2019 ACC Tournament Preview: #12 Miami vs. #13 Wake Forest

#12 seed Miami (13-17, 5-13 ACC) faces #13 seed Wake Forest (11-19, 4-14 ACC) in the first round of the 2019 ACC Tournament on Tuesday.

The two split a pair of games in 2019. Miami defeated the Demon Deacons 76-65 at home on Jan. 12; Wake topped the ‘Canes, 76-75, in Winston-Salem on Feb. 26.

Wake Forest has been playing better of late, winning two of its last six, and losing by one at #3 seed Duke last week in Durham.

Miami is also playing better down the stretch, going 4-5 in its last nine game, including a 65-64 win over #9 seed Clemson on Feb. 13.

Players to watch: Miami

• Miami’s success revolves around 5’7” sophomore guard Chris Lykes, who averages 16.2 points per game, on 41 percent shooting from the field, and 31.5 percent from three-point range.
• Anthony Lawrence Jr., a 6’7” senior, averages 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, on 45.7 percent shooting from the floor and 35 percent shooting from three.
• Zach Johnson, a 6’2” senior, averages 12.1 points a game, shooting 39.2 percent from the floor and 30 percent from three.

Players to watch: Wake Forest

• Brandon Childress, a 6’ junior, averages a team-best 14.7 points and 4.0 assists per game, shooting 38.5 percent from the field and 36.4 percent on threes.
• Jaylen Hoard, a 6’8” freshman, averages 13.0 points and 7.6 rebounds a game, shooting 45.2 percent from the floor, but just 21.1 percent from three.
• Chaundee Brown, a 6’5” sophomore, averages 11.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, shooting 40.6 percent from the floor, and 32.6 percent on threes.

KenPom.com says: Miami 74, Wake Forest 67 (27 percent chance of Wake Forest winning)

Preview by Chris Graham