Miami On Fire, You Better Be Cautious

Don't be misled by the title of this blog entry.  The Canes have no huge winning streak going.  They haven't managed their way into anybody's Top-10.  And after a loss at the hands of #2 Connecticut on Saturday, the Canes were anything but on fire heading into their consolation match against San Diego. 

The #21/#22 Canes, however, put a quick end to the bleeding yesterday, thrashing the San Diego Toreros en route to a 80 - 45 win in the consolation match of the Paradise Jam tournament.   The win gives the Canes a third-place finish in the tournament and improves Miami's record to 3-1 in their first four games. 

When (and if) the Canes finally get their shooting going, teams should be very wary.  Even when the Canes' shots are not dropping in overwhelming numbers, Miami has the versatility and capability of simply dominating games. Last night was a prime example of this (against a tournament team, no less).     

After a 13-point loss to the Huskies in their second-round matchup, the Canes dropped about five spots in the polls (#21 in one, #22 in another).  Miami rebounded from the loss with their most lopsided win since last year's 43-point, 104-61 season opening win over Florida Southern.

The Canes did not need a standout performance from their captain and star senior Jack McClinton to pull this one out.  Four players scored in double-figures for the Canes, with McClinton only managing nine points in 27 minutes.  Fresh off a 27-point, awe-inspiring performance against Connecticut, McClinton shot only 1-6 from behind the arc and 2-7 overall.

Luckily for Jack, his teammates were there to help him this time - unlike in the previous game, when other than Dwayne Collins (16 points), the rest of the team recorded twenty points total.

One of the questions going into the night was how Frank Haith would divide his team's minutes after a lackluster performance from too many players against Connecticut.  Well, no player other than Jack played more than 22 minutes, and every player other than Adrian Thomas got at least 15 minutes on the night.  Sure, a lot of that had to do with the score quickly turning into a blowout in the second half (Gamble with as many minutes as Graham?), but Haith was still rotating early and often.

Jimmy Graham recorded his first double double of the season in only fifteen minutes on the court.  You read that right.  He finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds in his outrageously effective time on the floor, all while coming off the bench.  Double-Zero helped pick up a lackluster showing from Dwayne Collins, who started the game off hot but finished with only eight points and four boards.

Lance Hurdle once again started the game on the bench, but came in and finished with 10 points (two three-pointers) in an effective 18 minutes.  The star of the night may have been Brian Asbury, who took over the game in the middle of the second half by scoring six straight points and grabbing rebounds in between possessions, finishing with 14 points in only 17 minutes.  He was a perfect 6 for 6 from the stripe.  

The James Dews watch is still on; the junior's game has been missing all season, and last night was no different.  He finished with six points, missed both his three-point attempts, and did not find his way to the free throw stripe for the third time this year.  After shooting over 90% from the line last year, Dews has managed only two free throw attempts the whole season.

It might be time to get a little worried about Dews.  Although it's only four games into the season, he has been shockingly bad in the early going. He's shooting 31% from the field, 13% from three-point range, and averaging only 5.5 points a game in his starting role.  Coach Haith is going to need more than that from his junior shooting guard, who averaged over 10 points a game last year and shot over 40% from the field.  No one should be giving up on him just yet, but for a player who was expected to help take over the scoring duties once Jack graduates next year, early returns are not positive whatsoever.

Luckily (as mentioned before), the team's two leading scorers from last year were picked up by the performances of their teammates.  Nine Miami players recorded points in the game, and the Canes outrebounded San Diego by a 42- 28 margin on the way to a thorough stomping of a potential tournament team. 

Team defense may have been the most encouraging part of the season heading into last night's game, and the trend certainly continued; the Canes held the Toreros to only 32.7% shooting from the field.  Miami outscored USD by a scandalous 42 to 15 margin in the second frame.

 The Canes did not perform particularly well after losses last season, with six of their L's coming on two three-game losing streaks in the regular season.  Luckily they ended the pain quickly this time.  USD was led by senior Brandon Johnson (10 points) and Chris Lewis (11 points).

The next two weeks are some of the most important weeks for Canes basketball in some time (excluding March Madness, of course).  After a matchup with Stetson on Saturday (11/29), the Canes play Ohio State at home on 12/2 and then travel to Kentucky four days later (12/6).  

Both games are ESPN match-ups and potential opportunities for Frank Haith to prove his team is the real deal.  Out of any team ranked in the preseason Top 25, Miami had the worst Vegas odds of running the table and winning it all.  

Those two games may end up in people laying down their life savings on the Hurricanes as champions, sure, but they also could end up in disaster.  The last thing Coach Haith and the Hurricanes need is to lose the support of fans with two losses to surprisingly unranked teams.  Two losses and the loss of their ranking would give Miami yet another "us against the world" mentality (which always seems to help athletes thrive at the U), but let's just hope for two wins.  This program could really use them.

After all is said and done,  the Canes finish with a medal-winning performance in the Paradise Jam.  While it would have been nice to play a ranked Wisconsin team in the championship tilt with a shot at gold, bronze isn't bad for a team who had their path to the championship detoured by a monster roadblock named Hasheem Thabeet.  

Now We Got That Out The Way... Let's Double Up!

The commitment from shooting guard Durand Scott earlier this week signaled to the Connecticut Huskies and the rest of the college basketball world that Miami was no longer an 'afterthought' of a basketball program.  Well, as R. Kelly might tell Head Coach Frank Haith, the Canes have a chance to double up on Sunday with a primetime showdown against Jim Calhoun's #2-ranked Huskies at 6:00 PM EST on...Fox Sports College Pacific?  

Alright, alright, other than the television channel, this match-up has all the makings of a potential storybook finish to another fantastic week for Miami Hurricanes basketball.

The week started with Durand Scott's official decision to choose Miami over Connecticut (and Pitt!) on Wednesday, got better with a first-round Paradise Jam win on Friday over a solid Southern Mississippi team, and further improved when rumors started swirling Saturday over Jai Lucas' potential transfer from Gainesville to Coral Gables.

If Coach Haith's team does take down the #2 Huskies tomorrow, the Hurricanes are a definite candidate for VH1's Best Week Ever. 

Connecticut, who barely squeaked by LaSalle with an eight-point victory on Friday night, did not look impressive as a whole in their 89-81 victory.  One of the keys to stopping the Huskies is shutting down 7-3 junior center Hasheem Thabeet, who managed only nine points and seven rebounds in 30 minutes on the floor against the Explorers in their Paradise opener.  

Unfortunately for LaSalle, forward Jeff Adrien picked up the Huskies frontcourt with 22 points and 14 rebounds in 39 (!) dominant minutes for Connecticut.  The 6-7, 235-pound senior shot 8-16 from the floor and recorded 6 offensive boards to help lead his team to victory. 

Another bright spot on the court for UConn was freshman Kemba Walker, a former teammate of Durand Scott's at Rice High (N.Y.), who recorded 23 points off the bench.  It's the second straight 20-point game for Walker, who notched 21 in the Huskies 40-point blowout over Hartford earlier in the week.    

Junior guard Jerome Dyson recorded 17 points for the Huskies and senior A.J. Price returned from an ankle injury to add 12 of his own in the victory.  

Another key will be the role of bench depth for both teams; only one Connecticut non-starter saw major minutes on Friday, as compared to three who played over 20 minutes off Miami's bench.  Coach Haith noted the Canes' ability to wear down Southern Miss with fresh bodies played a major part in their 10-point win.

Dwayne Collins, seven inches shorter than Thabeet, will have his hands full in guarding the Tanzanian center.  Jimmy Graham, who recorded a few strong blocks against Souther Miss, will need to contribute his typical strong defense off the bench if the Canes hope to neutralize the Thabeet/Adrien frontcourt combo.  

The importance of defense stretches to the guard position as well, where Jack McClinton and James Dews (with the help of Adrian Thomas) will have to slow down the Connecticut guards, especially Price and Walker.  Neither are especially tall (Walker at 6-1, Price at 6-2), but both are great shooters.  

Again, the Canes ability to stay fresh (and not just in orange kicks) on the court may play the most important role in Haith's gameplan.  Cyrus cannot get into foul trouble early as he did against the Golden Eagles (eventually fouling out), and everyone is going to have to shoulder the load if the Canes hope to win.  Even though nine players registered point for the Canes on Friday, the team will need more help from guys like James Dews (7 points) and Brian Asbury (6 points) if they hope to pull the upset.

Tomorrow is another exciting day in this magical journey we call 'Hurricane Basketball 2008-2009.'  Hopefully when the final buzzer sounds against #2 UConn, the Canes will have the #1 spot secured on VH1's Best Week ever.  If not...well hey, runner-up isn't too bad either, right?   

  

Together Baby, There's Nothing We Won't Do

You know those stories that you just have to take with a grain of salt? Those stories that end up in disappointment when their supposed words of truth never come to fruition?  This might be one of those stories, but it's an exciting and noteworthy one nonetheless.

Is former Florida point guard Jai Lucas transferring to the University of Miami?     Go ahead and check out an exclusive story on Rivals if you find yourself intrigued by the possibility.  This is huge news for a program gaining more notoriety by the day.    

Lucas made his decision before the season to transfer from Florida, and has not played a minute for the Gators this year.  Lucas had hoped to lock down the starting point guard position for the Gators, but Nick Calathes and UF commit/phenom Kenny Boynton seem to have put a serious dent in those plans.

"On any team, there's a little bit of give and take by everybody," said Coach Billy Donovan about his guard's transfer.  "I don't blame Jai.  He's got to be happy.  There's no reason to go through your career and say, 'Hey I'm unhappy everyday coming to practice.'"  

Lucas average 8.5 points and 2.3 assists as a freshman for the Gators last season, starting every game of the season.   

"It's something you don't really plan," Lucas said in an interview. "Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do, but it will be best for me in the long run."  

So where does that leave Miami?  According to the article, Lucas wants to remain in Florida.  Indeed this only adds to the idea that the Hurricanes actually have a recruiting class of three (Donnavan Kirk, Garrius Adams and Durand Scott) rather than four (add Lisandro Ruiz-Moreno to that list).  More on that later.  Replacing a graduating Lance Hurdle with Jai Lucas would be a tremendous coup for Coach Haith and the Hurricanes.  

The situation would see the Canes end up with a 2009-2010 lineup consisting of:

PG:  Jai Lucas/Malcolm Grant/Eddie Rios

SG:  James Dews/Durand Scott

SF:  DeQuan Jones/Adrian Thomas/Garrius Adams

PF:  Dwayne Collins/Donnavan Kirk

C:  Cyrus McGowan/Julian Gamble/Reggie Johnson

If that roster doesn't get you excited, I don't know what will.  In his interview after the win against Southern Miss, Coach Haith raved about Durand Scott and said he was extremely content with his recruiting class as a whole.  Could this mean the class consists of Scott, Adams and Kirk, and not Ruiz-Moreno?

Lucas would add stability to a position that is in question for the next three years.  Sure, Eddie Rios has played very well early on and Malcolm Grant has a good reputation of a playmaker, but there is no certainty when it comes to the idea of the Miami Hurricane point guard of the future.  Lucas solves that problem and then some.

Ranked the # 7-ranked point guard in the Class of 2007 and the #43-ranked player overall, Lucas also led the Gators in three-point field goal percentage, shooting over 40% from behind the arc (another quality that Coach Haith values).   

If the Hurricanes do indeed land Jai Lucas (which the article predicts might very well happen), the program's future will become that much brighter.  Keep in mind, with Sweet Sixteen aspirations and beyond, we're already shading our eyes at the potential brightness this team could possibly radiate.  

Well, throw on the Ray-Bans and some Coppertone, because this sunny day just got a heck of a lot sunnier.  

To the Top of the Globe, Globe

FINAL SCORE:  UM:  70  SM:  60

Wise hits a three on the Eagles' last possession as the Canes dribble out the clock and end with a ten-point win over Southern Miss.  Stay tuned for post-game coverage!

  

0:52/2nd Half:  UM: 70 SM: 58

Jeremy Wise hits a runner for the Eagles and draws the foul call on Graham for a block in the last minute of the game.  He hits the free throw.

1:35/2nd Half:  UM: 69  SM: 55

Jimmy Graham scores with the foul, misses the shot, and Dwayne gets the rebound and gets fouled on his way up.

1:49/2nd Half:  UM: 67  SM: 55

Stephens also fouls out for the Eagles after a decent game - 7 points, 7 rebounds.  Southern Miss will be fouling the rest of the way, as Jimmy misses both free throws but the Canes grab the rebound and get the nod on a jump ball.

1:59/2nd Half:  UM: 67  SM: 55

R.L. Horton fouls out for the Golden Eagles as Lance hits 1 of 2 at the line.  

2:21/2nd Half:  UM: 66  SM: 55

Jack gets called for another travel call, which is at least his third of the game.  On the next possession, Cyrus fouls out and the Eagles hit both free throws. 

3:43/2nd Half:  UM: 66  SM: 51

Jimmy hits both his free throws after Jack nearly had his pocket picked as Jimmy was fouled down low.  An unlucky long rebound on the Eagles' previous possession ended up in an easy slam dunk for the Eagles.  

4:30/2nd Half:  UM: 64  SM: 49

The Canes are starting to heat up from three-point range, as Lance hits one from downtown off the dish from McClinton.  Three players in double figures for the Canes so far - Jack, Dwayne and Lance.

5:12/2nd Half:  UM: 61  SM: 47

Jack hits a long three-pointer from the baseline after a Golden Eagles bucket.  He misses one of his free-throws (ending his 44 in a row streak) but hits the other after getting fouled coming off a screen.  The Canes then force a turnover and get Jimmy Graham an easy dunk on a fast break.  Time-out.

7:48/2nd Half:  UM: 54  SM: 42

Some ugly offensive possessions for both teams, as Dews and McClinton both miss long three-pointers on back-to-back possessions.  Dews gets fouled while rebounding Jack's attempt, however, and there's a time-out on the floor with Dews about to step to the line.

9:07/2nd Half:  UM: 54  SM: 42

Dwayne's at the line now and hits both his free throws after an over-the-top foul by the Eagles after a missed free throw of their own.  Canes in the bonus.  

9:47/2nd Half:  UM: 52  SM: 41

Jack's at the line after a bad offensive possession for the Canes, and hits both free throws to put the Canes back up 11 after SM hit both of their own free throws on the previous posession.   

11:38/2nd Half:  UM: 50  SM: 39

Time-out on the floor after the ball got knocked out of bounds off Miami.  On the court before the break: Collins (11 points), Hurdle (9), Asbury (6), Dews (5) and Graham (2).  Hurricane team looking snazzy in orange kicks, by the way.  

12:09/2nd Half:  UM: 50  SM: 39

Lance Hurdle rips through the Eagles' defense en route to a lay-up, but the Canes get lazy on defense and give up an easy bucket in the paint.  Asbury drives to the bucket and misses, gets his own rebound, and hits both free throws to up the Canes lead to 11.  

13:40/2nd Half:  UM: 46  SM: 37

Dwayne Collins hits one of two after getting fouled, followed up by a quick and one (made) for the Eagles.  Dews hits a big three-pointer for the Canes, the Eagles follow it up with a miss, and Asbury lays it in with his left hand on a fast break.  Eagles want a time-out after a quick five-point run for the Canes.   

15:37/2nd Half:  UM: 40  SM: 32

Cyrus has a nice post move and lay-up and gets fouled, it's a time-out and we're waiting on the free throw.  The Canes were reeling before the sequence - a lot of bad shots for the Canes leading to fast breaks for the Golden Eagles.   

17:25/2nd Half:  UM: 38  SM:  30

Another bad shot for the Canes, another quick Golden Eagles bucket.  Time to wake up, Miami.

18:00/2nd Half: UM: 38  SM: 28

Dwayne's up to double digits with 10, but the Canes are not playing well on defense early on in the second half.

Halftime Thoughts:

The Canes are up twelve after a beautiful run to end the frame.  Dwayne Collins is the leading scorer for the Canes with 8 points at half, followed by Hurdle with seven, McClinton with six, Thomas with five, and five other players with two points each.  Clearly depth is going to play a key role this season - that's nine players who have registered points for the Canes in this first-round matchup.  

The Canes are shooting 3-11 from three-ball land (27%), and are only outrebounding the Golden Eagles by two - 15 to 13.  Senior Craig Craft has been the man for the Eagles with eight points so far.  The only player on either team in serious foul trouble is Cyrus McGowan, who had three in the first half.

On a separate note, this video feed is immensely disappointing thus far.  There's no commentary on the feed, the video didn't connect until about six or seven minutes into the game, and the picture looks like video from my dad's 1999 Sony Handycam.  Other than that, it's great.  

Let's hope for a more consistent performance from the Canes in the second half - the first period was clearly a rollercoaster series of runs by both teams.  About four minutes to go before the start of the second half, so stay tuned for more updates.   

HALFTIME:  UM: 36  SM:  24

Jack hits a big three and the Canes force a turnover on the ensuing drive...with five seconds left, Hurdle takes another last second three-point attempt that bounced about three feet in the air of the rim and fell right back in.  Canes up 12 at the half, and end the half on a 10-0 run.

0:38/1st Half:  UM: 30  SM: 24

The Canes force a turnover with good defense, and call a 30-second timeout for the last possession.  

0:57/1st Half:  UM: 30  SM: 24

Dwayne hits a shot in the lane thats discounted as he was fouled before shooting.  He hits both free throws, to up the Canes lead to six.  

2:39/1st Half: UM: 26  SM: 22

Collins adds two free throws but gives up a rebound downlow leading to an easy bucket in the paint for the Eagles.  

3:12/1st Half:  UM: 24  SM:  20

Dwayne Collins nets an easy lay-up downlow to end a 9-0 run by the Golden Eagles.  Jump ball favors the Canes.  Time-out on the floor.  

5:17/1st Half:  UM: 22  SM:  19

Wise hits a wide-open three pointer, Craft hits a three pointer, and just like that, Miami's 11 point lead is down to 3.  Shot selection has not been good for the Canes tonight - way too many quick shots.

7:09/1st Half: UM: 22 SM: 13

McClinton hits a deep two-pointer but Craft follows up a Wise miss with an easy layup.  Ends a big Miami run.  

7:48/1st Half:  UM: 20  SM:  11

Hurdle hits two more free throws, Adrian Thomas adds a three pointer.  Miami is 2-8 from three point range.  On the floor:  Collins, Thomas, Dews, Hurdle, McClinton.

10:11/1st Half:  UM: 15  SM: 11

Asbury misses a quick three but scores on a DeQuan Jones led fast break with a layup.  Cyrus wth two fouls early on.

11:26/1st Half:  UM: 13  SM: 9

Sorry for the early delays.  Jack McClinton has three points, Dews with two, Collins with two, Graham with two, Cyrus with two, Hurdle has two.

Now let's start the show, show.

Thanks for joining us here at T.H.T.J.B. for a running commentary on the Paradise Jam opener today against Southern Mississippi.  Tip-off is set for 1:00 PM, so check back here for up-to-the-minute updates on the Canes progress against the Golden Eagles.  

Water So Clear You Can See to the Bottom

...welcome to Miami, Durand Scott.

One of the best shooting guards in the country ended his decision-making process Wednesday by choosing none other than, you guessed it, the University of Miami.  

"I made my decision because of comfortability, just the type of person I am and where I  believe i best fit, " Scott said in his press conference in a television studio Wednesday.  "When I took my visit to Miami, I knew it was the place I wanted to be."  

Scott was deciding between Miami, UConn and Pittsburgh and ended up choosing that little private institution in Coral Gables with an ever fading reputation as a football school.

"Playing for Miami, that will be a great experience and I believe I can do special things there," said Scott.  

Many who were dreading the day when McClinton graduated can sleep easier tonight: the talents of Durand Scott earned him the #9 shooting guard ranking in the Class of 2009 (along with the #41 overall ranking).  

The 6-4, 180 pound guard is expected to be the final addition to another impressive haul by Coach Haith.  Scott joins fellow Rivals Top-150 recruits Donnavan Kirk and Garrius Adams (as well as three-star Connecticut PG Lisandro Ruiz-Moreno) as the four new additions to the Miami basketball  roster for 2009-2010. 

The four newcomers will presumably replace the scholarships belonging to seniors McClinton, Jimmy Graham, Lance Hurdle and Brian Asbury.  

"For the next four years of my life, I will be attending the University of Miami," Scott said in a tear-jerking line for any Canes hoops fan.

Congratulations to Scott and to Coach Haith for further improving his reputation as one of the best recruiters in college basketball.  This incredible roller-coaster ride just got a lot longer.  It is indeed another glorious day in Coral Gables.  

Watch the video of Scott's announcement here:  

http://www.zagsblog.com

On a separate note, I wanted to mention the blog received a little notoriety in the past week when Deadspin (pretty famous blog, I think?) used the Hurricane Season Preview from THTJB in a user participation/college preview event:

http://deadspin.com/5087243/deadspin-presents-the-very-poor-mans-college-basketball-season-preview-hoedown

And The Bass Keep Runnin', Runnin', and Runnin', Runnin'...

Mom (smiling):  "Tomorrow's the big day honey!  You've come so far, and it's finally here!  I'm so excited for you!"

You (looking nervous): "I know...I just...I just can't believe it.  I don't know if I'm ready!"

Mom: "Well, are you scared?  Are you nervous?"

You: "A little.  Shouldn't I be?"

The answer is yes, Miami Basketball Fan,  you should be.  We're not talking about your bar mitzvah here.  This isn't your high school graduation or your first of many weddings (you scumbag).  This is bigger than all of that.  

Tomorrow is a different kind of Saturday in Coral Gables.  You're not headed to Dolphin Stadium to get smashed, only to ask yourself an hour later why you decided to shotgun just one more Natty Light as you boil in the Florida heat.  Saturday marks the official beginning of a story whose introduction actually began a long time ago but concluded with a three-point loss in Arkansas last March.  The first chapter of this story begins Saturday night at 7:30 PM, and it starts with a BankUnited Battle with Florida Southern.

Alright, what do I need to know about this team?

Two-time Captain and all-ACC first teamer Jack McClinton is back for his senior season and is looking to improve on his 17.7 points per game totals.  He led the ACC in free throw percentage, hitting 91.9% (!) of his FT attempts.  The charity stripe means just that when Jack's on the line - free points.  His scandalous 42.7% three-point field goal percentage was good for second in the conference.  #33 will play both shooting guard and point guard over the course of the season.  He's the best player on the team and one of the best in the history of the program, and if the Canes are to make it deep into the tournament this year, Jack will have to have another spectacular season.  

Great, I'll remember to look for #33.  What about the other guys?

Luckily for you, my friend, Head Coach Frank Haith has his deepest roster to date.  There aren't a shortage of players to keep your eyes on.  Lance Hurdle (#1) will be manning the point guard position when he's on the floor.  He's fast, he's athletic (read: crazy leaping abilities), and he's a decent shooter (34.1% from three-ball range).  Lance has to cut down on the unforced turnovers and run the offense at a speed where sixth gear isn't his one and only option.  If the senior does his job adequately at point (instead of trying to do too much), the team will only stand to benefit.  Sophomore Eddie Rios (#5) backs Lance up and, as of pre-season, looked like he had turned a page in his game.  He showed improved handles and passing against powerhouses Florida Memorial and Barry in pre-season match-ups.  Take note of the sarcasm, please (with regards to hiscompetition, not his own improvement).

Alright so if  Lance and Eddie  are running the offense for the most part, who will they be dishing the rock to?

Well, Jack for one.  Junior James Dews (#23) is another one of the best shooters in the ACC.  He was the second-leading scorer for the Canes last year at 10.4 ppg, shooting 42.8% from the field and 37.2% from behind the arc in the process.  Combine those two statistics with a 90%+ free throw percentage, and expect to see James get the ball a lot more, especially as the primary option when Jack's off the floor.  His best game was a 20-point showing against  Georgia Tech in early January, and his 17-point contribution against Providence helped the Canes win the title in Puerto Rico.

Ok, so Dews can shoot it a little bit.  Anyone else?  

Ah, I almost forgot Brian Asbury, of course.  #32 is an unquestioned talent everytime he steps on the floor - with size (6-7) and an incredible stroke, the only question will be (just as it always has been) if the senior shows up.  He averaged 8.8 points for the Canes last season, but was incredibly up-and-down.  He scored 15 points in the big win against Duke and then 12 in another victory over Maryland.  He followed up those games, however, with outputs of 5, 3, and 5 against Clemson, Virginia and BC respectively.  Will the real Brian Asbury please stand up?

All you're doing is talking about the shooters...what about the big men?  There has to be a guy or two who can bang down low, right?

You better believe it.  Meet Dwayne Collins.  The 6'9'' monster energized the Canes with key dunks and rebounding throughout the season.  He averaged 8.6 ppg and 6.5 rpg as a sophomore, but will be improving on those totals with increased playing time thanks to the departure of Anthony King from the frontline.  Compare his totals in the two contests against Duke for a clear sign of his importance to the team's success:  after getting into early foul trouble against the Dookies, Collins netted only two points and four rebounds in nine minutes in a 88-73 thrashing at Cameron Indoor.  The next game?  26 points and seven boards in a Hurricane victory.  Watch out for #21.  

Senior Jimmy Graham will be another important player for the Canes this year.    Double-Zero enjoyed his best season as a Hurricane starter last year, providing tremendous heart and enthusiasm from start to finish.  The 6'8'' forward plays like he's ten feet tall, grabbing boards and intimidating any slashers with thunderous swatting abilities.  He averages about five and five, but his numbers are nowhere equivalent to his importance to the team.

I thought you said this was the deepest team in years?  That's only six or seven guys!

Relax, young Padawan.  We haven't even started discussing the newcomers yet.  Freshman DeQuan Jones might be the most gifted player on the team - Frank Haith has repeatedly described him as the best player he has ever recruited.  Ranked in the Rivals Top-25 graduating seniors of 2008, the 6-6 swingman gives the team a slasher they desperately needed last season.  His athleticism is unmatched, and his dunking abilities were YouTube-worthy...back in high-school.  DeQuan is the biggest key to the future success of Miami basketball.  He is the franchise.  Many expect him to start by the time ACC season rolls around.

Cyrus McGowan may also start a few games for the Canes this year.  A transfer from Arkansas, McGowan provides outside shooting abilities and  tremendous rebounding talent.  Another friendly addition to an already likable cast of characters, McGowan should be fun to watch.  Coach Haith seems to expect very big things from his junior big man. 

Is that it?

Don't say that so pessimistically.  That's a lot of talent!  Julian Gamble will see some minutes down low as a redshirt freshman, but many expect freshman Reggie Johnson to redshirt.  Malcolm Grant, an incredible point guard transfer from Villanova, will have to sit out a year for eligibility purposes.  

So I've got a good idea about the team's make-up.  What about the schedule?  Is it tougher than last year's?

Absolutely.  Out-of-conference additions like Ohio State (12/2) and Kentucky (12/6) make the schedule  a lot more difficult.  Add those two contests to match-ups with potentially UConn and Wisconsin (if all goes according to plan) starting on November 21st at the Paradise Jam tournament in the Virgin Islands, and the Canes will hopefully have quite a few impressive wins by season's end.  Hopefully.

Otherwise, the ACC schedule is the usual scary looking assortment of contests against some of the best teams in the country.  Highlights include a match-up with North Carolina at the Dean Dome (1/17) and an afternoon tilt with Duke (2/7) at Cameron Indoor.  As for home games, the Canes have a match-up with the Tar Heels (2/15) and a key match-up against Wake Forest (2/4) in a battle between two of the most talented ACC teams.

  

Any last notes before I head to the BankUnited tomorrow night?  

With Frank Haith at the helm of the most talented Canes hoops team in years, it's time for a change in Coral Gables.  Tomorrow will be fun.  

Let's get it started.

So Bring Your Good Times, And Your Laughter Too

A typical Thursday in paradise, isn't it?  Less than a day after the early signing period began, Garrius Adams and Donnavan Kirk have officially joined our growing UBasketball family.  Let me be one of the first hoopheads to officially congratulate both of them on their commitments, and re-iterate how excited everyone is for their arrival on campus next fall.

As the Durand Scott decision rolls on (he says he'll have made up his mind in no later than a week), the Scout.com John Wall tracker says he's interested in visiting Miami before he makes his official decision.  While theoretically a spot on the team for Wall may be impossible if Scott does indeed commit to UM (more on that later), take a second to re-read that.  The #1-ranked basketball player in the country wants to visit Miami before deciding on his school of choice - and I don't mean to reflect on his options with his family at the Fontainebleau.  He wants to visit Coral Gables and decide whether he'd like to call the BankUnited Center home for his college year(s).  If you're a Miami basketball fan and that doesn't make you giddy, then stop reading this blog.  Seriously.

The addition of one Durand Scott would bring the '09 class to four players - Scott, Kirk, Adams and PG Lisandro Ruiz-Moreno of South Kent Prep in CT (Jack McClinton's alma mater).  With McClinton, Brian Asbury, Jimmy Graham and Lance Hurdle graduating next year (ouch!), it looks like four scholarships would be the limit.  The mere thought, however, that John Wall wants to visit UM before deciding says boatloads about how far this program has come.  It also speaks volumes about Frank Haith's ability as a recruiter.  This program is turning into something very special.  If you can't see something that obvious, you might as well think about becoming ACC referees -  I hear the conference is accepting job applications.

While the addition of Scott to the class would certainly be nice, keep in mind that even with his potential addition, it's time to push the envelope rather than mail it in.  Players across the country want to play ACC basketball, and even as the Canes improve on the recruiting front, Miami is still not ahead in the race.

According to Rivals.com rankings , North Carolina has hauled in the #1 ranked class for 2009 (so far), and Duke's not far behind at #11.  Georgia Tech is sitting pretty at #7, and NC State ranks #13.  The Canes?  Didn't make the list (although Scott could change that).

Wake Forest hauled in the #1 recruiting class of 2008, many of whose freshman studs the Canes will face on court this year.  Florida State enjoyed the #9 spot in the '08 rankings and North Carolina missed out on a Top-10 class by just a single spot.  The Canes?  Didn't crack Rivals Top-30 classes for '08, even with DeQuan.

But this is not a time for despair.  This is a time for celebration, as Kool and the Gang would tell us.  Garrius Adams and Donnovan Kirk are two more fine additions to the squad - some of the best in the country at their respective positions to be sure.  If Frank can get the job done on the Durand Scott front, things will be looking up even more.  The Canes have a tough task ahead of them if they hope to achieve respect from ACC opponents and the basketball world.  Adding Kirk and Adams (and hopefully Scott) is another small step towards that goal.

Edgerrin James will be honored at halftime tonight when the Hurricane Football Team faces off against Virginia Tech at 7:30 PM, live on ESPN.  I'm on my way to the game now - I hope I will see many of you there.  With a very likable crew of freshmen, this team is one worthy of your support.

I've Got Something New For You

Let me take a second to further explain what I hope to accomplish with this blog.  Cane football has always had a significant following of fans who are not only interested in the Canes' on-field performance, but who are deep into the recruiting game as well.  They can tell you about the best eighth graders going to Miami Northwestern or Booker T. in the fall, and they'll tell you which kids from up in northern Florida are thinking of transferring to Gulliver Prep.  We're talking 14-year-old kids here, remember.    

Regardless of how weird that might seem, these guys know their stuff, and we look to them at times like Signing Day for any kind of inside information as to who might be heading where.  In an age where knowledge is power, and at a time when knowledge is accessible at the click of a single button, these guys prove to be demi-gods of sorts.    All recruiting knowledge is secondary in their loyalty to the Orange and Green on Saturdays.  Internet degenerates?  Eh.  Maybe.  What does that say about me that I like to read their thoughts at least once a day?  Knowledge is power, right?  

Don't get me wrong - there are forums where Cane basketball is discussed thoroughly, and those who know their stuff...well, they certainly know their stuff.  They were here when Cane basketball sucked, when the school dropped the basketball program completely, then when it rose back to prominence but had a few bad seasons, and are still here, with the team now back in contention.

As a program improves, so too (typically) does fan turnout.  Many of those posters were impressed with student attendance at games last season, and not just contests where the opponent was either Duke or UNC (which still remain the biggest headline acts).  More and more Miami students found themselves heading to the BankUnited to watch their Canes play amidst a disappointing football season.  

On second thought, maybe "disappointing" is a little light, given the circumstances.  "The Last Slaughter" at the Orange Bowl had seniors crying and freshmen wondering what they were going to do for the next three years.  This is Miami football?  Why the hell am I getting on a train and then a bus just to get written up in the parking lot for underage drinking if my team is going to lose?  It made no sense.

Fans took notice when the Canes advanced to the second round of the tournament last year.  Fans now know who James Dews is, that Jimmy Graham is the animal walking around campus, and that Dwayne Collins isn't some oversized linebacker or tight end for the football team.  The guys are recognizable now, and so is the team's talent.  As such, fan turnout will be a very interesting trend to follow for '08-'09.

Now's the time when something is needed to satisfy the knowledge hunger of the growing hoophead fanbase around campus and beyond.  

Will the "Miami Bandwagon" title prove true if the Canes lose a few games early?  Will people jump ship?  Let's see.  

Do the fans deserve the benefit of the doubt?  No, probably not.  These are the same New York prep girls, dressed up like they're going to South Beach and whining about the weather at Dolphin Stadium.  These are the frat dudes who head to football games just to pre-game and blackout before they ever get to see a Sean Spence tackle (or Marve interception).  

So where does that leave the state of Cane Hoops Nation?  In a good place.  Trust me.  A real good place.  This is going to be a fun ride.

I hope, to the best of my abilities, I can help preserve this positive state and further contribute to it.  T.H.T.J.B. will be a place to turn to for any type of news on the Hurricanes - whether it be interviews with coaching staff or players, game summaries, pictures, anything at all.  As John Legend once put so beautifully, "Once you take a hit of this, you won't ever wanna quit/You'll be so addicted." 

Oh yeah, and according to Andy Katz of ESPN.com, Lance Hurdle's out for Saturday.  Just doing my job, right?  

Hope The Stars and the Gods Align Me And You

On the eve of the early signing period (with only a few hours to go!), it appears heavy Cane target and monster '09 shooting guard Durand Scott has cut his list to two teams: Connecticut and Miami.  The 9th-best shooting guard in the current senior class (according to Rivals.com) has eliminated Pitt from the picture and now a two-horse race is on, between a contender in the Big East and one in the ACC.  All of this according to Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald.  The 6-4 guard, listed as a generous 180 lbs, cracked the Top-50 Ballers List on both Rivals and Scout.

Read more here:  http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/

What does this all mean, though?  Is this a big deal?

Slicing Durand's list from three to two (with Miami a survivor!) is, in all reality, a much bigger cut than either Lance or Dwayne shaving their braids.  This is big.  Real big.  Reggie Johnson big. 

Scott seems like a typical Frank Haith player - friendly and very good-natured.  Make no mistake about it, however, his talent sets him apart from most every high school basketball player in the country - this is a recruit on the same level as DeQuan, folks.  This is a big effing deal.  Losing Scott would be a tough one to swallow; Garrius Adams and Donnavon Kirk were both tremendous '09 gets, but Scott's the kind of guy that puts a recruiting class over the top.  He would battle James Dews for the #2 job as a freshman, and there's a good chance he could win it.

How does this look for a potential '09 lineup:

1. Malcolm Grant/Eddie Rios

2. James Dews/Durand Scott

3. DeQuan Jones/Garrius Adams

4. Dwayne Collins/Donnavan Kirk/Julian Gamble

5. Cyrus McGowan/Reggie Johnson

Wow.

Jim Calhoun's thinking must be along the same lines.  I had the opportunity to watch Alex Oriakhi and Jamaal Coombs play in high school, and both have looked like bona fide studs since 9th grade.  Oriakhi especially (now ranked the #2 '09 center) impressed as a young baller.  Scott, however, would help put the Huskies class over the top in his own right.

Do your thing Coach Haith.  I'll have Common on repeat all night, with hopeful verses running through my head as only one of Chi-Town's gods can inspire.  Good luck and godspeed, Frank.  Get another kid like this here, and your legend is sealed...at least until Saturday's first unforced turnover.  

Captain Jack Will Get You High

So what's T.H.T.J.B. all about?  Who the hell do I think I am covering a team on the verge of something big?  Is there any kind of person out there who this blog will even remotely appeal to?

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.

Hi Haters, We're Back Off Hiatus

What a run it was.  After a ridiculously entertaining 14-point first round win over the Gaels of Saint Mary's, the Canes' oh-so-encouraging season came to an end with a three-point loss to #2 seed Texas in the 2008 version of March Madness.  I'm not talking about "Season Mode" for your EA Sports game either  - this didn't happen on your PS3, but live on CBS, with the whole college basketball world watching.  

Ray Hicks REALLY did hit those three-pointers (as hard as that remains to believe), and the Canes REALLY did almost advance to the Sweet Sixteen...almost. The '08-'09 version of Miami's hoops squadron shoulders the hopes and dreams of Miami basketball fans  - remarkably more so than last year's team ever did.  

Despite last year's undeniable success, the team was coming off a less-than-impressive 2006-2007 season, finishing in the cellar of the ACC at 12-20.  Sure, Jack McClinton was coming off a great debut season for the Canes (16.7 ppg) as a sophomore and Dwayne Collins (8.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg) had enjoyed a solid freshman campaign, but what did you expect from the 07-08 team?  

Did you expect to win six of the last eight ACC regular season games (after starting 2-6 in conference play)? Did you predict, on that fine February night, the Canes would take down a highly-ranked Duke squad?  Did your pre-season predictions include a #7 seed for the tournament...NCAA, not NIT?  If so, kudos to you.  Please, go ahead and call me next week to help me with my NFL picks.

Times have changed.  Long gone are Anthony King's lackluster inbounding days, the cries of Haith's Faithful for Stratton and Glover, and a three-point stroke Ray Hicks had been waiting for since 2004.  McClinton: NBA draftee?  DeQuan Jones: ACC Freshman of the Year?  Frank Haith: Immortalized by season's end?  As the program builds, the hype surrounding the season predictions and storylines build as well.

Can Dwayne "Teabag 'Em" Collins improve on a sophomore season which was usually positive, occasionally negative, but always made you get up out of your seat and scream?  Can Lance Hurdle or Eddie Rios stabilize the offense to the next level and become a viable option so fans won't be crying for Malcolm Grant by season's end?  What's the deal with Cyrus and Gamble, are they legitimate options in the post?  Will fans have to deal with another embarrassing, godforsaken hotdog in the student section again?

I don't know whether Brian Asbury will finally step up his game, whether McClinton can continue to shoot the lights out of the BankUnited (and beyond), or whether DeQuan Jones will be the slasher the Canes needed all of last year.  I don't know whether the Canes will land Durand Scott or John Wall, whether Tyler Hansborough will again be hailed with deservedly disgusting chants from the Beach, or whether or not James Dews will hit another shit-your-pants long-range three-pointer by season's end.  

What I do know is this:  the Canes aren't surprising anyone anymore, ladies and gentlemen.  With a pre-season AP ranking of #17 and a huge target on the backs of those sleek-looking jerseys, the Canes will roll into play as typical favorites, no longer underdogs.  Most had Saint Mary's in the second round of their brackets, most gamblers expected a beatdown at the hands of Varnado and Mississippi State, and most fans expected nothing after a disaster of a start in ACC play.  To describe the 2008-2009 season for the Hurricanes (quoting Kanye himself): "Hi haters, we're back off hiatus, I feel just like you, I mean even I hate us."

With an official start date on the books as 11/15/08 at 7:30 PM, the 2009 season promises to be an interesting one.  A tough Paradise Jam field including a potential match-up with UConn (and maybe even Wisconsin) awaits the team sooner rather than later , as do O.O.C. match-ups with touted programs like Ohio State and Kentucky.  Florida Southern's up first, as two uninspiring pre-season match-ups with Barry and Florida Memorial have provided nothing of overly serious note other than a chance to enjoy the gorgeous new floor at the BUC.    

I'll be here to watch it unfold with all of you starting this Saturday, and hopefully offer some useful commentary along the way.  Doubtful, I know, but we'll see.   You didn't think we'd have come this far in only a year either, did you?  Then give me a chance too.  I can't be worse than Dwayne Collins at the free-throw stripe, right?