‘Canes Hoops Preview: Duke at Miami

The Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball team faces its third straight game against a ranked team Monday hosting No. 7/6 Duke at 7 p.m.

The ACC showdown will take place before a sold-out crowd at Watsco Center.

Duke at Miami

Who: No. 7/6 Duke (15-2, 3-2 ACC) vs. No. 18/19 Miami (13-3, 2-2 ACC)

When: Jan. 15, 2018

Time: 7:00 p.m. ET

Television: ESPN/WatchESPN

Miami is unbeaten on its home floor this year while Duke holds a 5-2 record in away games this season.

Duke leads the all-time series with Miami, 18-7, but under head coach Jim Larrañaga, Miami is 5-3 against Duke and 6-0 in ranked matchups at home.

Miami went 1-1 against the Blue Devils last season. Duke beat Miami at Cameron Indoor Stadium, 70-59, on Jan. 21, 2017. Then, Miami defeated Duke, 55-50, in the rematch at Watsco Center on Feb. 25, 2017.

The ‘Canes lost to Clemson 72-63 on Saturday. The Tigers pulled out the win by shooting 44 percent from the field while holding Miami to 38.1 percent. Clemson also knocked down several shots from the beyond the arc shooting 12-for-21.

Miami has to bring the heat in a quick turnaround game.

Miami is ranked third nationally in scoring defense holding its opponents to 59.9 points per game. Miami’s offense is averaging 73.8 points per game.

Sophomore standout Bruce Brown Jr. is averaging 11.9 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 4.1 APG. The guard expects to have a big impact in the game against the Blue Devils.

Brown averaged 20.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.0 APG in his two career games against Mike Krzyzewski’s squad.

Dewan Huell scored in double figures in 12 of 15 games he’s appeared in this season. Huell is the teams leading scorer averaging 13.9 PPG. Expect freshmen Lonnie Walker IV and Chris Lykes to score points and be sparks off the bench for the Hurricanes.

Duke is favored to win the contest and Miami is coming off one day of rest. It will be a tough matchup for the ‘Canes, but they have a chance to pull out a win at home in front of a packed house. It will take a team effort.