The Miami Hurricanes and the NC State Wolfpack meet in college basketball action from the PNC Arena on Tuesday night. Two 5-4 ACC teams square off in this one, who comes out on top? Let’s dive in and find out with our Miami vs. NC State Prediction.
Miami Team Preview
The Miami Hurricanes come into this one looking to build on back-to-back wins after a 72-68 win over Pitt last time out. Norchad Omier leads the Hurricanes in scoring and rebounding with 18.1 PPG and 9.7 RPG while Wooga Poplar has 14.8 PPG with 4.8 RPG. Matthew Cleveland has 14.8 PPG with 5.8 RPG and Nijel Pack has 14.2 PPG with a team-high 3.8 APG to lead the Hurricanes in the assist department up to this point in the year. As a team, Miami is averaging 81.4 PPG on 48.9% shooting from the field, 38.7% from three and 76.6% from the foul line this season. Miami will play against Virginia Tech, Virginia, and North Carolina after this one.
NC State Team Preview
The NC State Wolfpack will try to snap a three-game losing skid after a 77-65 defeat at the hands of Syracuse last time out. DJ Horne leads the Wolfpack in scoring with 14.8 PPG along with 2.8 APG while Jayden Taylor has 11.5 PPG with 3.8 RPG. DJ Burns Jr. has 12 PPG with 4.2 RPG and 2.7 APG while Casey Morsell has 11.9 PPG with 3 RPG to cap off the scoring in double figures for NC State up to this point in the year. Mohamed Diarra has a team-high 5.9 RPG as well for the Wolfpack and Michael O’Connell leads NC State with 2.9 APG as well this season. As a team, NC State is averaging 75.5 PPG on 43.8% shooting from the field, 32.8% from three and 72.9% from the foul line this season.
Miami vs. NC State Prediction
I’m on Miami here. NC State continues to boast one of the worst defenses in ACC play this season and I don’t see that changing here against a Miami team that has a ton of upside offensively and is capable of going off for 80-90 points a game whenever called upon. I don’t think home court will be enough for NC State to keep up here, so give me the Hurricanes in this one.