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.

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?