Miami Hurricanes News: Hoops ACC Tourney, players speak at spring practice

The Miami Hurricanes basketball team held on for a 74-72 win over Wake Forest on Thursday in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. Miami football players Te’Cory Couch, Anez Cooper, Matthew Lee and Colbie Young spoke to the media after practice on Thursday. The Miami baseball team begins ACC play versus North Carolina State.

Miami led 61-43 with 9:53 remaining in the game. Miami advances to play Duke. The Blue Devils beat Pittsburgh 96-69. Duke scored the first 12 points versus Pittsburgh, led 48-32 at halftime and never trailed. The Blue Devils are a different team from the one blitzed by Miami 81-59 in Coral Gables last month.

Duke has allowed less than 70 points in the last eight games. Miami was the last team to score more than 70 against Duke. Miami needs a big game offensively and to sustain the effort for 40 minutes. Miami has failed to close games out with big leads far too often during the 2022-23 season.

Couch, Cooper and Young are three returnees for Miami at different stages of their collegiate careers. Couch will be a fifth-year senior, Cooper a true sophomore and Young a rising junior after being signed by Miami as a junior college transfer in 2022. Lee is the first 2023 Miami transfer to speak to the media.

The Miami baseball team enters the three-game weekend series versus number 19 North Carolina with losses in four of its last five games. North Carolina State enters the weekend 13-0. The Wolfpack has the best record amongst ACC baseball teams. Virginia is the only other undefeated team in the ACC at 12-0.

Miami enters the weekend at 8-5 overall. This is a big weekend for the Miami Hurricanes baseball team. North Carolina State enters the weekend first nationally in the RPI. Miami dropped from 73rd to 101st in the most recent RPI update. College Sports Madness projects Miami as a three-seed in the Gainesville Regional.