Basketball Preview: Miami at FSU

If Miami wins today they could potentially finish the season tied for 3rd place in the ACC (with a handful of other teams).

That would be quite the accomplishment for Coach L’s squad given their youth and lack of depth, while also taking into account Ja’Quan Newton’s suspension.

The season has had many ups-and-downs but Miami has won four of their last five and enter today as the #25 team in the country in the AP poll. And Miami’s resume includes wins against UNC, Duke an d Virginia.

But this game is personal.

Miami hosted FSU back on February 1st and led the ‘Noles 34-31 at halftime. But the second half was a completely different game and the ‘Canes wound up losing 75-57. Add to that the missed extra-point in the fall that had Brad Kaaya and co. fall to FSU by 1 point.

So this is a revenge game. And nothing says revenge like beating your rival on the road on senior night.

FSU is also coming off a loss, theirs was a 75-70 defeat at Duke.

But the hardest part about this game for Miami is how good FSU has been at home. The 'Noles are 17-0 at home this season and over their last three home games their average margin of victory is over 34 points.

Not only that but FSU is massive. I don’t know what other word would do them justice. If they were an NBA team they would be the second tallest team in the league. They have multiple 7-footers and can takeover games inside and on the glass.

So how do the ‘Canes win this game?

Get to the hoop.

Against Virginia Tech, Miami did a great job of cutting and getting to the basket. If they can do that and get some early buckets inside then it will make the defense help more, and the ‘Canes will need Davon Reed, Anthony Lawrence Jr, Dejan Vasiljevic and Bruce Brown to make threes.

On the other side of the court its simple...

Rebound.

In FSU’s last game they recorded 16 offensive rebounds. Miami will need to keep second chance points/opportunities to a minimum if they want a chance at the upset.

Prediction:

The ‘Noles will be happy to play in front of their home crowd for the first time in almost two weeks. But I see Miami coming out strong and keeping it close throughout the first half. But like last time, FSU opens it up in the second half for a comfortable 76-62 victory.

But hey, I’ve been wrong many times before...

GO CANES!