The Miami basketball team hosts number eight Duke on Wednesday without guard Nijel Pack. Pack is out with a knee injury. Number eight Duke is the second-highest-ranked team Miami will play this season. Then number three North Carolina defeated Miami 75-72 at the Watsco Center earlier this month.
Miami enters the game versus Duke with a four-game losing streak. Duke is one of the hottest teams nationally, with 15 wins in its last 17 games. Freshman Jared McCain had 35 points on 12 of 20 from the floor and eight of 11 threes in Duke's 76-67 win over Florida State on Saturday. McCain is averaging 19.4 points per game in February.
Miami is 10th in the ACC, allowing opponents to make 35.6 percent of its three-point field goals. Duke is second in the ACC, making 37.8 percent of its three-point field goals. Miami did a good job defending three-point attempts in January. The Hurricanes have slipped in February.
With Pack out, Bensley Joseph will continue to start. Wooga Poplar will start in the backcourt with Joseph versus Duke. Kyshawn George struggled versus Boston College on Saturday. Miami needs a big game from George to have a chance versus Duke. Matthew Cleveland is expected to be healthy after missing practice on Monday.
Duke at Miami basketball: Game information
Date: Wed., Feb. 21, 2024, Time: 7 p.m. ET, Location: Coral Gables, Fla., Arena: Watsco Center
Live Stats: miami.statbroadcast.com, Television: ESPN, Radio: 560 WQAM, Series: 25-10, Duke, at Miami: 7-9, at Duke: 3-12, Neutral: 0-4, Last Meeting: 85-78, Duke (3/10/23 ACCT)
#7/8 Duke (20-5, 11-3 ACC), Head Coach: Jon Scheyer (Duke ‘10), Record at Duke: 47-14, Career Record: 47-14, Record vs. UM: 2-1 Miami (15-11, 6-9 ACC), Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga (Providence ‘71), Record at UM: 270-160, Career Record: 740-494, Record vs. Duke: 8-11
Next 🆙
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) February 20, 2024
We’re back at Watsco Wednesday night at 7PM 🆚 Duke!
🎟️ https://t.co/z48vT7hDLe pic.twitter.com/Vpanbe75Fo
Duke at Miami: Point Spread and Over/Under
Duke at Miami: FanDuel Odds:Spread: Miami plus 5.5 Total: 150.5, Moneyline: Duke -220 Miami +180 Courtesy FanDuel.
Miami is 5-6-1 versus the point spread at the Watsco Center this season. Duke is 5-4-1 on the road. Miami has only covered once in its last seven games with one push. Duke has covered the point spread in five of its previous six games. It's tough to bet on Miami right now. Miami has been inconsistent all year. Playing at their prime, Miami should keep it close.
Six of the last seven Duke games and seven of the previous nine Miami games have gone under the total. Wednesday night is a challenging game to handicap. How Miami plays on Wednesday in front of what should be a raucous crowd could determine the outcome. How Miami plays will also say a lot about where their psyche is at.
After Duke Miami will host Georgia Tech on Saturday, play at North Carolina on Monday, host Boston College on March 6 and finish the regular season at Florida State on March 9. Miami needs to finish the season strong to avoid playing in the first round of the ACC tournament that begins on Tuesday, March 12.