The Miami basketball team returns to non-conference play versus LIU after winning its ACC opener 62-39 over Notre Dame on Saturday. Sixteen-year NBA veteran Rod Strickland is the LIU head coach. LIU was 3-26 in the 2022-23 season in the inaugural year under Strickland.
LIU has been in South Florida since last week. FIU defeated LIU 74-59 on Saturday. LIU beat Texas A&M Corpus Christi 83-68 in the Northern Kentucky Thanksgiving Tournament last month. LIU lost by 20 at UCLA in their only game against a Power Conference team this season. LIU is 331st with a minus-13 scoring margin.
Miami dropped seven spots in the Associated Press Top 25 and USA Today Coaches polls this season. LIU will be a tune-up for Miami before they head to the Sharks’ backyard in Brooklyn on Sunday to play Colorado at the Barclay’s Center. Miami is 63rd in the initial net ratings through games on Monday.
LIU is led by 6’2 guards Eric Acker and Tai Strickland. Acker is averaging 13.9 points per game, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Strickland is averaging 13.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG and 2.6 APG. Strickland is a transfer from Georgia State and Rod’s son. Wooga Poplar leads Miami with 16.9 PPG, is second with 6.0 RPG and averages 1.3 APG.
LIU at Miami Basketball
Date: Wed., December 6, 2023 Time: 7:00 PM EST, Location: Coral Gables, Fla., Arena: Watsco Center Live Stats: miami.statbroadcast.com, Television: ACC Network Extra, FUBO TV Radio: 560 WQAM Series: 1-0 Home: 1-0 Last Meeting: W 102-66 12/16/88
Long Island University (1-6, O-0, NEC) Head Coach Rod Strickland (DePaul ’88), Record at LIU (4-32) Career Record 4-32 Record versus Miami 0-0
#15 Miami (6-1, 1-0 ACC) Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga (Providence ‘71), Record at UM: 261-150, Career Record: 731-484 Record versus LIU at Miami 0-0
Courtesy MiamiHurricanes.Com
LIU at Miami Fan Duel Odds:
Spread: Miami minus 27.5 Total 146.5 Moneyline: Miami minus 3s0,000 LIU plus 4,000 Total 154.5 Courtesy FanDuel
The point spread is huge. LIU and Miami are both 4-3 versus the point spread this season. Miami won the season-opening by 41 over NJIT and should be able to dominate LIU the same way. Jim Larranaga will probably try and get his reserves in. The lean here would be LIU and the under.
Long Island is a game the Miami basketball team should win easily ahead of the key neutral court non-conference game on Sunday versus Colorado. The game versus Colorado will be the last chance for Miami to earn a resume-building win before resuming non-conference play on January 3 versus Clemson.