Does Miami Have It In Them To Shock The Tar Heels Saturday Night?
Miami's hopes of a tournament bid are hanging by a thread, but tomorrow's matchup might provide the perfect opportunity to get back on track.
Saturday night the #3 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels come to the Watsco Center to face a Miami team that has struggled immensely this season through a mixture of issues. Whether it be adjusting to life after Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller to constant injuries to crucial players, Miami has still managed to put themselves at 15-8 (6-6 ACC) on the season.
Leading the way for the Tar Heels is one of the most impressive trios in the country, headlined by senior guard RJ Davis who has been one of the best players in the nation this season. Scoring 21.3 PPG while shooting over 40% from behind the arc, Miami will need to get creative with how they limit him tomorrow.
Furthermore, Armando Bacot and Harrison Ingram patrol the paint as one of the best front court pairings in college basketball. Ingram has especially been hot to start the new year, putting up 10.9 PPG and 11.6 RPG while shooting nearly 40% from three.
While this matchup seems like a David vs Goliath situation with all the odds stacked against Miami, the question remains what can Miami do to make this a game?
First of all, Miami needs to be healthy going into and throughout the game. Wooga Poplar has been in a walking boot for at least the last two days but appears to be just a cautionary effort as Jim Larrañaga expects him to suit up.
Jim Larrañaga says that Kyshawn George’s status for tomorrow’s game against UNC is undetermined.
— Luke Chaney (@lukechaney247) February 9, 2024
Regarding Wooga Poplar being in a boot, Larrañaga expects him to play. He’s been practicing.
However the most intriguing scenario will be the health of Kyshawn George, who is questionable as it stands. Despite being a freshman with stats that don't jump off the table at you, he could be the difference in Miami winning or losing this game.
Assuming Miami is healthy for this game, the game plan is relatively simple: don't make careless turnovers, keep Norchad Omier in the game, and hit outside shots. If Miami can control these three things, it could make for an interesting game.
In the meantime, we will keep you updated with any information we get on George's injury status here at AllHurricanes.com.
2023-24 Miami Hurricanes Basketball Schedule
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You can find Liam on Twitter @theleftyliam where he shares news on University of Miami basketball and football as well as opinions