NCAA Picks and Tips: Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Miami Hurricanes
Saturday, February 18, 2012
by Mike Stewart
Miami Hurricanes navigated through the top dogs of the ACC by winning at Duke and losing tough battles with Florida State and North Carolina in the last four games.
The Hurricanes must focus on finishing strong now and improve their resume for an NCAA bid. Miami is fourth in the league in scoring with four players in double figures and makes more than seven 3-pointers per game.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons , which broke a six-game losing streak Wednesday against Georgia Tech, is last in the ACC in scoring defense and almost half its offense comes from Travis McKie and C.J. Harris.
- Wake Forest Demon Deacons @ Miami Hurricanes
When: 1:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 18, 2012
Where: BankUnited Center, Coral Gables, Florida
TV: ET; RSN.
The Hurricanes have opened as 12.5-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (12-14): Harris averages 16.9 points at guard and McKie 16.0 on the inside for the Demon Deacons. Harris’ streak of 24 straight games scoring in double figures ended against Georgia Tech, while McKie notched his fifth double-double in his last 12 games. Wake is getting more from Nikita Mescheriakov, who has scored in double figures three of the last four games. The Deacons need more from 7-foot center Ty Walker, who has just four points combined in the last three games. Wake makes 76.5 percent of their free throws in ACC games, tops in the league.
Miami Hurricanes (15-9): The Hurricanes had chances against both Florida State and North Carolina, but they shot 39.2 percent from the field and averaged 14.5 turnovers – not the recipe to finish wins. Miami will look to find the rhythm that led to a five-game win streak before those two defeats. Guard Durand Scott averages 12.7 points and forward Kenny Kadji 12.6 to lead the way. If Malcolm Grant gets hot from 3-point range again, it would be a big help. Grant shot more than 40 percent from behind the arc the last two seasons, but is at 30.3 this season and 7 for 42 (16.7) the last six games.
1. Miami has made 176 shots from behind the 3-point arc and Wake just 132.
2. Wake has an 8-5 edge in the series, but Miami has won four of the last five.
3. Miami’s fourth leading scorer and leading rebounder Reggie Johnson is from Winston-Salem, home of Wake Forest.
NCAA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Hurricanes 81, Demon Deacons 54.
Bet on NCAA College Basketball games with SBG Global Sportsbook
Related Articles
- NIT Quarterfinals Picks: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Miami Hurricanes
- NCAA Basketball Picks: North Carolina Tar Heels vs Miami Hurricanes
- NCAA Basketball Odds: Virginia Tech Hokies and Miami (FL) Hurricanes
- NCAA Basketball Picks and Tips: Valparaiso visit Miami
- ACC tournament Odds : Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Maryland Terrapins
Category
Tags
bankunited center - c.j. harris - durand scott - kenny kadji - malcolm grant - miami hurricanes - nikita mescheriakov - reggie johnson - travis mckie - ty walker
Proud member of the