This weekend I was in Chicago for the US-Brazil Soccer match and had a chance to see the first Basketball preview on the news stands. This preview if put out by Lindy's.
I must say I was shocked by the content and the lack of research done on the ACC and particularly on the Hurricanes. Not one mention was made of Lance Hurdle, the transfer from a JUCO who will likely start at point guard. In addition, little mention was made of the devastating affect injuries had last year in the Canes. The verdict: Miami finishes 10th in the ACC.
I beg to differ and given Lindy's recent track record I am on solid ground. Just last season Lindy's picked Virginia Tech, a team who had a chaotic 2005-06 season last in the ACC. Anybody who watches the ACC knew that the Hokies were a talented team that if healthy and cleared off some of the other issues that hit its players would be a good team. Last year, VT finished within a game of the ACC Regular Season title.
Two years ago, Lindy's picked Florida 5th in the SEC East! Yes the very same Gators would win the national title that year and repeat the next was considered a bottom feeder by the magazine and its editors. How about Football? Our own Miami Hurricanes were picked 11th in the nation last year by Lindy's. Even more laughable Florida State was picked 7th. Both teams lost six games and finished below .500 in the ACC.
Lindy's is not alone selling a cleverly marketed and packaged product to fans eager for information about their teams and others around the country. But it seems these magazines get sloppier and sloppier every year in their research and analysis of College Sports, to the point where they miss late developing and breaking stories. For the record, I firmly believe UM will push to make the NCAA Tournament this year. Our inside game is just too good in a conference which I consider "soft" at least when compared with the Big East and Big Ten. ACC teams don't play good defense compared to the rest of the nation, and I believe the Canes interior defense will be tough to crack. Sure we don't have the flashy scorers and perimeter players the rest of the league has, but if Anthony King stays healthy, he and Dwayne Collins will dominate the inside. How soft is the ACC? Despite losing 4 of 5 big men for much of the season, Miami finished 2nd in the league in rebounding, and 3rd in blocked shots. What does that tell you? With King back and healthy and Collins more seasoned, look out Tobacco Road, here come the Canes!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Those Annoying PreSeason Magazines
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9 comments:
Calling the ACC soft shows how out of touch you really are.
They were probably too busy scouting and rating 5th graders to pay adequate attention to Miami.
I also sincerely hope you were watching the late Monday Night Game where Mike and Mike were discussing "the U" and then Mike Greenberg put on his uber dorky serious white guy voice and began describing what "the U" meant. I had a good hearty chuckle from that.
I thought Anthony King was a senior? If he is really back, I also think Miami will be better.
I would be surprised if Miami made the NCAA's. Your back court is weak especially with Clemente being kicked off the team and McClinton still being immature and undisciplined. Sure, your frontcourt is good from a physical and rebounding standpoint, but besides Kin g they are exactly polished offensively.
I like Miami this year. Those guys inside are monsters and with any sort of backcourt scoring from McClinton and your new guys I think you could go far. This is a big year for your coach Haith. He inherited a decent team from Perry Clark but couldn't finish the job and make the NCAAs his first two years. Those teams were NCAA bound with only one or two more wins each year, including many close games they lost in the last minute or OT. I saw your team here in Chapel Hill one fine Saturday afternoon and you blew us out of our own building. Of course we were NCAA bound and you guys blew it and ended up in the NIT. Miami has been capable of big things, but just hasn't gotten over the top. Maybe if it doesn't work out this year you search for a new coach?
"Fear The Turtle" ??????
I laugh and stomp on the turtle. So does the rest of the ACC.
At least we didn't lose to a commuter school in the NCAAs a few years back. Talk tough now, tar heel punk!
I could give a rat's ass about Basketball!!!!!
Why don't you focus on the Canes instead of dumping on them and moving on to another sport!
Fighting Ibis, don't the Canes play Basketball also?
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