Miami Hurricanes (6-6, 2-5) at Syracuse Orange (7-4, 1-3)
Time: 4 PST – 6 CST – 7 EST
Place: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
TV: ACC Network
Hurricanes-Orange Series:
Syracuse leads Miami, 19-9, but the Hurricanes took a 69-67 victory last season in Miami. Michael Dolezaj lead the Orange with 17 while Miami’s Isaiah Wong led all scorers with 18. Syracuse has lost three of the last four with three postponements while Miami has won two of it’s last three.
Vs. the Spread:
Miami:
- The ‘Canes are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of the Hurricanes’s last 7 contests
- Miami is 4-2 in it’s last six games at Syracuse
Syracuse:
- The Orange is 1-5 ATS in it’s last 6 games
- The total has been UNDER in the last 6 games between Syracuse and Miami
- The total has gone OVER in 9 of the Orange’s last 13 games
| Teams | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Florida | +4½ (-110) | +175 | O 140½ (-114) |
| Syracuse | -4½ (-110) | -205 | U 140½ (-106) |
Last Time Out:
Isaiah Wong scored a career-high 30 points as Miami led for 35 minutes and by as many as 15 points in upsetting No. 16 Louisville, 78-72, in Watsco Center. Louisville could not get any closer than four in the second half as guard Matt Cross hit a pair of key threes late to preserve the win. Cross tied a career-high with 16 points.
Orange leading scorer Alan Griffin (16.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg) had 28 points – 20 after halftime, but Syracuse could not catch hot-shooting Pittsburgh in a 96-76 loss to the Panthers. Syracuse pulled to within 64-60 with about 8:30 to play, but the Panthers made 10-of-15 shots from the floor and 13-of-14 from the free throw line to post the win.
- Due to a myriad of injuries, 85.5 percent of Miami’s minutes have been played by players who have either one or two years experience on the Hurricanes’ roster.
- Miami’s offense has started to click as the Hurricanes have shot 45.3 percent or better in their last three games.
- The ‘Canes’ three-point game has struggled all season as they have shot only 27.1 percent from the field so far. They are 18-of-63 in their last four games although they made 8-of-20 in Saturday’s win over Louisville.
Hurricanes Grease Board:
The depleted Hurricanes used seven players in the win over Louisville as injuries have crippled them once again this season. Navigation of the Syracuse zone will be the issue as usual as the Orange hold opponents to 29.7 percent from behind the arc. Miami has had a tough year from three as the ‘Canes shoot 31.7 percent with Wong (11-of-32) and Cross (16-of-30) are the top two shooters from three. Wong is averaging 20 points per game over his last three as he is starting to hit the three while continually beating people off the dribble to score or make a pass. Nysier Brooks (7.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg) has to deal with Dolezjak and Quincy Guerrier (16.5 ppg, 9.8 rpg) inside where Guerrier shoots 55.9 percent from the field and is second in scoring.
- Syracuse has the same problem as Miami in making triples as they have shot only 31.9 percent from behind the arc on the season where they are 34-of-111 in their last four games.
- The Orange rely on their starting five immeasurably as the bench accounts for only 19.4 percent of the playing time, 339th in the nation, per kenpom.
- Syracuse has blocked 18 shots in it’s last two games and Quincy Guerrier had 9 of those.
Orange Grease Board:
Syracuse is not a deep team as their five starters all average between 30.4 and 35.7 minutes per game. The Hurricanes get somewhat of a reprieve although any of the five players are capable of carrying the Orange to a win. Syracuse has to value the basketball as the Orange averages 16.8 turnovers per 100 possessions while Miami forces 19.3 per 100 possessions, per kenpom. Both teams get out rebounded by around one board per game, so as we mentioned, that’s why Brooks must be active around the rim on both ends of the floor as Guerrier and Dolezaj give Syracuse the advantage inside.
Winner: Syracuse 73 Miami (+4½) 71
O/U: Take OVER 140½
