Miami hoops can't find rhythm on either end of floor, score fewest points in program's ACC history and falls 60-38 at Virginia
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team (15-8, 6-6 ACC) couldn’t get much going after jumping out to a 7-2 early lead against the Virginia Cavaliers (18-5, 9-3 ACC) on Monday night at John Paul Jones Arena.
Miami scored the fewest points in the program’s ACC history and fewest for UM in any game since 1985 in a 60-38 defeat.
One standout? That was fourth-year junior Norchad Omier. He recorded his 12th double-double of the season with a team-leading 11 points and 13 rebounds.
But that was about it.
After the Hurricanes scored seven of the first nine points of the game, Virginia responded with a 12-0 run to take a 14-7 lead midway through the first half. The Cavaliers stifled Miami’s offense, holding the Hurricanes to a 28 percent first-half shooting effort. Conversely, Virginia connected on 48 percent of their attempts to lead, 29-17, at halftime.
The Cavaliers carried their momentum into the second half, outscoring the Hurricanes, 31-21, in the final 20 minutes to stay perfect at home this season. It got to the point that coach Jim Larranaga sat on the bench from afar while his team huddled during a timeout.
And when Larranaga showed up for his post-game press conference he was asked what changed after Miami got an early lead, responded with just a few setences and then got up and left the room.
They just outplayed us in every aspect of the game,” Larranaga said. “We didn’t play well, they played really well.”
He then said “Thank you for your attention,” got up and left the podium.
Yes, it was ugly during and after the game.
In the game itself? Miami finished hitting on just 28.6 percent of its shots and only two of 20 threes. There were 11 Miami turnovers vs. only three committed by Virginia.
Pretty much every stat line was dominated by the Cavaliers.
It was a particularly bad game for Nijel Pack, who was 0-8 shooting with two points, and Wooga Poplar, who went three-for-12 with eight points.
It didn’t help matters that the previously injury-ridden team now has another banged up player, with Kyshawn George suffering a leg injury four minutes into the game and not returning.
Things won’t get any easier for Miami in its next game. The Canes return to the Watsco Center on Saturday, Feb. 10, when it plays host to No. 3 North Carolina. Tipoff in Coral Gables is set for 4 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN.
The season appears to be slipping away despite high hopes off runs the last two years to the Elite Eight and Final Four.
It’s on Larranaga and this team to find some answers, and fast.
