Boston U @ Miami preview

Miami took care of business on Saturday, ending the weekend as one of 13 undefeated Division I teams with an easy 80-52 victory over Princeton. Next up is a meeting with Boston University in the No. 11 Hurricanes' only home game in the month of December as they play their next six away from Watsco Center (two road, four neutral).

While home has definitely been the place to be for the Hurricanes, who have won 15 straight nonconference home games dating to November 2015 and 31 of their last 33 at home overall, Miami has also proven that it can get the job done on the road, where it defeated then-No. 12 ranked Minnesota in its biggest game of the year thus far. The Hurricanes' defense is allowing a paltry 57.6 points per game and 35.7 percent shooting, both fourth best in the nation entering Monday, and the offense has scoring balance with eight players averaging more than six points per game and at least five players have scored in double figures in five of the first seven games. Still, coach Jim Larranaga needs to find the answers to perhaps the team's biggest concern - free-throw shooting, as his Hurricanes are connecting on a dismal 57.8 percent from the charity stripe, ranked 347th in the nation through the weekend, numbers that must improve when Miami begins ACC play. Boston University knows all about those woes as the Terriers are one of just four teams ranked below Miami as they sit dead last at No. 351 with 52.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, RSN, Fox Sports Regional

ABOUT BOSTON UNIVERSITY (3-3): The Terriers are riding a three-game winning streak and are seeking their first win against a nationally ranked opponent since beating Navy in the 1959 NCAA Tournament. But to have a chance, they must take full advantage of all free-throw opportunities and get big production from a starting lineup that has remained the same all season, the second-longest season-opening streak for Boston University in seven years. Leading the way is Miami native Cedric Hankerson, who topped the team with 17 points in the 70-69 win over New Hampshire on Wednesday and is averaging 12.2 points per game.

ABOUT MIAMI (7-0): The big news coming out of the Princeton victory was the performance of highly regarded freshman guard Lonnie Walker, who stepped up with his best outing since a 10-point opener as he notched a career-best 12 points, including 3 of 4 3-pointers, and five rebounds. Walker was one of only three Hurricanes in double figures in the win, joining guards Dejan Vasiljevic (career-high 20 points) and Bruce Brown, Jr. (season-high 17), who hit a combined 13 of 17 shots from the field and 9 of 12 from beyond the arc. Anthony Lawrence equaled his personal high with 10 boards as Miami outrebounded an opponent for the sixth time in seven games.

TIP-INS

1. The Hurricanes won the only meeting with the Terriers back in 1965, but Larranaga is 0-2 in his career against BU, with one loss each when he coached at Bowling Green and George Mason.

2. Miami is outscoring teams by 23.1 points per game (fourth best in the nation through Sunday).

3. Miami is in a stretch with just one home game in 42 days.

PREDICTION: Miami 93, Boston University 60