MBB Plays Host to No. 23 FSU Sunday
January 27, 2019 | 6 p.m.
Watsco Center | Coral Gables, Fla.
Miami (9-9, 1-5 ACC) vs. No. 23 Florida State (14-5, 2-4 ACC)
Watch Online | Tickets | Directions | Roster | Schedule | UM Game Notes | FSU Game Notes
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team returns home Sunday for a rivalry game against No. 23 Florida State at the Watsco Center. Game time is set for 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
The broadcast also streams online via the WatchESPN app. The Canes’ radio broadcast airs on WQAM 560-AM and also streams on HurricaneSports.com, Radio.com and the TuneIn app. The Spanish radio broadcast airs on WTIG 990-AM ESPN Deportes.
Things To Know
• Miami’s next three games are against ranked teams.
• Miami is the only team among basketball’s six power conferences with five players averaging at least 11.6 ppg apiece.
• DJ Vasiljevic has hit at least one 3-pointer in 31 straight games – the longest current streak in the ACC – and needs to connect on one more 3-pointer to reach the career top 10 in 3-pointers at UM.
• Chris Lykes is eighth in the ACC in scoring (17.5) and fourth in conference play (19.3 ppg).
• UM has led in the second half in 16 of its 18 games.
• UM averages 8.8 3-pointers per game (third in ACC).
• Zach Johnson is one of 11 players nationally with 1,500 career points and 350 assists.
• Ebuka Izundu is third in the ACC in rebounding (9.4), and fourth in double-doubles (6).
• As a team Miami ranks seventh nationally in fewest fouls per game (14.3).
• Junior forward Dewan Hernandez has been withheld from competition thus far as the University and NCAA review his eligibility.
Miami (9-9, 1-5 ACC) was stymied Thursday in a 73-53 loss at Syracuse, recording a season low in points while shooting just 33.9 percent from the field. Vasiljevic was the lone Miami player to score in double figures, finishing with 11 points. Syracuse was hot from 3-point range, hitting 14-of-30 from behind the arc in pulling away for the win.
In addition to Lykes, Johnson (13.3), Lawrence (12.1), Izundu (11.6) and Vasiljevic (11.6) each are averaging double-figure scoring this season. As a team the Canes are scoring 75.2 ppg this year and giving up 71.1 ppg.
Ranked No. 23 nationally in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll, FSU (14-5, 2-4) snapped a three-game losing streak with a 77-68 home win over Clemson on Tuesday night. The Seminoles feature a deep roster, with 11 players averaging at least nine minutes per game. Mfiondu Kabengele leads FSU in scoring at 12.8 ppg, while Terance Mann is averaging 11.5 ppg and a team-best 6.4 rpg. As a team FSU averages 77.7 ppg and allows 69.8 ppg.
Miami trails the series with Florida State, 47-35, but is 27-14 all-time at home against the Seminoles.
FSU won the first matchup this year, 68-62, on Jan. 9 in Tallahassee. Miami prevailed, 80-74, on Jan. 7, 2018, in the last meeting in Coral Gables. Jim Larrañaga is 8-8 against Florida State in his career, with each of the games coming while at UM.
In the last meeting two-and-a-half weeks ago, Lykes scored 17 points while Lawrence added 14 points and Ebuka Izundu recorded 13 points and nine rebounds. After trailing by as many as 13 points in the second half, Miami rallied to cut its deficit to two points, 64-62, with 56 seconds remaining on a Johnson layup but FSU put the game away from there. Miami shot 37 percent (20-54) from the field and hit a season-low four 3-pointers, going 4-of-18 from 3-point range. FSU connected on 27-of-64 (42.2 percent) from the field was led by David Nichols with 13 points.
Miami has a challenging week ahead, with a pair of games against top-10 teams. The Canes host No. 10 Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. Wednesday before traveling to No. 3 Virginia next Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest.
To keep up with the University of Miami men’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
