Confirm: Five Set To Sign With Miami Hurricanes For a…..

The Miami Hurricanes, who dropped out of the Top 25 at the beginning of the week, head into Christmas on a happy note after overwhelming Stonehill College 97-59 Thursday night at the Watsco Center. Wooga Poplar led the scoring barrage with 24 points, one shy of the career-best 25 he put up five days ago against LaSalle. Norchad Omier had a double-double before halftime and finished with 20 points and 18 rebounds. Matt Cleveland added 15, all of them in the first half. Bensley Joseph had 12 points, eight assists and three steals. And Swiss freshman Kyshawn George, starting in place of injured Nijel Pack, chipped in 12 points, four rebounds and three assists. “Our team is kind of built around him,” UM coach Jim Larranaga said of Omier. “He is the anchor to our defense. He is the anchor to our offense. That’s why have to keep him out of foul trouble and keep him on the court to play as many minutes as he can.” The Canes (9-2) led from start to finish. They raced to a 20-3 lead on a Poplar steal and thunderous dunk. A 19-2 Miami run stretched the lead to 30 points and Larranaga used the opportunity to give bench players Christian Watson and A.J. Casey significant minutes. Casey tied a career-high with eight points and added five rebounds in 15 minutes. An Omier dunk with 6:34 to go put the Hurricanes ahead by 40 points. All 12 players on Miami’s roster got into the game, much to the delight of the fans, who roared when seldom-used freshman Paul Djobet made a three-pointer. Freshmen Carson Mastin and Nick Cassano also played. The night ended with Mastin, Cassano, Djobet, Michael Nwoko and Jakai Robinson on the floor.

Miami Hurricanes guard Kyshawn George (7) drives the ball as Stonehill Skyhawks guard Nathan McGill (20) gives chase during the first half at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida on Thursday, December 21, 2023. Al Diaz adiaz@miamiherald.com “I’m happy we had five guys in double figures,” Larranaga said. “I’m happy we outrebounded them 52-27. I did not like the 13 turnovers, especially the ones at the very end. I did like the 26 assists.”

The Hurricanes, coming off a historic Final Four run last spring, came into the game as heavy favorites.

Miami Hurricanes Named A “Team To Keep An Eye On” For Ole Miss Transfer RB Quinshon Judkins