LIVE BLOG: Miami vs UCF
For Jim Larrañaga and the Miami Hurricanes, tonight marks the first big game of the 2023-24 basketball schedule. The UCF Knights come to Coral Gables and the Watsco Center.
Miami and UCF are 1-0 on the season. To learn more about the key points of the game, here are three areas the Canes must do well to come out victorious.
The game begins just after 7:00. Should be a good one. Updates will begin soon after tipoff.
88-72 is the final...took forever to figure out that weird foul call
The Hurricanes now lead 82-68....Another 333333333333333 from Wooga Poplar
It's coast-to-coast for Nijel Pack!
That's a dagger! Miami up 75-62 with 3:44 to play
After both teams missed, it is Wooga Poplar for 33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
Both free throws for Cleveland are good, and Miami leads 72-62
Steal for Matthew Cleveland...length of the court and he will go to the line for 2
Double dribble on Omier
Rebound for Omier!
Miami is now up 70-62
Payne fouled out as Omier drove to the bucket
Langford scores....it's only 68-62
Sellers knocks down a tough jumper and a Poplar turnover
Omier with the layup!
Three separate UCF Knights have 4 fouls
Miami has allowed the UCF basketball team to just hang around....Shemari Allen with the bucket and it's 64-56. Only 7:53 to play, but the Canes were up 17 a few minutes ago.
Back and forth....Sellers knocks it down....64-53
Omier makes 1 of 2 from the charity stripe. Miami up 62-48
That 3 really changed the momentum
61-48
No worries...right back the other way and Kyshawn George for 33333333333333333333
Omier dribbles it on the end line....UCF ball
Oh boy....58-48 with Thierno Sylla knocking down a 3-point shot for the UCF Knights. Miami lapsed and UCF took advantage! 9:54 to play
Miami leads, but UCF is still in it. Need another run
How about this? Canes are 17 of 18 from the free-throw line
One disappoint is Kyshawn George not finding his range from deep. He has gotten a couple of decent looks though.
14 turnovers for UCF now
With 11:46 to play, Bensley Joseph has 10 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds. His defense is ENERGIZING, too
Now Miami leads 58-41
How about Bensley Joseph! big block, rebound, and an assist to Wooga Poplar for 2.
Knocks down both.
He's fouled, just like that
Omier back in the lineup
The Canes lead 54-41
The JUMP that Wooga Poplar has made as a player is obvious. He's going to be one of the ACC's best players. He's quicker to the ball, anticipates better than last season, and rebounds well.
UCF has a chance to get back into the contest with Omier out of the lineup
Foul on Miami's Michael Nwoko
Miami getting sloppy
There's a 3 for UCF's Darius Johnson
Wooga Poplar has definitely improved his one-on-one skills....quicker, too
Bensley Joseph knocks both freebies down, and then gets a steal
Wow! Miami is already in the bonus!
Here's Hoodie Girl with her thoughts about Norchad Omier and his ball handling:
Norchad being able to handle the ball like he is brings a whole other element to how teams have to guard us.
— Melissa (Hoodie Girl) (@TheCoolerMelB) November 11, 2023
That press break was 🔥.
Interesting Stat: 43 of Miami's 48 points come from the starters. Need more bench production on the offensive end
The Canes are now up 15, with the score 48-33 and 15:38 remaining in the second half.
He converts a layup at the other end and the Hurricanes are up 45-29 with 17:41 remaining.
It's Omier with a steal!
UCF is man-pressing...They are trying to generate offense
Crazy trend with UCF having 4 quick fouls this half
It's Matthew Cleveland getting into the lane and knocking down 2 free throws
The second half is underway....
A few Key stats from the 1st stanza:
**Miami is 14 of 29 from the floor (48.3%), while UCF is an abysmal 12 of 25 (34.3%).
**UCF holds the rebounding edge 23-17.
**Miami's passing is showing, as they hold an 8-2 edge in assists.
**The Canes have an incredible 6 blocks and 6 steals, and just through one half!
HALFTIME - Miami leads 41 to 27 over UCF.
It's the Canes with a mini-run as Christian Watson drills a corner 3 and then Joseph makes a steal and goes coast-to-coast for a layup. Miami up 41-27
Sellers has just 7 points...no 3s made. Miami doing a nice job
Joseph is playing HARD
36-24 Miami leads
Bensley Joseph with a 3 after a great pass from Nijel Pack
Miami is forcing UCF BIGS off the block pretty well. Just need more rebounds.
Wooga Poplar is the game's only double-digit scorer with 11, as he's still 3 for 3 from deep and hit two free throws.
There is one big problem and that's rebounding. Miami has been hammered on the boards by a tally of 20-13. That cannot continue.
Miami is sharing the basketball well, even right after a turnover. Plus, even though there are transfers and young players hitting the court, the Canes are moving the basketball well. Good signs.
32-21 Miami leads with just 4 minutes in the half
The good news is Kyshawn George is now at the line after getting into the paint.
5 shots missed in a row....
Norchad with a 2-handed block!
Miami is certainly shooting the basketball well, and UM's biggest fan is all about it...
Wooga “I’ll make it from anywhere” Poplar!
— Melissa (Hoodie Girl) (@TheCoolerMelB) November 11, 2023
It's now 30-18 with 6:58 remaining in the 1st half. Timeout
It's Pack with a runner in the lane...Miami 30 and UCF 16
Good look for Cleveland but it's no good from 3
Pack!
Again....Miami's perimeter defense is so much better than I anticipated this early in the season. Just forced a poor pass that went out of bounds
Wooga is 3 of 3 from deep! Canes up 26-14
Not the best foul by Watson
Miami up 21-14
Great trend: Miami is getting a hand up on the UCF shooters and they are ice cold!
Check out the stat line here....
The Canes are 4-of-5 from three...Alright with us 😎
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) November 11, 2023
Watch: https://t.co/3QL9fhhTES pic.twitter.com/ZXa4pnmy6I
It's 18-10 Canes as Omier throws it down with authority!
Miami ball...
Kyshawn George is in the lineup, and his progress will be huge for the Canes.
Another 3!!! Cleveland! Canes up 16-10
UCF's height is causing more problems than I expected. Hats off to the Knights. Canes up 13-10
It's Matthew Cleveland with a great runner in the lane, and Wooga Poplar for 3!!!
Important 4 minutes coming up...
Raising the banner pic.twitter.com/N8rOghZ0gU
— Joseph Zagacki (@canesvoice) November 10, 2023
OBSERVATION: Miami's defense is trying to apply more pressure out top. That's something that Baylor did a few years ago when it won a national title.
15:39 left in the half, it's Miami up 8-6
Absolutely LOVE the defense by Joseph...
8-4 Canes with 17:06 to play in the 1st half.
We are off and running!
2023-24 Miami Hurricanes Basketball Schedule
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