Miami Basketball Hosts FSU: Game Thread/How to Watch

The 'Canes take on the Noles today from the BUC (5PM EST ESPN2).

UM (1-0 in the ACC) is facing a desperate but talented FSU squad (0-2 in the conference after losing to UNC earlier this week).

For Miami to come away victorious they need to contain super talented Florida State PG Xavier Rathan-Mayes.

At the same time, freshmen Dwayne Bacon and Malik Beasley can also hurt you.  Each averages right at 17 a game.

The Hurricanes also need to slow FSU on the break, They love to get out in transition.

Some other keys.....

F Davon Reed will be counted on to play solid D on one of the two star diaper dandies, and both Tonye Jekiri and Sheldon McClellan need to score today.

Angel Rodriguez can not go 1 for whatever.

The Seminoles are a streaky shooting team.  They can struggle in the half court.

Coach L will have Miami ready.

This should be a fun one.

Game Info (Courtesy UM):

The Game
No. 12/11 Miami faces in-state rival Florida State Saturday at 5 p.m. at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Fla. 

The Broadcasts
Catch the game on ESPN2 with Dave O’Brien and Dick Vitale on the call. Also check out the game on 560 WQAM radio with Joe Zagacki, the Voice of the Hurricanes.

The Coach
Head coach Jim Larrañaga has a 573-384 overall record in his 32nd season as a head coach. He is 103-50 in his fifth season at the University of Miami, with a 42-29 mark in ACC play.

The Polls (as of Jan. 5)
AP: Miami -12, Florida State - NR
USA TODAY: Miami - 11, Florida State - NR
KenPom.com: Miami - 12, Florida State - 45
NCAA RPI: Miami -15, Florida State - 79

The Weather
Game day temperatures: Coral Gables - 80/70; Tallahassee, Fla. - 75/56.

The Series
Miami is 33-42 in the all-time series against Florida State, which dates back to the 1950-51 season. The Canes are 26-12 at home against the Seminoles, 7-28 on the road and 0-2 at neutral sites. Miami won the last matchup with Florida State, defeating the Seminoles, 81-77, on Feb. 25, 2015 at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables.

Canes Open ACC Slate With Home Victory
Miami opened ACC play with a victory for the fourth time since joining the league for the 2004-05 season. The Canes are 4-8 in ACC openers, including 3-3 at home and 1-5 on the road. The Canes have started ACC play at home for three-straight seasons after being on the road four-straight from 2009-10 to 2012-13.

McClellan One of Top Shooting Guards in the Nation, Top in ACC
Senior guard Sheldon McClellan has posted the seventh-best shooting percentage (54.2%) in the country among guards, and has the top shooting percentage among guards in the ACC, according to stats on NCAA.org. McClellan is currently on three national player of the year early-season watch lists: Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year, Oscar Robertson Trophy for Men’s National Player of the Year and Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award.

Miami In Back-To-Back ACC Home Games
Since joining the ACC in 2004-05, Miami has played back-to-back league home games 23 times, with the Canes winning both games six times. In 2007-08, UM defeated 5/4 Duke and Maryland, then also Virginia and Boston College in consecutive home games. In 2010-11, Miami took down both Georgia Tech and Virginia back-to-back. Twice in 2012-13, Miami won two-straight home games, downing 1/1 Duke and Florida State, then Boston College and North Carolina. In 2013-14, Miami beat Notre Dame and Boston College in consecutive home games.

Miami and ACC Teams in KenPom Rankings
Six ACC teams are in the top 16 of KenPom.com’s offensive efficiency ratings, as of Jan. 5. In adjusted efficiency: 1 North Carolina, 2 Duke, 4 Notre Dame, 5 Virginia, 15 Pittsburgh and 16 Miami. 
As of Jan. 5, Miami is one of five ACC teams that rank in the KenPom top 12. Eight ACC teams are in the KenPom top 40.