Miami was run off the courtroom by SMU on Saturday to the tune of a 43-point blowout, shedding 117 to 74.
SMU got here out of the gate firing. A high quality three-point taking pictures crew averaging 37% from behind the arc, the Mustangs confirmed it early. They began 4-of-5 from three and 8-of-10 from the sector to steer 20-7 earlier than the midway mark of the primary half.
Former Miami ahead Matt Cross and senior guard Chuck Harris led the scoring barrage, and the crew moved the ball properly by way of guards B.J. Edwards and Boopie Miller.
Miami, then again, struggled offensively. The ’Canes had a number of stretches the place they went minutes and not using a basket and had nothing going for them.
The distinction within the ball motion was seen in each groups’ help totals. Via the primary half, the Mustangs had 18 assists on 26 made pictures. Miami, compared, had simply 5 opening-half assists and completed with 10 on the day.
“We’ve but to actually play like we do in apply, the place we’re sharing the ball and everyone seems to be concerned,” interim head coach Invoice Courtney mentioned.
This lack of playmaking and facilitation on the crew has been one among Miami’s greatest points with lead guard Nijel Pack out of the lineup. This has left freshman Divine Ugochukwu because the Hurricanes’ solely true level guard, however coming off an harm, he performed simply 4 minutes within the first half.
With no actual facilitator to dissect the protection and open up the ground for the remainder of the crew, Miami’s offense was sluggish and stagnant. SMU’s offense ran far more effortlessly, as Miller and Edwards have been in a position to attract within the protection and make the lob to the large man or hit the open teammate within the nook.
“We’re enjoying guys at level guard who will not be level guards, and Boopie Miller is terrorizing these guys,” Courtney mentioned.
Miller led SMU with 18 factors and 10 assists, tying Miami’s crew whole. He additionally recorded two steals. All sport lengthy, he was disruptive and confirmed the huge distinction within the two groups’ backcourts.
By no means in a rhythm, the Hurricanes shot simply 42% from the sector within the first half, in comparison with SMU’s 76%. These a number of stretches of stagnant offense let the Mustangs get out and run a number of occasions, resulting in 11 fastbreak factors for SMU.
The primary half ended properly for Miami on offense, because it made its final 4 pictures, together with its first fastbreak basket of the sport with a Matthew Cleveland dunk off a steal from Brandon Johnson.
Nevertheless it meant little or no, because the Hurricanes’ terrible begin put them in a large 34-point gap with the Mustangs forward 60-26 at halftime.
“It was embarrassing at halftime, 60 factors, so the one factor you are able to do is exit and have some sort of pleasure,” Cleveland mentioned.
Cleveland led Miami to open the second half, scoring 14 factors in simply six minutes. He was aggressive, attacking the paint, drawing fouls and giving Miami a spark on offense, barely chipping into SMU’s lead.
Miami’s offense slowed down once more, and SMU acquired again to rolling. A Kario Oquendo fastbreak windmill dunk was a part of a 14-2 run by the Mustangs, and similar to that, Miami was down 44 factors.
Cleveland, Miami’s lone participant with over 10 factors, ended the sport with two free throws to present him a career-high 31 factors on the day.
“On the finish of the day it doesn’t matter while you lose by about 40,” Cleveland mentioned.
SMU’s 117-point whole was a program report and essentially the most Miami has given up all 12 months. The Mustangs taking pictures splits of 69% from the sector and 56% from three have been additionally Miami’s worst allowed this season. Seven Mustangs have been within the double digits, led by Miller, who, alongside together with his 18 factors, tied Miami’s crew help whole with 10.
Up subsequent, Miami hits the highway and heads to the West Coast for a two-game journey. The primary might be at Stanford on Wednesday, Jan. 22. Tip-off is at 11 p.m.