UM men slip in AP poll but hope to bounce back at home against Virginia Tech on Tuesday

The Miami Hurricanes started the season 13-1 and were ranked as high as No. 12 the first week of January but have had a bit of a dip this month, going 3-4, and slipping to No. 23 in the AP poll released Monday.

All four losses were on the road, and the past three came down to the final possession. UM lost by two in overtime to NC State, by two at Duke and by three at Pitt on Saturday after giving up an eight-point lead in the final two minutes.

Miami coach Jim Larranaga spent the past few days working on “the mental and emotional side” to get his players ready to bounce back against Virginia Tech on Tuesday at the Watsco Center, where the Hurricanes are 11-0 this season.

“The games are so close, and we’ve won our share, but our last three Saturdays have all been one-possession games, and they’re road games and I do think the crowd does play a role,” Larranaga said. “I know it did at Duke, and I felt like it did against Pitt, where the excitement and electricity helped them and we lost a little bit of our concentration.”

The Canes had three turnovers in the final two minutes, and Pitt scored the final 11 points of the game. Larranaga said his message to his players has been that they will find themselves in many close games and must be at their best in those moments.

He shared with them a simple lesson from a book by former Duke point guard Dick DeVenzio called “Stuff Good Players Should Know”: At the end of close games, play great defense and don’t turn the ball over.

“Unfortunately, we made three critical turnovers at the end [against Pitt],” the coach said.

On Tuesday they face a hungry Hokies team that is coming off back-to-back wins over Duke and Syracuse after losing seven games in a row. The Hurricanes will have to figure out how to contain 6-9 forward Grant Basile, who scored 24 against Duke, 25 against Syracuse and had eight rebounds in each game.

“He is very, very similar to Blake Hinson from Pitt,” Larranaga said. “He’s not just big, but he’s extremely skillful. He can shoot the three, drive, post up, good offensive rebounder, good defender. He’s a terrific all-around player having a great year. Hopefully we can defend him better than the last two teams did.”

The recent return of guard Hunter Catoor from injury has also made a difference for the Hokies (13-8, 3-7). He is a tenacious defender, good shooter, and team leader.

Sean Pedulla leads the Hokies with 15.5 points per game. Basile averages 14.8 points and Justyn Mutts 12.8.

UM is led by Isaiah Wong (16.2 ppg), Jordan Miller (15), Norchad Omier (13.5 ppg, 10.4 reb), and Nijel Pack (12 ppg).

“Different year, same team,” Hokies coach Mike Young said of Miami. “Excellent guard play, Jordan Miller is playing very, very well for them. The young man, No. 15 [Norchad Omier] is a man. They’re a little different without (Sam) Waardenburg, who was so good with their five out stuff, but 15 is an awfully impressive player, very good rebounder, has helped their team a lot.

“I really like Wooga [Poplar] and No. 4 [Bensley Joseph]. Those guys are X-factors. Bensley Joseph is also playing well. We’ll have our hands full.”