Miami @ Hawaii preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 22, 2012 ) Miami-Florida 73, Hawaii 58

One of four remaining unbeaten teams in Division I, seventh-ranked Miami closes out non-conference play with three games at this weekend’s Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, starting with Friday’s matchup against host Hawaii. The Hurricanes are off to their best start since 2007-08 and rank second in the nation in scoring defense at 56.3 points per game.

Sophomore center Dewan Huell had 15 points and 12 rebounds in last Saturday’s 59-50 win over George Washington as the Hurricanes led wire-to-wire and held the Colonials to 15 points in the first half on 18.5 percent shooting. The game marked another step forward for freshman guard Lonnie Walker IV, who had 13 points and five rebounds and is averaging 17 points over his past three contests. Walker is part of a stellar backcourt that includes Bruce Brown, Ja'Quan Newton, Dejan Vasiljevic and 5-7 sparkplug Chris Lykes. Vasiljevic has averaged 14.0 points over his last four games for the Hurricanes, who need to be careful not to overlook a Hawaii team that has won three in a row following a 20-point loss to Utah.

TV: 1 a.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT MIAMI (9-0): Brown, the team’s third-leading scorer and assist leader, started against George Washington and played 38 minutes after missing one game with a hand injury. “I was surprised he played,” coach Jim Larranaga told reporters. “We were told it would be three weeks. Bruce came in after a week and said I don't want to sit out.” Huell is averaging a team-high 13.3 points on 64.1-percent shooting to lead the Hurricanes, who have held seven of their first nine opponents to fewer than 60 points.

ABOUT HAWAII (7-2): Junior guard Sheriff Drammeh, the reigning Big West player of the week, made four 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 20 points in last Sunday’s 70-69 win over Utah Valley. Seven players are averaging at least 23 minutes per game for the Rainbow Warriors, who are 7-1 at home with the lone loss coming to Nevada. The team’s strong frontcourt includes seniors Mike Thomas and Gibson Johnson along with 6-9 junior Jack Purchase, who leads Hawaii in assists (29) and blocks (eight).

TIP-INS

1. Miami owns a 3-1 lead in the series, including a 73-58 victory in the first round of the 2012 Diamond Head Classic.

2. Hawaii is 9-25 all-time against teams currently in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

3. The Hurricanes have yet to trail in the second half this season.

PREDICTION: Miami 83, Hawaii 61