Hurricanes on six-game win streak, face big ACC test at home Saturday vs. Wake Forest
Even before the start of the new year, the University of Miami men’s basketball team had already matched last season’s win total with 10 victories.
The Hurricanes (10-3) are a on a six-game winning streak for the first time in four years and tied with Louisville atop the Atlantic Coast Conference standings with a 2-0 league record heading into Saturday’s 6 p.m. home game against Wake Forest (11-2, 1-1 ACC).
Miami is coming off a 91-83 win over North Carolina State in which transfer Jordan Miller scored a season-high 25 points, Isaiah Wong finished with 19 (including 14 in the final 10 minutes) and Kam McGusty had 20 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Sam Waardenburg and Wooga Poplar missed the game after testing positive for COVID.
The Canes are averaging 80.2 points during the past five games, are ranked No. 36 in the nation by KenPom in offensive efficiency and No. 12 in turnover percentage. The team is much improved over last year’s injury-plagued squad, which finished 10-17 overall and 4-15 in the ACC.
Miami faces a massive challenge on Saturday against the Demon Deacons.
Graduate student guard Alondes Williams, among the best players in the league this season, is averaging 20.5 points and a conference-high 5.1 assists in his first season at Wake Forest.
The 6-foot-5 Milwaukee native, who transferred from Oklahoma, has scored 32-plus points three times this season, including twice in the last three games.
“The challenge is going to be on our wings to guard Alondes Williams,” said UM assistant coach Bill Courtney. “So, really, the step-up part is going to be for Isaiah and Kam to play defense on Alondes Williams. I think that’s going to be huge.”
Second-year coach Steve Forbes’ roster includes a blend of transfers and returning players.
“Jake LaRavia, who just got back from [COVID] protocols, is a terrific all-around player — inside, outside, skilled, tough, athletic. Their other transfer, Dallas Walton, is a load inside,” Courtney said. “He’s a big, strong kid who is very physical, does a good job defensively and scores in the low post. So, you add those three to Daivien Williamson and Isaiah Mucius, who are returners playing at their best levels since they’ve been in college, you see the reason why they’re a good team right now.
“They’re executing like crazy at the offensive end of the floor. They’re really sharing the basketball. They’re really playing for each other; you can absolutely see it on film. These guys are doing a great job playing together and that’s why they average 80 points a game.”
Miller said the Hurricanes are excited to get into the meat of the ACC schedule.
“Obviously it feels good to have these wins under our belt, but eyes forward,” Miller said. “Our eyes are focused on the end goal, which is make the NCAA tournament and win the national championship. So, there’s no ego or cockiness. We’re trying to keep piling the wins and stay hungry.”