Miami (FL) @ UCF

Who will WIN this matchup?

Miami (FL) Hurricanes (1-1)

@ UCF Knights (1-0)

Current odds:

Miami (FL) Hurricanes: (-160)

UCF Knights: (+140)

• The line for this game is Miami by 3 points.

• Miami has scored 74 points in each of its first two games – both at home – opening with an 87-74 loss to fifth-ranked Louisville followed by a 74-60 triumph over Florida Atlantic. The Hurricanes now get set for their first road game of the season Tuesday night as they head north to face a revamped Central Florida team coming off a 73-69 win over Prairie View A&M in its season opener. “Not everyone is going to come out for the first game and be perfect,” Hurricanes forward Sam Waardenburg told reporters after the FAU win. “Every game you’re going to learn something. Louisville we learned a lot. Tonight we learned as well.” One of the biggest improvements from Game 1 to Game 2 for Miami was its defensive performance as FAU hit just 35 percent of its shots, including 27 percent from long distance, compared with Louisville’s 54 percent success rate from the floor and 47 percent effort on 3-pointers.

• UCF is counting on a learning curve as well since its roster includes just three players from last season’s 24-9 squad – the school’s best season in program history – and nine new players overall, resulting in some nervous moments in the second half against Prairie View A&M. “I learned that they have a big heart and they can play with poise when they have to,” said head coach Johnny Dawkins.

• Four players finished in double figures in the opener, topped by Alabama grad transfer Dazon Ingram, who scored 16 points and tied Frank Bertz for the team lead with seven rebounds in his first game for the Knights. Returnees Collin Smith and Ceasar DeJesus had 14 and 11 points, respectively, while Texas A&M transfer Brandon Mahan found out he was eligible right before tip-off and finished with 12 points and four boards off the bench. “He (Mahan) was way better than I thought he was going to be,” said Smith. “He’s just an instant scorer off the bench. He a playmaker. He’s just a great all-around player and we’re happy to have him.”

• Junior guard Chris Lykes led the Hurricanes in scoring in both games, totaling 18 against Louisville and 15 vs. FAU. Freshman guard Harlond Beverly (14) and junior center Rodney Miller, Jr., (12), who redshirted last season, stepped up with career-high scoring, while Waardenburg came one point shy of a double-double with nine points and a career-best 11 rebounds. The Hurricanes were on the short end of the rebound battle by five in both contests – 40-35 against Louisville and 44-39 against FAU.

• The Hurricanes are 7-2 against the Knights, but UCF went on the road and pulled off a 63-58 upset the last time these teams met in November 2013.

• Miami is 147-46 (.762) all-time against the 10 non-Power 5 schools in Florida.

• Smith is UCF’s returning leader in minutes (22.1), points (8.0), rebounds (5.2), assists (1.5) and blocks (0.3) per game.