The blog's title is debatable, I agree. Coach Leonard Hamilton helped build up Miami hoops way before Captain Jack even thought of enrolling at Siena. A #2 seed in the 1999 tournament and Sweet-16 appearance in 2000 to his coaching credit as a Cane, Hamilton peaced to the NBA and struggled at the professional level with the Wizards. Struggled hard, to the tune of 19-63. Now he's back and building another program right up the street in the classiest city in the United States, a program the Canes enjoy the pleasure of facing twice this year.
What about Coach Haith? A guy who has recruited his ass off in his first few years here (as he did at Texas) led the Canes to the second round of the tournament in only his fourth year, earning a new contract in the process. DeQuan "The Franchise" Jones now calls the BankUnited his home thanks to Haith. Malcolm Grant, perhaps the best college basketball transfer this off-season, left Villanova thanks to him. A new training facility is almost completed thanks in large part to what he has been able to accomplish as the Head Coach of the Hurricanes in only FOUR seasons. He's done more for this program than anyone could have ever asked for in such a short time span.
Aren't those the kind of guys we should be thanking? Undoubtedly.
Even more so than either of those men (and anyone else for that matter), however, the new age of Miami Hurricane basketball is embodied by one man: Jack McClinton.
#33 gave the Canes fans hope when there was none to be found near Lake Osceola. He was the program's first ever first-team All-ACC selection in 2008, and a clear threat from anywhere on the court. You watched him take over the BankUnited Center when his team was down against Clemson with three-pointer after three-pointer. You watched him on your shitty ESPN 360 feed lead his team to victory over a Mississippi State program early in the season. You watched him in awe.
"He's not going to sho...OH MY GOD!" Your hands go flailing up in the air and you start to jump like a crazy man, just like Sha-Shevski whenever his fragile big men get touched in the paint. Just like Greg Paulus when he turns the ball over and whines for a foul. Just like...forget it, you get the idea.
He was brash, he was bold, and he was kicking ass and taking names on the worst team in the ACC during his sophomore year. J-Mac helped mold the team's playing style in a way that has helped inspire the enthusiasm of those fans in Coral Gables. He plays with confidence bordering on cockiness, and never shies away from the big shot. Now Canes fans confidently rock black #33 jerseys at Dolphin Stadium, where a team is enjoying a mini-Renaissance of its own. Can you imagine this happening three years ago?
No, the Canes would not be where they now stand without the talents of many men (Coaches Haith and Hamilton included). And yes indeed, the Canes will not go far this season if the players around McClinton do not step up to face the challenge as they did for most of last season.
With that said, the Canes needed a savior after a disappointing NIT exit to conclude the 2005-2006 season. With Guillermo gone to the greener pastures of Los Angeles, the Hurricanes had to have one player to shoulder the load as go-to guy. Who would it be? Turns out an unlikely transfer from Siena, who wound up leading the ACC in three-point percentage as a red-shirt sophomore.
The same Jack that was fourth in the ACC in scoring last year (18.8 ppg) and lead the conference in free-throw percentage (91.9%). The same Jack that averaged that 28.0 ppg in the NCAA tournament, shooting over 50% from the field. 28 points per game.
In the ever appropriate words of Billy Joel himself, Captain Jack will get you high on Saturday when the Canes open up the season against Florida Southern (I'm sorry, Billy). He'll take you to your own special island with each three-pointer he sinks. And if you don't get laid on Saturday night after the game, guess what? Captain Jack will get you by. He always does.
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