Miami Hurricanes hoping road success continues and gets them back on track
Could getting back on the road be the University of Miami’s best medicine?
Following a disappointing 68-64 setback at home against Notre Dame on Wednesday, the Hurricanes will hit the road once again when they travel to Charlottesville to take on Virginia on Saturday (5 p.m., ACC Network).
While the Hurricanes (16-6, 8-3 ACC) have played only six true road games so far this season, they are 5-1 in such contests with their lone blemish a one-point loss at Florida State on Jan. 11.
The road mark includes three ACC victories including a triumph at No. 9 Duke, which was ranked second in the nation at that point.
Before its loss to the Irish, Miami won back-to-back games at Virginia Tech — on Charlie Moore’s spectacular half-court shot at the buzzer — and at Georgia Tech despite a busy travel schedule within the five-day span between those games.
“Travel takes energy from you; it zaps you,” said UM coach Jim Larranaga in a pregame press release. “And right now, probably the best thing we can do is have short, very productive practices and not be on the court too long where we’re really draining players of their energy.”
The Hurricanes enter Saturday’s matchup a half-game behind Duke for first place in the ACC and in a logjam of five teams all separated by one full game. Virginia (13-9, 7-5 ACC) is one game behind that pack in sixth place, adding importance to the first of two meetings between the Cavaliers and the Hurricanes.
Miami will have to keep up its road success down the stretch if it is to remain at or near the top of the conference standings.
Six of the Hurricanes’ final nine games are on the road, including five of their final seven.
Miami will need a much better effort at both ends of the floor than it showed against Notre Dame when it couldn’t force more than six turnovers. Despite 18 points from Isaiah Wong and 12 points each from Moore and Anthony Walker, the Hurricanes struggled with producing consistent offense and three times conceded 10-0 runs to the Irish.
Virginia has also struggled to achieve consistency, going 4-4 over its past eight games. Senior forward Jayden Gardner leads the Cavaliers with 14.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
“(Virginia coach) Tony Bennett’s teams are always terrific defensively,” Larranaga said in a pregame press release. “I think they started out the season with some new pieces and it has taken those guys a little while to adjust to the Virginia style, but I think, right now, they’re playing extremely well.”
