Hurricanes Confident Heading Into Sweet 16 Battle Against Villanova
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LOUISVILLE (CBSMiami/SportsDirect) – The Miami Hurricanes are trying to do something that no team in school history has ever done but it's not going to be easy.
Villanova was one of the more impressive teams over the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, while Miami squeaked out a pair of victories en route to the Sweet 16.
The South Region opponents square off Thursday in Louisville, Ky., with a berth in the Elite Eight on the line.
The second-seeded Wildcats and third-seeded Hurricanes are barely distinguishable on the seed line, but their play last weekend left a clear difference between the two programs.
Villanova topped UNC Asheville by 30 points before putting up 54 first-half points in a comfortable 19-point triumph against Iowa.
Meanwhile, Miami nipped Buffalo and Wichita State by a combined 15 points behind two big performances from senior guard Angel Rodriguez.
The Wildcats also got a lift from their senior guard last weekend as Ryan Arcidiacono eyes another strong effort after averaging 15 points on 10-for-15 shooting (6-for-9 from the arc) in the first two rounds.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS
ABOUT MIAMI (27-7): Rodriguez has the look of the classic college basketball senior point guard who simply won't let his team lose, having compiled 52 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and seven steals in the first two games
"He has great confidence in himself, and when he's focused, he has the ability to play at a very, very high level," coach Jim Larranaga told reporters of Rodriguez, who averages 12.6 points, trailing only backcourt mate Sheldon McClellan (16.0) among the team leaders. "His biggest challenge is he needs competition. When the competition is at its highest, he's at his best."
McClellan has averaged 19 points in this tournament, although fellow senior Tonye Jekiri (7.8 points, 8.7 rebounds) has been limited to a total of seven points and 10 boards in two games.
ABOUT VILLANOVA (31-5): The Wildcats followed their regular formula against Iowa as their four top scorers all registered double-digit points - and combined for eight 3-pointers - while big man Daniel Ochefu took care of the rebounding (11) and the shot-blocking (three) while adding three steals.
"We definitely can go all the way as long as we stick to what we do," said Arcidiacono, who averages 12 points, putting him behind Josh Hart (15.4) and Kris Jenkins (13.3) on the squad.
Hart, Jenkins, Arcidiacono and freshman Jalen Brunson (10.0) have combined to take nearly 700 3-pointers this season and each shoots at least 35 percent from the 3-point line, and also at least 74 percent from the foul line.
TIP-INS
- Awaiting the winner in the Elite Eight is No. 1 seed Kansas or fifth-seeded Maryland. Miami is hoping to reach the Elite 8 for the first time in school history, while Villanova last reached that round en route to the Final Four in 2009.
- The Hurricanes are 10-13 all-time against the Wildcats, although the teams have not met since 2004.
- Opponents are shooting 36.4 percent against Miami in the tournament, although Villanova presents a different challenge after shooting 58.6 percent in its first two games, including nearly 49 percent from the 3-point line.
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