Miami basketball gets Matthew Cleveland back versus Georgia Tech, Nijel Pack out

The Miami basketball team will have forward Matthew Cleveland back for the game on Saturday versus Georgia Tech, but guard Nijel Pack will not play versus the Yellow Jackets per Hurricanes' play-by-play announcer Joe Zagacki on the pregame show. Cleveland missed the loss to Duke on Wednesday and Pack has been out for the last two games.

Shorthanded Miami lost 84-55 to Duke on Wednesday. Miami is favored to defeat Georgia Tech at home on Saturday afternoon by any measure. At 15-12 overall and 6-10 in the ACC, Miami is competing to stay out of the first day of the ACC Tournament on Tuesday, March 12.

Pack missed two games earlier this season with back problems and was out versus Duke and Boston College last Saturday with a knee injury. Cleveland previously missed time with a hip injury and was out versus Duke with an illness. Cleveland and Pack returning should be a big boost to the Miami lineup.

Cleveland is third on Miami, averaging 14.0 points per game and second with 5.8 rebounds. Pack is fourth on Miami, averaging 13.7 PPG and is second on the Hurricanes with 47 three-point shots made. With Pack out, Bensley Joseph will continue to start on Saturday versus Georgia Tech.

Cleveland, wing Kyshawn George, Joseph, forward Norchad Omier and guard Wooga Poplar will start for Miami on Saturday. Freshman wing Paul Djobet, who started in place of Cleveland versus Duke on Wednesday, will return to the bench. The rotations for Jim Larranaga have been unpredictable off the bench this season because of injuries.

The Hurricanes enter Saturday's game 15-12 overall and 6-10 in 12th place in the ACC. Miami is 2.5 games behind Syracuse for ninth place in the ACC. The Orange defeated the Hurricanes and hold the tiebreaker. A lot would have to happen for Miami to earn a bye out of the first round of the ACC Tournament.