Miami will set out to win its ninth straight contest when Georgia Tech visits Saturday afternoon in Coral Gables, Fla.
Miami (13-2, 2-0 ACC) has already eclipsed its win total from last season, when it went 7-24. With a win on Saturday, it would tie its ACC win total from last season, when the Hurricanes finished 3-17.
The difference isn’t a total surprise, given that Miami has a new coach in Jai Lucas and a completely new roster, led by Malik Reneau (team-high 20.7 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game) and Tre Donaldson (15.9 ppg, team-high 6.7 assists).
Donaldson led Miami with 21 points and added a game-high six assists in the Hurricanes’ most recent game, an 81-77 road victory over Wake Forest on Wednesday.
“I’ve been playing college basketball for a long time,” Donaldson said. “I know how to close out games.”
The Hurricanes are a physical team with 6-foot-6, 240-pounder Shelton Henderson (13.1 ppg); 6-foot-11, 266-pound center Ernest Udeh Jr. (7.0 ppg, team-high 10.2 rebounds) and 6-foot-4 guard Tru Washington (13.4 ppg, team-high 2.1 steals).
“Our identity is in the paint,” Donaldson said. “But we’re not afraid to shoot 3-pointers.”
Meanwhile, Georgia Tech (10-6, 1-2) arrives in Miami coming off an 82-72 loss to visiting Syracuse.
Georgia Tech trailed by 20 points in the second half before showing fight and cutting its deficit to five points.
The Yellow Jackets are led by Kowacie Reeves Jr. (team-high 15.7 ppg) and Baye Ndongo (11.9 ppg, 7.8 rebounds).
“We have to play more aggressively instead of on our heels,” Reeves said.
Ndongo, a tenacious rebounder, is considered one of the top big men in the league. His work has been crucial while center Mouhamed Sylla (10.9 ppg, team-high 8.0 rebounds) has been out with a sprained ankle.
That has left Ndongo to share the frontcourt with Peyton Marshall, a 7-foot, 300-pounder who is averaging 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds.
In the backcourt, besides Reeves, the Yellow Jackets start Lamar Washington (11.1 ppg, team-high 6.1 assists) and freshman Akai Fleming (9.9 points).
“Winning is hard,” coach Damon Stoudamire said. “If you don’t have (your shot), do the right things, and the game comes back to you.”
–Field Level Media
