22 Jan 2025; Stanford, California, USA; Miami (FL) Hurricanes Interim’s head coach Bill Courtney is looking against Stanford Cardinal during the first half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Pictures Miami is facing perhaps his best shot at her first Atlantic Coast Conference victory in the season Wednesday evening in Coral Gables, Florida, against a visiting Virginia squad that has dropped six of its last seven matches.
The Hurricanes (4-16, 0-9 ACC) have lost nine straight matches and have only one victory since Thanksgiving. Cavaliers (9-11, 2-7) have managed a little better but is 0-5 this season in road games.
Both fighting schools have Interim’s head coach. Ron Sanchez took over at Virginia when Tony Bennett suddenly retired three weeks before the season opener. Bill Courtney is still searching for his first victory with Miami since head coach Jim Larranaga went out on December 26.
The once powerful programs have fallen long and fast. In 2022-23, Cavaliers and Hurricanes finished in a draw for first place in ACC with 15-5 leagues. Miami did Final Four that season, and Virginia caught a national championship 2018-19.
Cavaliers come from a home loss of 74-59 to Notre Dame on Saturday where they never had the lead. It was their ninth loss this season with double numbers.
Sanchez shouldered the blame after Virginia allowed Fighting Irish to shoot 52.2 percent (12 out of 23) behind the bow.
“There’s not a single fan out there who want to win more than me,” he said. “I am extremely disappointed with the way the team came out, and it is on me as their head coach, that I did not get them gathered and ready to compete with the hair in fire that we needed. So I have to do a much better job with it. ”
Jacob Cofie delivered 17 points and Isaac McKneely had 14 for Virginia. McKneely goes with the team with 12.4 points per match and Elijah Saunders adds 11.8 ppg.
After being blown out in his three previous matches with a combined 115 points, Miami came alluring close to his breakthrough victory Saturday before sank 98-94 at overtime at Cal.
“I was sure our children would show struggle,” said Courtney. “We did not come up with the victory and there are no moral victories in this, but I appreciated the children’s effort and struggle. … and I hopefully thought we can use it as a building block when we are moving forward.”
Matthew Cleveland (15.1 ppg) leads the hurricanes in points.
Virginia is constantly leading the series 16-13. Last season, Cavaliers cruised a victory of 60-38 over Hurricanes on February 5, 2024 in Charlottesville, VA.
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