Duke Basketball: Blue Devils have a chance to get right against Miami

After losses in two of its last three games, the Duke Basketball team will look to get back on track against the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon.

After a disappointing loss on Tuesday on the road against the Virginia Tech Hokies, the Duke Blue Devils will look to get back on the win column on Saturday afternoon against the Miami Hurricanes.

The ‘Canes are coming off of a horrific loss, albeit on the road, to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons which dropped Miami to 12-15 overall and 4-11 in the ACC.

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Miami started off the season 5-0, but then playing major conference teams, the Hurricanes lost to Seton Hall and Rutgers, followed by two losses to Yale and Pennsylvania out of the IVY League.

Trying to get its season back on track, Miami won its last three non-conference games, but ACC play would do the Hurricanes no favors.

Three losses to NC State, Louisville, and Florida State to start conference play was broken up by a home win against Wake Forest.

The win could not create any momentum for, losing its next five games before finally getting back in the win column against Notre Dame.

The Hurricanes would then lead for the majority of the game in Chapel Hill against the Tar Heels, but a 3-pointer at the end of regulation by Luke Maye would force the game into overtime and North Carolina would escape with the victory.

Miami is in the stretch of trading wins and losses with a win over Clemson, loss to Boston College, win against Georgia Tech, and closing with the defeat to Wake.

Head Coach Jim Larranaga does not play a very deep rotation but he does have five players that average double figures.

Chris Lykes leads the way, averaging 16.9 points per game in addition to 2.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 42.7% from the field and 33.1% from 3-point range.

Zach Johnson averages 12.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, but struggles from the field, shooting 39.2% field and just 30.7% from 3-point range.

The second leading rebounder on the ‘Canes is Anthony Lawrence II with 6.2 rebounds per game in addition to 11.9 points, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 44.5% from the field and has the ability to make the 3-point shot, at 33.9%.

Dejan Vasiljevic is the sharpshooter on this Miami team, shooting 38.3% from 3-point range and averaging 11.6 points per game. Shooting 41.1% from the field and 92.7% from the free throw line, Vasiljevic also averages 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

Ebuka Izundu is Miami’s leading rebounder at 8.6 rebounds per game as well as 10.7 points per game.

Duke should be able to get back on track against this lowly Miami Hurricanes team, but the ‘Canes will be fired up to try and pull off the upset in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The Blue Devils and the Hurricanes will tip-off at 4:00pm ET and the game can be seen on CBS.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham on Twitter, @Ball_Durham, and here at our website, balldurham.com, for complete coverage of the Duke Blue Devils vs. the Miami Hurricanes.

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