The Hurricanes’ struggles continued Saturday as their dropping streak prolonged to 6 video games with a tricky loss towards Clemson. Regardless of a aggressive effort in final Tuesday’s loss to Arkansas, which hinted at progress, Miami couldn’t capitalize and stays looking for a breakthrough victory.
“The thought of getting ready for an opponent after which executing the sport plan is so vitally vital and I believed we did that. The one factor that stunned me is we went 4-for 25 from three and we began the sport that method. We missed loads of what I’d say, high quality pictures,” Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga mentioned.
For each side, the basket was invincible to begin the sport. It took roughly 4 minutes for Clemson’s Ian Schieffelin to hit the primary subject objective, a three-pointer. After Schieffelin’s made shot, the Tigers (9-1, 1-0 ACC) went on a 12-0 run till Miami’s Matthew Cleveland hit a basket from simply past the charity stripe.
Cleveland’s made basket sparked Miami (3-6, 0-1 ACC) on each side of the ball. UM’s robust protection held Clemson to solely 13 factors within the final 10 minutes of the primary half. The offense was catapulted by Cleveland, who led the crew in first-half scoring, together with slamming down a ferocious alley-oop dunk from Paul Djobet on the 6:20 mark to tie the sport at 18.
Miami led the defensive rebound class, 16-13; nevertheless, Clemson, with the robust 11-point displaying from Schiefflin, led the sport 25-24 on the finish of the primary half.
Popping out of the break, each Miami and Clemson have been buying and selling buckets for the primary 14 minutes of the second half.
“Each groups performed exceptionally onerous. Factors have been onerous to come back by. Each teaching staffs know one another so properly. We performed towards one another for years, and so simply groups have been ready,” Clemson head coach Brad Brownell mentioned.
Miami’s offensive displaying within the majority of the second half was led by the five-star recruit out of Philadelphia, Jalil Bethea. He went 4-of-5 from the sector and 2-of-3 from past the arc, which included an vital three-pointer, making it a one-point, 47-46 recreation with 5:55 left on the clock.
“My efficiency was very properly at the moment, my teammates have been capable of finding me in open spots, and all I wanted to do is simply see one go in and I simply acquired comfy after that,” Bethea mentioned.
Bethea’s shot had the group loud on their toes, but it surely didn’t faze the Tigers. Offensively, they have been attacking the basket, leaving Miami’s defensive hacking and whacking, as Brandon Johnson despatched Schieffelin to the road with 2:26 left, shifting the momentum in Clemson’s favor.
It was all Clemson from right here on out, sending Miami followers hitting the exit of the Watsco Heart early.
The normally dependable Nijel Pack had an off recreation, solely trying three-point pictures and making none in his seven makes an attempt. Larrañaga credited the gritty protection performed by Clemson’s Jaeden Zackery.
“We tried to get him [Pack] going. Simply a kind of nights. I can’t clarify it. I’d say you need to give credit score to Jaeden Zackery as a result of he’s slightly taller than Nijel, however he should weigh 30-40 kilos extra, and he’s very, very bodily,” Larrañaga mentioned.
The Hurricanes may be 3-6; nevertheless, guard A.J. Staton-McCray believes the crew is on target.
“Subsequent recreation [mentality], We’ve seen loads of development. So we’re like going the way in which we’re going. Sky’s the restrict, so all we gotta do is simply attempt to maintain going, staying collectively. That’s how we’re feeling proper now,” Staton-McCray mentioned.
The Hurricanes will hop on a flight to New York Metropolis, the place they’ll play at one of many world’s most well-known arenas, Madison Sq. Backyard. Miami will face off towards No. 3 Tennessee within the Jimmy V Traditional, the place they give the impression of being to get again on monitor and pull off an enormous upset.
Tip-off is scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., and the sport will likely be televised on ESPN.