Matt Cleveland scores 27, but Hurricanes drop to 0-10 in ACC with 82-71 loss to Virginia
For the second game in a row, the University of Miami men’s basketball team fell behind by double digits, stuck together through adversity, scrapped and clawed to get within reach.
But once again, in a storyline that has become all too familiar for the dwindling fanbase, the Hurricanes fell short and lost 82-71 to Virginia.
Miami dropped to 0-10 in the conference and 4-17 overall. The Canes are in danger of not qualifying for the ACC Tournament, as only the top 15 teams will get invited to participate. UM sits in 18th place of the 18 teams with 10 games to go.
“Obviously, a very disappointing loss for us,” said UM coach Bill Courtney. “Same problem for us on the defensive end we’ve had several times, couldn’t get key stops. We just didn’t get it done. We scored enough to win the game against a very good defensive team. We just didn’t do it on the defensive end.”
The Hurricanes were coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss on the road to Cal, a game in which UM players showed more spirit and grit than they had in months. Matt Cleveland scored 30 points in that game, and was Miami’s top scorer against Virginia, as well, with a team-high 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting.
“He’s playing the best basketball of his career,” Courtney said of Cleveland. “He’s taking on a leadership role, playing hard on both ends of the floor. I’m very happy for how he’s playing. Obviously, he’s going through this just like all of us.”
Asked what message he is delivering to his teammates during this rough patch, Cleveland said: “Just that it’s right there. It may seem like it’s far off because we haven’t won an ACC game yet, but it comes down to getting stops. That’s the biggest thing. It’s not Xs and Os at this point. It’s just playing tough, getting the rebound, coming up with loose balls.”
Virginia coach Ron Sanchez heaped praise on Cleveland.
“He’s just complete,” Sanchez said. “If you watch his Cal Berkeley game, the shots he made were contested tough shots to give Miami an opportunity to win that game. He’s long. He’s athletic. He can guard and post you up. Those and-ones in the mid-range area. He has a very, very complete game.”
The last time these two teams played, in February 2024, Virginia beat Miami 60-38 in Charlottesville. That was the Hurricanes’ lowest output since 1948.
Miami did not have those offensive struggles this time. UM hit the 38-point mark with 15 minutes remaining and got to within three points of the Cavaliers with 14 minutes left to play. Brandon Johnson capped a 6-0 UM run with a dunk, and the Watsco Center crowd came to life.
The Canes continued to battle, but every time they got close, Virginia hit a big shot to get some breathing room. Many of those clutch shots came from guards Isaac McKneely and Taine Murray, who combined for 46 points on 17-of-29 shooting. They were 10-for-18 from three-point range.
“Isaac McKneely flew off the screens and made very difficult shots,” Courtney said. “Were they open? Yeah, because we got caught behind. But he’s running full speed off the screen, turning and shooting within a half a second. That’s tough to guard. We guarded him one time and he made a spinning pirouette jump shot.”
Both programs are in transition, trying to establish an identity after the unexpected departures of their legendary coaches.
Three-time National Coach of the Year Tony Bennett retired from Virginia three weeks before he was to begin his 16th season at the school. UM coach Jim Larranaga, who led the Hurricanes to the 2023 Final Four, stepped down unexpectedly on Dec. 26. Both coaches cited the changing landscape of college basketball as reasons for their departure.
Longtime Bennett assistant Ron Sanchez took over the Cavaliers and longtime UM assistant Courtney replaced Larranaga.
Sanchez was asked to reflect on the state of both programs, which were in the Top 25 in recent years but have been in decline. He had plenty to say.
“Jim Larranaga is a friend, an unbelievable coach, a New York City guy, I’m a New York City guy, so I have tremendous respect for him,” Sanchez said. “Unfortunately, this new space [in college basketball] has created the shift where Virginia has lost the Hall of Famer [Bennett] and Miami has lost a potential Hall of Famer.
“Bill [Courtney] and I will do the best we can with the hand we’ve been dealt to honor our universities, athletic directors, presidents, and the fan base. We can’t control the emotional state of the players losing their head coaches. That’s real. But I can guarantee you Bill and his staff are working their tails off, just like our staff.”
Center Lynn Kidd was not in the UM starting lineup for the second week in the row, per the coach’s decision. He sat out the entire game against Cal and came off the bench at the 12-minute mark on Wednesday. He finished with seven points and three rebounds.
Johnson had 13 points and seven rebounds for Miami.
The Hurricanes are back home Saturday night at 8 p.m. against Notre Dame.