After ending a seven-game winning streak versus Presbyterian on Sunday, Miami will host Mount St. Mary's on Saturday. Miami is expected to be without Nijel Pack for the second straight game. A.J. Stanton-McCray and Divine Ugochukwu started for Miami in the backcourt with Pack out versus Presbyterian.
Jalen Blackmon played only 25 seconds less than Ugochukwu versus Presbyterian. Miami five-star freshman Jalil Bethea scored only seven points in 10:59 versus Presbyterian. Mount St. Mary's is led by redshirt junior forward Dola Adebayo who averages 12.0 points per game, 6.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks.
Forcing turnovers is critical for Miami versus Mount St. Mary's. The Mountaineers are 343rd nationally committing 15.8 turnovers per game. Miami is 344th forcing 9.45 turnovers per game. The Hurricanes have been far better offensively this season in games versus lower Division I teams. Converting turnovers to points will help.
Without Pack, Kidd will be the Miami leading scorer playing Saturday averaging 11.7 PPG and he is second posting 6.7 RPG. Four Miami players are averaging in double figures and Blackmon posts 9.6 PPG. Miami needs to build off the win over Presbyterian to gain confidence entering the rest of the ACC schedule.
Mount St. Mary's at Miami FanDuel odds
Miami is a 17.5-point favorite over Mount St. Mary's per the FanDuel odds. Mount St. Mary's is plus 1,200 and Miami is minus 3,000 on the money line. The over/under for Mount St. Mary's is 151.5.
Mount St. Mary's versus Miami series history
Miami won the only meeting versus Mount St. Mary's 86-83, on December 8, 1966, at the Baltimore Civic Center.
Mount St. Mary's at Miami TV information
Mount St. Mary's at Miami will air on ACC Network extra.
Miami is off until January 1 after Mount St. Mary's. Boston College hosts Miami on New Year's Day to resume ACC play. Miami began ACC play with a 65-55 home loss to Clemson on December 19. Beginning with Boston College, Miami will play 19 straight regular-season ACC games.