How to Watch Miami Basketball Kickstart Conference Play Against Pittsburgh
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"Preseason" hoops are over for the Miami Hurricanes (11-2) as the refreshed team looks to continue its win streak heading into conference play.
The Canes are still down several players, but against the Pittsburgh Panthers (7-6), they can improve to 10-0 at home this season. It also helps that the Panthers are not living up to the hype that was placed on them this season.
This is the perfect tune-up game for Conference play, even though no win is an easy win. They will also be on the road a lot in conference play this season, with only a few marquee games at home. However, that won't change what the team can do to start conference play with a dominant victory, and send a message showing that this isn't the same old Canes team from the past two seasons.
The Canes have two players playing at an All-American level, while a budding superstar freshman who improves game after game. The Canes have the advantage over the Panthers in this matchup, but it will come down to defensive execution and offensive output.
Miami Players to Watch: Timo Malovec
Miami has many freshmen who are starting to show out. Malovec is turning into the Canes' most consistent deep-range threat, so they have to take more shots from the perimeter to win these games. It also helps with the injuries he is getting more playing time and proving to be one of the most efficient players on the floor when he is there with Tre Donaldson and Malik Reneau.
Pitt Players to Watch: Cameron Corhen
Corhen is a version of Reneu for the Panthers who has dominated in the paint, nearly finishing with a double-double every game. The big man is averaging 14 points a game while grabbing nine rebounds for the struggling Panthers. However, he has big-game potential and could cause problems for a limited Canes team that gets into foul trouble.
How to Watch: Pitt at Miami
Who: Miami Hurricanes and Pitt Panthers
When: Tuesday, Dec. 30, 7 p.m. ET
Where: Watsco Center, Coral Gables, Fla.
TV: ACCN/ESPN+
Radio: FM 104.3 WQAM
AP Top 25
(Ranking, Team, First-Place Votes, Record, Points)
- Arizona (38), 11-0, 1428
- Michigan (19), 11-0, 1408
- Iowa State (1), 12-0, 1320
- UConn, 12-1, 1281
- Purdue, 11-1, 1174
- Duke, 11-1, 1148
- Gonzaga, 12-1, 1080
- Houston, 11-1, 1061
- Michigan State, 11-1, 985
- BYU, 11-1, 966
- Vanderbilt, 12-0, 810
- North Carolina, 11-1, 806
- Nebraska, 12-0, 704
- Alabama, 9-3, 638
- Texas Tech, 9-3, 588
- Louisville, 10-2, 555
- Kansas, 9-3, 494
- Arkansas, 9-3, 470
- Tennessee, 9-3, 460
- Illinois, 8-3, 429
- Virginia, 10-1, 252
- Florida, 8-4, 215
- Georgia, 10-1, 127
- USC, 12-1, 92
- Iowa, 10-2, 79
Others Receiving Votes: Kentucky 78, Seton Hall 49, Auburn 39, St. John's 23, California 19, LSU 17, UCLA 13, Clemson 9, Miami (Ohio) 6, Utah St. 5, Arizona St 5, Indiana 4, Miami 4, Saint Louis 3, Belmont 2, Baylor 1, Oklahoma St. 1, UCF 1, NC State 1.
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Justice Sandle is a graduate of Mississippi State University earning a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Communications with a concentration in Print and Digital Journalism. During his time in Starkville, he spent a year as an intern working for Mississippi State On SI primarily covering basketball, football, baseball, and soccer while writing, recording, and creating multimedia stories during his tenor. Since graduating, he has assumed the role of lead staff writer for Miami Hurricanes On SI covering football, basketball, baseball, and all things Hurricanes related.