UM faces dangerous Pitt team on Saturday and might be without guard Matt Cleveland

Anybody who has seen the video of Pitt forward Blake Hinson taunting the Duke student section from atop the scorer’s table at Cameron Indoor Stadium last weekend knows that the University of Miami faces a dangerous opponent Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers had just upset the seventh-ranked Blue Devils, their first win at Cameron since 1979, and Hinson was going to let Duke’s rabid Cameron Crazies know how good it felt. It was especially gratifying because Pitt had lost to Duke by 22 points a few weeks earlier.

Hinson scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the victory and will be a player to watch as the Hurricanes host the Panthers (2:15 p.m., The CW Network). Pitt followed up the Duke win with a win over Georgia Tech on Wednesday.

Miami is also coming off a road win, 73-61 over Notre Dame. Forward Norchad Omier, returning from an ankle injury, poured in 33 points and had 10 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season. Omier is averaging 18.1 points and is second in the ACC with 9.7 rebounds per game. He is shooting 64 percent from the field, which also ranks No. 2 in the conference.

UM coach Jim Larranaga referred to Omier as “a warrior” and “a beast” and was impressed that he could do what he did coming off an injury.

The Hurricanes have been hampered by ankle injuries to starters Omier, Nijel Pack and Wooga Poplar in recent weeks and Matt Cleveland hurt his hip during the Notre Dame game, did not practice Friday and will be a game-time decision.

“We’ve had a lot of nagging injuries,” Larranaga said. “At some point I hope the luck turns in our favor and we’re able to get a healthy team so we can play as well as we’re capable of.”

The Hurricanes and Panthers will both have to protect the perimeter as their teams lead the ACC with 9.3 three-pointers per game. UM has the edge in three-point defense, holding opponents to 29.3 percent shooting, which ranks second in the ACC and 22^nd in the nation.

Miami is 13-6 and in eighth place in the league standings at 4-4. Pitt is 12-7 and 3-5 in the conference (11^th place). Both teams are eager to gain ground in the ACC standings and remain in the conversation for the NCAA Tournament.