Canes Crush Clemson In Crucial ACC Contest

The University of Miami men’s basketball team (11-2, 2-0 ACC)  recorded its first ranked win of the season on Wednesday, downing the No. 16 Clemson Tigers (11-2, 1-1 ACC), 95-82, at the Watsco Center.

“That was a great college basketball game,” head coach Jim Larrañaga said. “It was very entertaining. Both teams played very hard and very well. We had three guys over 20 so, from an offensive standpoint, those three guys really played at a high level. But we had five guys in double-figures.”

A trio of Hurricanes eclipsed the 20-point mark in the game, paced by fourth-year junior Nijel Pack who totaled 25 on 8-of-13 shooting. Fourth-year junior Norchad Omier and junior Matthew Cleveland each recorded 23 points in the contest.

This was the fourth time during Larrañaga’s tenure that three Hurricanes have scored 20-plus points in the same game.

Freshman Kyshawn George and junior Bensley Joseph joined the trio in double-figures with 12 points apiece, marking the fourth time this season all five starters have scored in double-digits.

As a team, Miami shot 53 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from 3-point range. The Hurricanes’ 75 percent shooting effort in the second half was the first time a Miami team shot better than 70 percent in a half since 2017 (70 percent vs. Middle Tennessee).

A 3-pointer by Clemson’s Chase Hunter cut the Hurricanes’ advantage to single-digits, 87-79, with just over a minute to play, but clutch free throws by Pack and Joseph solidified the 95-82 victory for Miami.

The Hurricanes hit the road for the first time in 2024 on Saturday when they travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., to take on Wake Forest. Tipoff is set for 2:15 p.m. and the game will air on The CW.

Comments

[Terrance Sullivan]

Need Watson, George, Casey, Nwoko, to contribute greatly to help out the Starters out today especially with Wooga out again! Let’s Go Canes! Beat Wake Forest! It’s Going To Be Tough but we can do this!

[Terrance Sullivan]

The Game is on The CW Network starts in about 10 minutes!

[MLALUMNI 1970]

What the hell is CW Network? I am still up in Michigan.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

ACC refs going to whistle this one all the way down tobacco road today. No Wooga in the lineup again means the test is set to max difficulty!

[MLALUMNI 1970]

PISS, we should have won this game. But, Wake Forest is really damn good. Oh, well! On to the next game. Lose by 4 in overtime. Who do we play next?? On to a fast food joint to get a burger, fries to go.🟩🟧

[Terrance Sullivan]

Yeah we squandered that Game away in OT and loss 86-82! Ugh!

[orange 'n green in the vein]

orange 'n green in the vein

Not enough to get over the finish line today with a win after the refs let the NC team play a quarter fouling as much as they wanted without calling anything and then in a 45 minute game called only one more net foul in UM's favor over the rest of the 36 minutes left in it. 50% more attempts from the stripe and four more makes represents the difference in the final score for the home team. This one hurts because Miami doesn't lose a lot of conference games in basketball so have to not let it turn into a streak Wednesday.

[W]

Definitely, we are good enough to be VERY competitive this year against ANY other team in the ACC. However, we are going to find it difficult to win a high percentage of games against TALLER teams and/or games when a top scorer like WOOGA is sitting on the bench.

[AeroCane]

I’ve actually had to mute the dolphins game! These announcers are horrible and so pro Bills! You’d think they were in love with freaking Josh Allen

[Old Skool]

Davante Brown is a Nole

[AeroCane]

Old Skool
Hope he continues to suck! No well wishes from me!

[W]

Does anyone have any GOOD NEWS, please?

[Ohio_Cane]

From D$ at CIS:

Miami just landed a commitment from Albany QB transfer Reese Poffenbarger. This will raise eyebrows, so let me pass on what I know about the decision:

- Miami will continue to evaluate veteran QBs through the end of this cycle and, if necessary, after spring. Poffenbarger has two years of eligibility, and his addition will not preclude Miami from pursuing another proven arm.

- Poffenbarger led the FCS in passing yards (3,608 yards) and passing TDs (36) while being graded at 2nd in big-time throws by PFF.

- Miami was blown away by his visit this weekend and compared his personality to Baker Mayfield. They also have high grades on his arm strength and athleticism (check his basketball highlights here).

- He measured at 6.05 and 215 pounds on his visit.

- I expect Miami to be aggressive in the Portal over the next two weeks. Positions to watch (along with QB) are safety, WR and possibly RB. This includes players committed elsewhere or about to commit elsewhere. They also will pursue difference-makers in the trenches. The plan is to pay for quality, not quantity. Young players like Rob Stafford and Chris Johnson need snaps. We don’t want to be like FSU where we major in the Portal and minor in HS recruiting.

- With respect to CB Antoine Jackson (ECU/UCF), I'm told Miami passing had nothing to do with his prior decommitment. There were some speed concerns on film. Miami did not have high grades on CB Earl Little and WR Jalen Brown, who went to FSU. There was some interest in Marvin Jones, Jr. but they have others rated higher.

[W]

OKAY, that's some good news . . . I guess.

Thanks, OC.

[Ohio_Cane]

I'm not pumped about the QB, but at worst, he's depth... /shrug

[YooperCane]

I felt like that with Lou Hedley and he turned out to be a phenomenal player. Maybe Poffenbarger will hopefully turn out to be a great quarterback back for the U.

[MLALUMNI 1970]

Hope the good times roll, or Good News Canes Style, rolls. Give me some good news, Canespacers. Cold and rainy here in Michigan. I will watch the game tonight. Usually, I never root for Michigan, even though I live in Michigan. Arrogant and obnoxious. BUT, after reading how Washington screwed us in a couple of games, I guess it’s Go Blue!

[W]

"Poff the Magic Dragon"

[86Cane]

NEW BLOG IS UP!