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The Miami Hurricanes have won two straight games to find some momentum in what has otherwise been a difficult year in Atlantic Coast Conference play. And a big reason for the recent string of success has to do with the improved play of freshman guard Isaiah Wong.
Isaiah Wong is our Freshman of the Week!
— ACC Men's Basketball (@accmbb) February 17, 2020
This week Wong became the first @CanesHoops freshman with back-to-back 20-point games since January 2001
↓ pic.twitter.com/amjSKMIkLI
The New Jersey native has averaged 17 points per game in the wins over Boston College and Wake Forest, earning ACC Freshman of the Week Honors in the process.
Wong provided 21 points against the Eagles on Feb. 12 and 13 against the Demon Deacons Feb. 15. In addition, he scored 23 at Florida State in defeat on Feb. 8. Each of those tallies either led all Canes in those respective games or equaled a team-high.
His efforts against FSU and BC were the first time a UM freshman had scored at least 20 points in consecutive games since Marcus Barnes did so for the Hurricanes in 2001, less than a week after Wong had been born.
Wong has also scored at least 10 points in each game dating back to Jan. 25 at North Carolina.
Head coach Jim Larrañaga has seen Wong improve throughout the season.
“[Wong] had so much to learn. Mostly at the defensive end of the floor, and now his defense is as good as any veteran. He’s guarding his man well, he’s helping well, he’s rebounding well. Early in the year he had too many thoughts running through his head.”
Wong and the Hurricanes are back in action Wednesday night at Virginia Tech.