Louisville vs Miami, Fla (+2.5) - 1:00pm Pacific - Game #755-756
This is a huge non-conference game for the Hurricanes.  They are off to somewhat of a disappointing start at 7-5 without a marquee win.  To their credit, excellent junior starting point guard Anthony Harris missed the first seven games of the season with injury.  He returned five games back and moved into the starting line up three games ago.  In his first start, Miami played very competitively at #18 NC State.  Despite a fast start by the Wolfpack, Miami was within striking distance most of the second half before losing by 12.  In very next game Miami went toe to toe with #5 Florida, even holding a 5 point lead near the 5 minute mark of the second half but the Gators finished with an 18-3 run for a very misleading final score.  Junior wing Guillermo Diaz is as difficult of a matchup as there is in the country.  Most of the time, defenders just have to hope he misses because he can pretty much get off a decent shot anytime he wants.  Diaz combines with senior scoring guard Robert Hite and a now healthy point guard Anthony Harris to give Miami one of the better perimeter trios in the country.  Junior F/C Anthony King has improved since last year and freshman forward Jimmy Graham has been real surprise adding versatility to the frontline.  6-10 senior big body Gary Hamilton and lightning fast freshman point guard Denis Clemente are the first reserves off the bench.

 Four of Louisville's top seven players this year did not play last year and like anyone else they need time to adjust.  They are also having to do without three experienced double digit scorers from last year.  The Cardinals disappointed badly in their only road game and only true test of the season losing at Kentucky by double digits.  They were down by as many as 23 before losing by 12.  Injuries and lack of practice time have further slowed the team's development.  This will be Louisville's sixth game in 14 days despite finals and Christmas.  They were completely healthy for the first time just two games ago vs Detroit.  After last game Pitino stated, "We are nowhere near where we need to be, or where we were last year." 

Miami plays with a lot of heart and will keep coming at you.  This is a game that they have to get to for their NCAA tournament resume.  Louisville has a huge home game vs #3 Villanova on tap and can much more afford a loss in this spot.  Louisville agreed to this game in part thinking that their football team would be in the Orange Bowl and they would have 5,000 fans in attendance.  That scenario never materialized and 4300 tickets went unsold.  The game is being played off-campus but still only 30 miles from Miami.  Take the small dog and expect an outright win.