Miami Basketball Hosts Virginia: How to Watch/Open Thread

After Saturday's very disappointing and lopsided loss to the North Carolina Tar Heels, UM has little time to reflect.

Tonight (7PM ESPN) the Hurricanes (10-4 in the ACC) face a very good UVA (also 10-4) squad with a lot on the line as part of "Big Monday."

Both teams also have identical 21-5 records for the season.

While the 'Canes are practically a lock to make the Big Dance, ACC Tournament and of course NCAA Tournament seeding are on the line tonight.

Virginia is the two time defending Atlantic Coast Conference regular season Champs.

And they are led by do everything wing Malcolm Brogdon and rugged inside presence Anthony Gill.

But their floor leader, London Perrantes, really loves playing Miami.

Perrantes went for 13 Vs UM earlier this season in a Hoos win.   He also had a career high 26 Vs them last season (1/3/15).

The 'Canes PG Angel Rodriguez, has been very efficient of late.

UM will need him to play his best defense as well tonight, considering how aggressive Perrantes plays when he sees the orange and green.

Coming off the poor showing in Chapel Hill, expect Coach L to have Miami fired up and ready to play.

This should be a very close and entertaining game.

Enjoy 'Canes fans.

Game Notes (Courtesy UM):

The Game

No. 11/10 Miami hosts No. 7/8 Virginia at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 22 at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Fla.

The Broadcasts

Catch the game on ESPN Big Monday with Sean McDonough and Doris Burke on the call. Also check out the game on 560 WQAM radio with Joe Zagacki, the Voice of the Hurricanes and listen to the Spanish broadcast on 1020/1040 AM Radio Actualidad.

The Coach

Head coach Jim Larrañaga has a 582-388 overall record in his 32nd season as a head coach. He is 112-54 in his fifth season at the University of Miami, with a 51-33 mark in ACC play.

The Polls (as of Feb. 20)

AP: Miami -11, Virginia - 5

USA TODAY: Miami - 10, Virginia - 4

KenPom.com: Miami - 15, Virginia - 2

NCAA RPI: Miami -8, Virginia - 5

Miami’s 13-consecutive weeks in the polls top the school record of 12 from 2001-02.

UM has been ranked in the AP’s top 15 for 10 weeks this season, tying the school record 1959-60 season, and topping the 2012-13 season.

The Canes are ranked 12-or-better in the AP for the fourth time this season, 11th time under Coach L, 15th time since 1985-86 and 22nd time since 1959-60.

The Weather

Game day temperatures: Coral Gables - 78/68; Charlottesville, Va., - 53/35.

The Series

Miami is 10-8 in the all-time series against Virginia, which dates back to the 1965-66 season. The Canes are 6-1 at home against the Cavaliers, 3-6 on the road and 1-1 at neutral sites. The Canes are 1-4 against Virginia under Coach L. Miami lost the last three matchups with Virginia, including a 66-58 decision on Jan. 12, 2016.

The Note

Senior guard Sheldon McClellan is the most efficient offensive player in the country among players used in 20 percent of possessions, and 10th overall, according to KenPom.com on Feb. 21. McClellan has posted the seventh-best shooting percentage (52.0%) in the country among guards, and has the top shooting percentage among guards in the ACC, according to stats on NCAA.org on Feb. 20. McClellan’s 2-point shooting percentage is 60.3 percent this season.

Miami Posts 20-Win Season

Coach Jim Larrañaga has posted his fourth 20-win season in five years at The U, and his 10th career 20-win season. This is Miami’s seventh 20-win season since joining the ACC for the 2004-05 campaign. Larrañaga is just the second coach in Miami history with four 20-win seasons, joining Bruce Hale (1954-67).

Ten ACC Wins for the Third Time Under Coach L

Miami has won 10 games in ACC play. In five seasons under Coach Jim Larrañaga, the Canes have won seven-or-more ACC games each season. Prior to the arrival of Coach L, Miami had never won 10 ACC games in a season.

Canes Face Four-Straight Top 25 Teams

Miami will face four top 25 teams over 12 days, including two top-10 teams within 54 hours. The Canes opened the stretch at No. 11/10 North Carolina Saturday now turn around to host No. 7/8 Virginia for ESPN Big Monday. Miami will then play No. 18 Louisville a week from Saturday, and travel to Indiana to play No. 19/18 Notre Dame onMarch 2.

Canes Against Ranked Teams

In five games against ranked teams, Miami is 3-2 with wins over No. 16 Utah, No. 20/22 Butler, and No. 24/20 Duke, and losses to No. 13/11 Virginia and No. 5/4 North Carolina. In those games, Sheldon McClellan averages 15.8 points per game, hitting 56.5 percent from the field. Angel Rodriguez averages 14.4 points and 4.8 assists while Tonye Jekiri records 10.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Complete stats against ranked teams are on page eight.

McClellan Most Efficient Player in the Nation

Sheldon McClellan is the most efficient offensive player in the nation, among players with 20 percent-or-more possessions used, according to KenPom.com. He is also the most efficient player in the ACC overall, and No. 10 in the nation. McClellan is sixth in the ACC in 2-point field goal percentage (60.3), third in true shooting percentage (64.7) and seventh in free throw percentage (86.4). He is also seventh in the ACC in turnover rate (10.7).

The Houston native is currently on three national player of the year midseason 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.

Canes 12th in Nation in FT Percentage

Miami ranks 18th in the nation in free throw percentage, connecting on 441-of-587 (75.1%) shots at the free throw line. UM averages 17.0 points per game at the line, and has posted a +10.3 scoring margin overall this season. The Canes have drawn 505 fouls, while committing only 437, which ranks UM No. 24 in the country in fewest fouls. Opponents have just 423 attempts at the charity stripe.

Miami and ACC Teams in KenPom Rankings

As of Feb. 21, Miami is one of five ACC teams that rank in the KenPom top 21. Eight ACC teams are in the KenPom top 50.

Five ACC teams are in the top 21 of KenPom.com’s offensive efficiency ratings: 1 Notre Dame, 2 Duke, 5 North Carolina, 14 Virginia and 21 Miami.

Three ACC teams are in the top 35 of KenPom.com’s defensive efficiency ratings: 1 Louisville, 6 Virginia, 34 Miami.

The Canes are one of nine teams in the country to rank in the top 34 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.