The KFC Yum Center will also welcome back the return of Quentin Snider.
Miami has has won four of its last five games, including a 74-68 win over Virginia Tech on Feb. 8 in its last outing. In that game, Davon Reed scored 18 points and handed out six assists to lead four Hurricane players in double figures.
Miami is 34th in the nation in scoring defense (64.2), 55th in field goal percentage defense (.410) and 25th in rebound margin (+6.4). Among the Canes’ five ACC victories is a 77-62 win over No. 9 North Carolina on Jan. 28.
Notable:
—Louisville is eighth in the nation in field goal defense (.384), eighth in blocked shots (5.9 bpg), fifth in three-point field goal percentage defense (.285), 13th in scoring margin (+14.8) and 17th in offensive rebounds per game (13.5).
—The Yum Center is one of just three away venues where Miami has not won an ACC game under Jim Larranaga.
—Louisville has won 19 of its first 24 games for a sixth straight season.
—In his last 11 games, Donovan Mitchell has averaged 19.2 points 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.3 steals and made 32-of-74 three-pointers (.432). Mitchell is second in the ACC and is 15th in the nation in steals (2.2 per game). He is eighth in the Kenpom.com national player of the year ratings through Feb. 8.
—This season Miami is 15-1 overall and 6-1 in ACC play when scoring 70+ points. UM has scored fewer than 60 points in five of its seven losses.
—For the ninth time this season, Miami will be facing an ACC team coming off a loss. The Hurricanes are 5-3 in such games.
—Miami is ranked in the top 100 in 13 NCAA statistical categories, through games as of Feb. 8. The Canes are fifth in fewest fouls, No. 22 in rebound margin (6.7), 32nd in scoring defense (64.0), and No. 48 in field goal percentage defense (40.8%).
—Louisville has a 33-8 record in its conference home games over the last five years (.805), including an 8-1 record last season in ACC games in the KFC Yum! Center.
—Louisville has a 53-17 record (.757) in February over the last nine years (since 2007- 08), winning 19 of its last 26 in the month.
Ken Pomeroy Prediction: Louisville 71, Miami 58
