Turnovers, fatigue plague Hurricanes in Challenge
CORAL GABLES — Despite having Dewan Hernandez, one of their top players, sidelined to start the season, the Hurricanes have been able to score effectively in their first six games, even in Sunday night’s hard-fought loss to Seton Hall.
Blame it on Rutgers’ defense, Miami’s lack of depth, the crosscountry flight home from California where the Hurricanes played in the Wooden Legacy this past weekend or a combination of all three, but on Wednesday, Miami’s offense just wasn’t the same.
The Hurricanes struggled from both the field and 3-point range and despite some late opportunities to tie the game, came up short in a 57-54 loss to Rutgers in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game at the Watsco Center.
It was Miami’s second straight loss after the Hurricanes opened the season with five straight wins and more disappointingly, was the Hurricanes’ worst offensive
showing so far this year.
Miami came into the game averaging 83.5 points per game and had been shooting 47 percent from the field. But against Rutgers, the Hurricanes were held under 55 points and were just 34 percent from the field.
Miami, which has relied on solid 3-point shooting in the early portion of the season, was also 7-of-28 from beyond the arc, something coach Jim Larrañaga said his team can’t afford, particularly when it also turns the ball over 13 times.
“I was a little surprised that it was such a low-scoring game, even though I know Rutgers plays good defense and they’ve held their last opponents. But I thought with the way we’re able to shoot the three, we’d be able to stretch them out,” Larrañaga said. “But when you only make 7-of-28, they don’t really have to worry about that and without Ebuka Izundu down the stretch, we did not have an inside game. He got cramps and wasn’t able to play the last 10 minutes.”
Still, the Hurricanes (5-2) had multiple chances to try and force overtime in the game’s final seconds. But Anthony Lawrence, Chris Lykes and Zach Johnson all missed 3-pointers that could have tied the game.
For Miami, Wednesday’s game was its fourth in six days, with the Hurricanes playing three games in California over the weekend. That kind of schedule, Larrañaga said, took a toll on his players, including Izundu, who recorded his second doubledouble of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds despite his cramping issues.
Lawrence had a teamhigh 16 points and Johnson added 12, but it wasn’t enough for the Hurricanes, which prior to Wednesday had won its last four games in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and had won 19
straight non-conference wins in games played on its home floor.
“We didn’t have the energy as a team,” Lykes said. “We missed shots defensively, I don’t think it was there. Mentally, we weren’t there either. Like Coach L said, we have to regroup and get ready for Saturday’s game. We have to pick up our energy. We looked lethargic out there, turning the ball over a lot. As a point guard, I have to be better with that.”
The Hurricanes, who came into Wednesday’s game after a tough 83-81 loss to Seton Hall in the championship game of the Wooden Legacy, started out hot, connecting on three quick 3-pointers to help build an early 13-4 lead.
Rutgers responded with an 11-0 run and after that, the Hurricanes got sloppy.
Miami turned the ball over 10 times in the first half, with the usually steady Lykes losing the ball five times. Rutgers, meanwhile, capitalized not only on the turnovers, but on the continued absence of Hernandez, who missed his seventh straight game
as Miami and the NCAA review his eligibility in the wake of the college basketball corruption scandal.
With Hernandez out, the Scarlet Knights (5-1) outscored Miami 16-10 in the paint during the first half and built a 28-24 halftime lead.
UM women to face Purdue in ACC/Big Ten Challenge: The Hurricanes women’s basketball team, which rose three spots to No. 21 in the latest AP Top 25, will travel to Purdue on Thursday to participate on the women’s side of the ACC/Big Ten challenge.
Miami (6-1) has posted a 6-3 all-time record in the challenge and has won four straight in the showcase. The Hurricanes are coming off a 73-61 win over Temple on Sunday, with redshirt junior Beatrice Mom premier posting her fifth double-double of the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
The UM women will also, this weekend, debut their new Parley uniforms, which feature material made from recycled ocean waste.