Miami Hurricanes vs. Drake Bulldogs Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 21st 2024

Preview and Prediction

The Miami Hurricanes, who dominated their first three games with a combined 95-point lead, are finally gearing up to face a more formidable opponent.

Miami (3-0) is expected to face a challenge from the Drake Bulldogs (3-0) on Thursday afternoon in the opening round of the Charleston Classic in South Carolina.

Point guard Nijel Pack leads Miami in scoring (14.7) and assists (6.7), while his backcourt partner Jalen Blackmon averages 14.0 points and a team-high 1.7 steals.

However, Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga admits that the size of his guards - Pack standing at 6-foot and Blackmon at 6-2 - could prove to be a weakness as Miami's schedule gets tougher.

"The challenge for (Blackmon) will be on the defensive end because he plays alongside Nijel," Larranaga said. "Neither of them are big guards. It's something we will have to address as the season progresses."

Miami boasts a standout center in Lynn Kidd, a 6-10, 241-pound transfer from Virginia Tech. He is averaging 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game and ranks eighth in the nation in field-goal percentage (.783).

The Hurricanes' starting forwards are both experienced players: Matthew Cleveland (11.0 points, 6.0 rebounds) and Brandon Johnson (10.3 points, team-high 8.0 rebounds).

While Miami has been cruising, Drake narrowly won their last game by just two points against Florida Gulf Coast.

Drake has made three of the last four NCAA Tournaments, but their former coach Darian DeVries left for West Virginia, leaving the Bulldogs to replace all five starters from last season's 28-7 team.

New coach Ben McCollum built a Division II powerhouse at Northwest Missouri State, which went 29-5 last season. Four players from that team are now starting for Drake: Isaiah Jackson, Bennett Stirtz, Mitch Mascari, and Daniel Abreu. The fifth starter is Wyoming transfer Cam Manyawu.

The only returning player from last season is forward Nate Ferguson, a sixth-year senior who serves as Drake's sixth man.

Manyawu, who won't turn 19 until New Year's Day, leads Drake in rebounds (6.7). Stirtz is the team's top scorer (18.7), assists leader (5.0), and steals leader (3.0). He also scored a game-high 25 points against Florida Gulf Coast on a night where the Bulldogs were not at their best.

"We have to be able to win even when we're not at our best," McCollum said. "We need to be more prepared for the rest of the season."

PREDICTION

Miami Hurricanes

Drake Bulldogs