Miami Hurricane Info
Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga
Location: Miami, Fl
Conference: ACC
Nickname: Hurricanes
Mascots: Sebastian the Ibis
Last time out: Beat Arizona State
Typical Rotation Depth: 7-8 players
Line: Nebraska by 5
Fun Fact: Coach Jim Larrañaga led 12th Seed George Mason to the Final 4 in 2005-06 and the Hurricanes to their second Sweet 16 appearance last year
Fun Fact: The U didn't didn't field a basketball team from 1971-1985 due to financial reasons.
Possible Starters
Nebraska
0 Tai Webster 6-4 194 Fr
5 Terran Petteway 6-6 209 Jr
31 Shavon Shields 6-7 219 So
2 David Rivers 6-7 198 Jr
35 Walter Pitchford 6-10 234 So
Hurricanes
Davon Reed 6-6 208
Garrius Adams 6-6 200
Rion Brown 6-6 211
Donnavan Kirk 6-9 228
James Kelly 6-7 246
The Skinny
As everyone will tell you, this isn't the same Miami team that made the sweet 16 last year....it's the team that lost their top 6 scorers from that team. This year's Miami team doesn't have a dominant big man but as you can see from their starting lineup has a ton of length. They have a fairly short bench that includes a 7ft post player, a 6-5 guard, and a 5-9 PG. As a WIP, they've lost to inferior teams at home but are fresh off a win against a good ASU squad on the road.
Larrañaga teams tend to muck it up and slow down the game and given the Hurricane's problems shooting the ball he's really slowing it down, especially by utilizing his height and throwing out a matchup zone against teams. Neither team turns it over too much so fast break points will be at a minimum. This game could have some flow to it as unlike the Huskers, the Hurricanes don't draw or generate a ton of fouls. Expect a low possession ball game to be played into the 60s and neither team able to blow the other out.
Tim Miles talked about a starting lineup change. Is Gallegos coming back in because he's been so-so off the bench? Will Leslie Smith start to give us more height? Will Biggs start to try and give us some added offensive punch? Tai should get the starting nod due to the size. If Gallegos starts and performs well, you might see him in the lineup the rest of the year.
The keys to this game for Nebraska are denying Kirk and Kelly in the lane and making Miami beat you from the perimeter and figuring out a way to score on the Hurricane's zone if they can't generate points at the line.
Miami has been on the road since last Wednesday which might be wearing on them. Can what should be a rowdy home crowd have the same effect? Expect the Huskers to take care of what will be a must win for their post season hopes tonight.
Prediction: Nebraska 65 - 59 with a 23% chance of Runzas
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