Hurricanes on a roll, look for another upset
CORAL GABLES — A nationally televised game. A high-profile opponent. And a team still looking for résumé-building wins.
There are plenty of storylines for the Hurricanes men’s basketball team as it prepares to host 10th-ranked Duke this afternoon in its final home game of the regular season.
Throw in the fact seniors Davon Reed and Kamari Murphy will be honored ahead of tip-off, that point guard Ja’Quan Newton will be returning from his three-game suspension and that the Hurricanes would like to make up for an ugly performance against the Blue Devils earlier this year and there are all the ingredients for a memorable, emotional afternoon at the Watsco Center today.
“We expect it’ll be electric,” Miami coach Jim Larrañaga said. “The students will be turning out in large numbers, the fans know Duke is coming to town, it’s on CBS, a nationally televised game and I would expect it to be very much like our home game against North Carolina.”
There’s no doubt the Hurricanes would like a result like they had against the Tar Heels, too.
Nearly a month ago, Miami upset then-ninth-ranked North Carolina, starting a crucial stretch during which the unranked Hurricanes went on to win six of eight against tough Atlantic Coast Conference foes.
The most recent victory came Monday, when Miami traveled to Charlottesville and upset then No. 18 Virginia 54-48 in overtime. It was a win that had many college basketball experts moving the Hurricanes off the bubble and into the NCAA Tournament.
But the Hurricanes understand a victory over a Duke team that has improved since the two teams met on Jan. 21 will only continue helping their postseason cause.
And Miami (19-8, 9-6) is also looking to show the nation they’re an improved team, as well, after last month’s game against the Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
There, the Hurricanes controlled the tempo for much of the first half, even building a 12-point lead. But they failed to put together a complete 40-minute effort and were outscored 45-22 in the second half.
That eventually resulted in a 70-58 Duke win.
Since, the Blue Devils (22-6, 10-5) have only gotten stronger, with legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski returning to the bench after back surgery and injured players returning to the lineup. That’s coincided with growth from freshman Jayson Tatum, and the Blue Devils enter today’s game having won seven of their last eight – with that lone loss coming on a buzzerbeater at Syracuse on Wednesday.
“They’ve got a couple more guys rolling and their freshmen are playing well now,” Murphy said. “They were playing well before, but even better now. They had a couple close games, good games, and I think they’ve got a little confidence, too. It’s up to us to know the scout and do what we have to do and try to stop them. … I think they have their mojo back now, but we have to get the ‘W’ on Saturday.”
Helping Miami in that effort will be Newton, who is set to return after this three-game suspension for violating an undisclosed team rule. Even after missing Miami’s wins over Georgia Tech, Clemson and Virginia, Newton is still the Hurricanes’ second-leading scorer averaging 15 points.
Larrañaga said the point guard, who started all 24 of Miami’s games before his suspension, will come off the bench against the Blue Devils.