Miami vs Virginia CBB Hoops Handicapping
The No. 14 Virginia Cavaliers find themselves looking down at the majority of the ACC as they eye a conference title and their 12th consecutive win if they can beat visiting Miami (FL) on Wednesday. [ad-4468020]
The Hurricanes in the meantime, need a victory to match the team’s longest winning streak of the season.
Date/Time: 7 p.m. EST, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014
Venue: John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, Virginia
Broadcast: ESPN3
Spread: -11 Virginia
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Miami (14-13) has won two straight heading into Wednesday’s contest, but find themselves just 5-9 in conference play, with little hope of returning after reaching the Sweet 16 in last year’s NCAA Tournament.
The Canes’ however have played well as of late, coning away with a 59-42 win over Boston College their last time out, as senior guard Rion Brown scored 22 points to reach 1,000 points for his career.
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Meanwhile, fellow guard Garrius Adams, the team’s second-leading scorer, registered 10 points and six rebounds, even although he has shot better than 40 percent from the field only twice in his last 15 games.
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Neither team shot particularly well in the first half as the Eagles made 8-of-22 field goals and the Hurricanes shot 10-of-28. But it was the Hurricanes who won the turnover battle, committing just three compared to 10 for BC.
Now Miami will aim to start its three-game road trip with win over Virginia, who is coming off a 21-point home victory over Notre Dame, thanks in large part to Akil Mitchell’s 15 points and leading scorer Malcolm Brogdon’s 13 points, seven rebounds and six assist.
Brogdon has scored in double figures in every ACC game this season, helping the Cavaliers (23-5) to a 14-1 record in conference play, which matches last season’s win total.
The Cav’s arrive in this matchup riding their longest winning streak since the 1981-82 season, after shooting a season-high 63.6 percent against the Irish.
However, it’s not been the offense that has been Virginia’s success this season, as the Cavaliers generally win games on the defensive end where they’ve held 15 consecutive opponents – and 31 straight ACC foes – below 50 percent shooting.
Free Pick: Virginia
The Cavaliers enter this contest leading the nation in scoring defense (55.5), and should be hyped up to play in front of their fans who bring energy and momentum to a team that is 13-2 on its home court.
