Miami basketball: Nijel Pack. Wooga Poplar, Norchad Omier playing versus Louisville
Nijel Pack. Wooga Poplar and Norchad Omier, all nursing ankle injuries, will be available for the Miami basketball team versus Louisville on Wednesday night, per Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports and Fan Duel. Poplar did not play in the Miami loss to Wake Forest on Saturday. Pack and Omier were injured at Wake Forest.
Poplar returns for the Miami basketball team after missing the last two games. Louisville will be the first game Poplar plays in for Miami since the December 29 Hurricanes' win over North Florida. Omier is leading Miami averaging 18.1 points per game and 9.8 rebounds. Poplar is second on Miami averaging 16.2 PPG and 5.2 RPG.
Omier had 20 points and 13 rebounds in 41 minutes versus Wake Forest. Pack had 15 points, four assists, a steal and made three of his six three-point attempts in 41 minutes versus Wake Forest on Saturday. Miami should be able to get off to a good start versus Louisville on Wednesday night and potentially limit Omier, Pack and Poplar's minutes.
Pack has missed two games this season but leads Miami averaging 33.3 minutes per game. Poplar is averaging 28.8 MPG and Omier 28.1. After averaging 15.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 3.0 APG with nine three-point shots as a starter in the last two games, Kyshawn George will come off the bench versus Louisville.
Miami's Nijel Pack (ankle), Wooga Poplar (ankle), and Norchad Omier (ankle) are all available for tonight's game against Louisville, per a school official.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 10, 2024
Significant ACC News.
Poplar has not played since 12/29 and averages 16.2 PPG.
Christian Watson played 41 minutes in the last two games with Poplar out. Starting guard Bensley Joseph played only 27 minutes on Saturday at Wake Forest because of foul trouble. Joseph had three in the first half but managed to not foul out. Miami needs Joseph to stay out of foul trouble versus Louisville.
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Omier will have a tough matchup versus 6'10 and 246-pound Louisville center Brandon Huntley-Hatfield. Forward Matthew Cleveland will likely help Omier on Huntley-Hatfield. A.J. Casey will be the seventh man coming off the bench after George. Miami versus Louisville tip-off at 7 PM ET on Wednesday night.