Miami Rallies Against "Best Defense It Has Faced This Year"
For a good portion of the game versus Drake, Miami's offense looked like that of one seen at a recreational gym. To the same point, Drake's defense looked like a veteran NBA group.
The No. 5 seed Miami Hurricanes beat the No. 12 Drake Bulldogs 63-56. The Canes finished the game at their best defensively, but it was their ability to generate offense against the stifling Drake defense that was most impressive.
Jim Nantz was on the call Friday night and he said that Drake's defense was the best Miami had faced all season.
That says something.
According to TeamRankings, Drake was the No. 16 squad in the nation in team defensive efficiency. It was the highest-rated defense Miami had faced since Nov. 27 against UCF, who ranks No. 40 in the country in the category.
Miami had not faced a defense of Drake's consistency in ACC play. Drake ranked No. 32 in team defensive scoring with 63.9 points allowed. Miami scored 63.
Miami finished the game on a 16-1 run. Miami channeled the defense that Drake had been known for the entire year.
Miami guard Isaiah Wong struggled from the field, shooting 1-10. His struggles were negated by Wooga Poplar's presence, and the smooth shooting from Nijel Pack.
Poplar had 15 points while shooting 50% from the field and from three.
Nijel Pack got hot and never looked back with his 21-point game. For the shortest player on the court, he also got involved in the paint with four rebounds.
In the first game back from a right ankle injury suffered in the ACC Tournament semifinal against Duke, Miami's Norchad Omier was a steady game-changer for Miami. Omier scored 12 while just making two baskets on nine shots, but he brought down 14 rebounds, the highest among both teams.
The Miami bench scored three points and combined to go 0-7 from the field.
Highly seeded teams like Miami can afford to shoot poorly and win in the first round against a team they're (on paper) supposed to beat. Although the defense saved the day, Miami can't afford to bank on late runs in hopes that they will win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Canes take on the No. 4 seed Indiana Hoosiers Sunday at 8:40 p.m. EST on TNT.
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