Miami Hurricanes vs Virginia Cavaliers Picks and Predictions January 29th 2025

Winless in the ACC, Miami Hosts Struggling Virginia in Battle of Interim Coaches

Two teams desperate for a turnaround will clash on Wednesday night in Coral Gables, as Miami seeks its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory against a Virginia squad that has been reeling in recent weeks. With both programs under interim leadership and searching for stability, this game presents a crucial opportunity to halt their respective losing streaks.

Miami’s Best Chance Yet to Break Through

The Hurricanes (4-16, 0-9 ACC) have yet to win a conference game this season and are riding a nine-game losing streak. Since Thanksgiving, they’ve managed just one victory, highlighting the depths of their struggles. However, their most recent performance—a 98-94 overtime loss at Cal—suggests they may be inching closer to a breakthrough.

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Interim head coach Bill Courtney, who stepped in after longtime leader Jim Larrañaga’s departure on December 26, expressed pride in his team’s fight despite the heartbreaking loss.

“I was certain that our kids were going to show fight. We didn’t come away with the victory and there’s no moral victories in this, but I did appreciate the kids’ effort and fight. … And I thought hopefully we can use that as a building block as we move forward.”

Leading the charge for Miami is Matthew Cleveland, who paces the team with 15.1 points per game. The Hurricanes have struggled mightily in recent outings, suffering three consecutive blowout losses before their competitive effort at Cal. Wednesday’s game could be their best chance yet to finally enter the ACC win column.

Virginia’s Road Woes and Defensive Concerns

While Virginia (9-11, 2-7 ACC) has fared slightly better than Miami, it has been in a free fall of its own, dropping six of its last seven games. The Cavaliers are also winless on the road this season (0-5), making this a must-win game if they hope to salvage their season.

Their most recent outing—a 74-59 home loss to Notre Dame—was particularly frustrating, as they never held a lead and allowed the Fighting Irish to shoot 52.2% from three-point range (12-of-23). Interim head coach Ron Sanchez, who took over after Tony Bennett’s sudden retirement just weeks before the season began, took responsibility for the lackluster effort.

“There’s not a single fan out there that wants to win more than I do. I’m extremely disappointed in the way that the team came out, and that is on me as their head coach, that I did not get them rallied up and ready to compete with their hair on fire like we needed to. So, I’ve got to do a much better job of that.”

Despite their struggles, Virginia has found consistency in Jacob Cofie (17 points vs. Notre Dame) and Isaac McKneely, who leads the team with 12.4 points per game. Elijah Saunders adds 11.8 ppg, but the Cavaliers have struggled to find reliable offensive production beyond their top scorers.

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A Tale of Two Former Powerhouses

Just last season, these two teams were at the pinnacle of the ACC. Miami reached the Final Four in 2023, while Virginia was a conference co-champion alongside the Hurricanes. Now, both programs have plummeted in the standings, making this game as much about regaining confidence as it is about improving their record.

Virginia leads the all-time series 16-13 and dominated last year’s matchup with a 60-38 win on February 5, 2024. However, given the Cavaliers’ road struggles and Miami’s recent sign of life, this game presents a much different challenge.

With both teams under interim leadership, searching for consistency, and desperate for a victory, Wednesday night’s game will be a test of which squad can best capitalize on the other’s weaknesses. Will Miami finally secure its first ACC win, or can Virginia snap its road skid and avoid another setback? The answer lies ahead in Coral Gables.