UNC basketball heads to Miami with hopes of snagging a third-straight road win in the ACC.
Following an 0-3 start in conference play away from the Smith Center, the Tar Heels (19-4, 7-3 ACC) bounced back with consecutive road victories in the middle of a five-game winning streak. That success will be put to the test against the Hurricanes (18-5, 7-3) on Tuesday, Feb. 10 (7 p.m., ESPN), at Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla. Former Duke assistant coach Jai Lucas has Miami in the mix for a March Madness bid in his first season with the Hurricanes.
UNC has won three in a row against the ‘Canes and three of the last four in Florida. Here are some things to know and a score prediction for the Tar Heels’ trip to Miami.
UNC basketball’s ability to refocus after Duke win
In the games following the Tar Heels’ first four wins against Duke under head coach Hubert Davis, UNC produced a 2-2 record. They’d be wise to lock in after the fifth win against the Blue Devils. Miami, which combined for 22 wins in its previous two seasons before hiring Jai Lucas, has 18 wins and a trio of veteran players in Michigan transfer Tre Donaldson, Indiana transfer Malik Reneau and TCU transfer Ernest Udeh. If UNC doesn’t show up ready to play, the Hurricanes are more than capable of getting themselves a resume-boosting win.
Luka Bogavac, Tar Heels depth could be problem for Miami
UNC has the advantage in bench production, averaging 20.3 points per game from its reserves. The Hurricanes, who rely heavily on their starters, get an average of 16 points per game from their bench. Substitutions could be put under even more stress if Tru Washington (11.0 points per game) isn’t available. One of Miami’s top defenders and a double-digit scorer, Washington has missed the last two games. UNC’s Luka Bogavac has become the Tar Heels’ top scorer off the bench. Bogavac has reached double figures in four of the last eight games, including consecutive road victories at Virginia and Georgia Tech. After finishing with three points against Duke, Bogavac could be in line for a big performance.
Malik Reneau, Ernest Udeh lead Hurricanes rebounding effort
Miami is 16th nationally with a plus-8 rebounding margin and UNC sits at 46th with a plus-5 advantage. With a top-25 clip in offensive and defensive rebounding percentage, per KenPom, the Hurricanes have the personnel to create problems for the Tar Heels on the glass. Malik Reneau (20 ppg, 6.5) and Ernest Udeh (6.9 ppg, 9.6 rbg) power that effort, so Caleb Wilson (20.2 ppg, 9.6 rbg) and Henri Veesaar (16.6 ppg, 9.1 rbg) better be ready to battle on the boards. Against Duke, another team with top-25 marks in offensive and defensive rebounding, UNC was outrebounded 38-26.
UNC vs Miami score prediction
UNC 76, Miami 70: The Tar Heels have to show they can move on from the Duke win and handle business against a Miami team that looks capable of making the NCAA Tournament. Ultimately, UNC’s depth should be the difference against the Hurricanes.
