Miami looks to snap a five-game losing streak — its longest since 2021 — when Georgia Tech visits Saturday for an Atlantic Coast Conference contest.
Miami (15-12, 6-10 ACC) has been slowed by injuries much of the season. In their most recent loss, 84-55 to No. 8 Duke on Wednesday, the host Hurricanes were without starting guard Nijel Pack (knee) and starting wing Matthew Cleveland (illness).
The Hurricanes lack quality depth, and coach Jim Larranaga uses just six players for heavy minutes when everyone is healthy: Pack, Cleveland, Wooga Poplar, Norchad Omier, Bensley Joseph and Kyshawn George.
It is possible both Pack and Cleveland return Saturday.
However, because of that lack of depth, when even one player goes down or is limited by foul trouble — as was the case with George against Duke — it can be a calamity.
After reaching the Final Four for the first time in program history last year, Miami likely needs to win the ACC Tournament to make the NCAA’s field of 68.
“It’s like climbing a mountain and then keep slipping back,” Larranaga said. “When we’re at full strength and able to practice and prepare properly, we are a much better team than we are now.
“But we haven’t been at full strength almost our entire ACC schedule.”
Georgia Tech, led by first-year coach Damon Stoudamire, has its own issues.
The Yellow Jackets (11-16, 4-12) have not won consecutive games since December. They are 3-13 in their past 16.
But even during that stretch there have been bright moments, including a double-overtime win at Clemson and a huge upset over then-No. 3 North Carolina.
Last season, Georgia Tech had a stretch of 10 losses in 11 games, and that lone win was over Miami, 76-70.
Miles Kelly leads the Yellow Jackets in scoring (14.4), but he is shooting just 30.9 percent on 3-pointers and 42.6 percent on 2-pointers.
Stoudamire was not pleased with his players’ effort during their 81-57 loss to visiting Clemson on Wednesday night.
“The last eight minutes of the game, I felt like we quit,” he said. “That’s a reflection on me.”
–Field Level Media