and USC had a 140 point total entering the game and combined for 136. The Hurricanes have an opportunity to advance to their first Sweet 16 since 2016. That was when Miami head their last NCAA Tournament win before Friday.
What Channel is the Miami basketball Game On?
"BROADCAST INFORMATIONtruTV • Play-by-Play: Jim Nantz • Color: Grant Hill • Color: Bill Raftery • Reporter: Tracy Wolfson | MarchMadnessLiveWestwood One • Bill Rosinski • Jordan Cornette | WestwoodOneSports.comAM 560 WQAM • Joe Zagacki | audacy.com/wqam"
The Miami basketball team has had its most successful season since at least 2018 when the Hurricanes finished third in the ACC. With a victory on Sunday, Miami will equal its best NCAA Tournament run in program history. Miami advanced to Sweet 16 in 2000, 2013 and 2016 previously.