From the Kartik Report
Coach: Frank Haith (5th Season)
2007-2008: 23-11, 8-8 (ACC)/Lost in NCAA Second Round to Texas
Last NCAA: 2008
Last Twelve Seasons: 5 NCAA, 4 NIT
Pre Season Polls: 17 AP/ 16 USA Today/ESPN
Miami is ranked in the preseason for the first time since the 1999-00 season. Expectations have never been higher around Coral Gables for Basketball. With the recent lethargy of Miami football, never has the hoops program had a better opportunity to capture the south Florida fanbase. Last year Miami took major steps towards becoming a fixture in the saturated south Florida sporting landscape. This year the Canes must take their game to a new level.
Coach:
Simply put former Miami Athletic Director Paul Dee got lucky in hiring Haith. Due to budgetary constraints due to the messy and expensive buyout of former coach Perry Clark, interested high priced coaches like John Calipari and Bobby Gonzalez were turned away and UM focused on career assistants. Frank Haith interviewed well and was hired based on recommendations from Dave Odom and Rick Barnes. Almost instantaneously Miami became a better team, going from being one of the worst power conference teams to within a eyelash of an NCAA birth Haith’s first season with a depleted roster. In year four Miami made the NCAAs and advanced to the second round. Miami has also never consistently recruited better than under Haith, and the coach seems to ignore recruiting rankings and pursues players that fit his system and his coaching style. This is a lesson some other coaches in the state would be well advised to take.
The ACC
Miami is picked no lower than fourth in the league and no higher than third by the pre season prognosticators. However, Miami could finish as low as sixth and as high as second. The reality of this year’s ACC is that the league is clearly appears to be in two divisions: a top six, and a bottom six. Virginia Tech seems to be under rated by the experts and I would actually pick them second in the league were I able to vote in one of these pre season polls. Duke appears to be living off it reputation as the Blue Devils are still weak in the paint and hit or miss on the perimeter.
Backcourt:
Lance Hurdle’s emergence as a legitimate ACC quality point guard late last season led Miami to a 6-2 ACC finish (after beginning the year 2-6 in the league) and a second round NCAA run. Hurdle is a natural shooting guard but has learned to distribute the ball and play lock down defense well enough to be serviceable at the point. Hurdle is lightning quick and is a real asset in transition. Eddie Rios who was a disappointment as a freshman should improve and will spell Hurdle.
James Dews is probably the most natural basketball player Miami has. Dews defense is outstanding but offensively he takes poor shots and often times he disappears in games. Dews needs to be more consistent to take the some of the scoring load off Jack McClinton this season.
Last season, Jack McClinton became the first Hurricane to make the All ACC first team. Jack McClinton is not only a great shooter but he’s a great leader. Unlike some shooters who seem to light it up early in games and disappear late, McClinton seems to do the opposite. He’s in top notch shape so defenders eventually wear down marking him and he typically explodes in the last ten minutes of games. McClinton also enters the new season with a chance to break JJ Reddick’s record for best free throw percentage in ACC history.
The three point line being moved back this season will affect some teams, but probably not Miami. The Canes shooters all seem to have the range to hit from behind the new line with the same regularity they did a year ago.
Frontcourt
Dwayne Collins at times last season looked like a monster. At other times he looked like a winded and disinterested big man. Collins’ play typically dictated how quickly the Canes would have to turn to energy man Jimmy Graham off the bench. This season Graham will start and must limit his fouls. Last year it seemed foul trouble was the only thing that stopped Jimmy Graham from dominating inside. His man to man post defending is as good as it gets in the country and offensively Graham uses his athleticism to clean up the glass and get easy put backs. He’s so aggressive on both ends of the floor that he ends up on the bench sooner than the coaches would like due to constant fouling. ACC officials seem to anticipate fouls on Graham due to his aggressiveness so often times his reputation gets him in trouble. As a starter this season Graham must play more under control.
Arkansas transfer Cyrus McGowan is expected to fill a key reserve role up front. Julian Gamble who was redshirted last year may also be part of Miami’s big man rotation.
DeQuan Jones is the highest rated recruit to sign with Miami since Darius Rice did in 2000. Jones is an athletic and explosive swingman. Jones can be the slasher that Miami has lacked since John Salmons. Brian Asbury was a disappointment last year but he remains a top class defender and solid rebounder who should get minutes. Adrian Thomas returns from injury and admits he’s lost some of his explosiveness and post moves but is a better shooter than ever. It seems Thomas may be limited in his playing time and used an option on the perimeter rather than in the front court.
Final Assessment
The Hurricanes will be good this year. But how good will they be? A tough schedule means Miami could conceivably struggle through large portions of the season. Top to bottom the ACC is the nation’s best league and Miami much like last year must maintain a strong home court advantage.
Miami is very deep and talented: The Canes are ranked in the preseason for a reason. Mental toughness will be the key: if Miami shows the take no prisoners’ attitude they did at home last year, and Collins becomes more consistent, this team could go a long way in the NCAAs.
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