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| Davon Reed(Photo Credit: Getty Images) |
Written By: Nathan Skinner (@Canedude08)
Canes Rising Contributor
It wasn't pretty, but one doesn't look a gift horse in the mouth. The 'Canes held off the NC State Wolfpack 65-60, despite a horrific final five minutes. Miami made crucial free throws late, and Davon Reed made a huge defensive play, forcing an offensive foul that sealed the Wolfpack's fate.
Quick Shots
Davon Reed--Defending a player who works off of multiple screens every possession is difficult, yet Davon found a way to limit Ralston Turner. He averages over thirteen points per game, Reed held him to nine, on 25% shooting. Reed's outstanding defensive work forced Turner into awful shots, and it also won Miami the game late. Following a switch, Reed ended up covering point guard Cat Barber, who was forced to commit an offensive foul, due to how well Reed was defending. His offensive game may need work, but Davon Reed is Miami's best perimeter defender, and that skill will be tested frequently as the 'Canes work their way through conference play.
Rusty Ivan--Coming into the season, Ivan Cruz-Uceda was projected to be a skilled big who could spell Tonye Jekiri, and provide interior scoring. Those expectations need to be adjusted, as Uceda had another horrific game. While Uceda did score on a beautiful scoop shot early, it was all downhill from there. It's not that Ivan is struggling, he looks completely lost on the court. Omar Sherman should be getting the majority of Uceda's minutes, he's just too much of a liability right now to see significant time. All of this may change as Ivan gains experience, but ACC play is no place for on the job training.
Rebound, Rebound, Rebound--Miami once again struggled on the glass, and it resulted in some easy buckets for the Wolfpack. Miami may not have outstanding size, but the lack of effort is what is troubling. It doesn't take an overly big, or strong person to successfully box out an opponent. That's more effort and focus than anything, and certain players aren't getting involved.
Late Game Problems--Miami had a significant lead coming down the stretch, but had a mini collapse, allowing NCState to pull within one point late. The inability to inbound following NCState scores was a factor, especially with Manu Lecomte as the trigger. Lecomte is too small to be an inbounder in that situation, Jim Larranaga should have went with Davon Reed, or Sheldon McClellan, two larger players. Miami also didn't do a good job of creating good shots late in the shot clock. Wasted possessions are the worst thing that can happen when a team is attempting to shorten the game.
Fan Behavior--There are some rules that fans should follow without question, chief amongst them is to never place a hand on a player. Tonight, a Miami fan chose to break that rule, and lightly shoved NC State's Cat Barber. Athletic Director Blake James and Jim Larranaga were both forced to apologize to their NC State counterparts due to that fan's unacceptable behavior. Fans have a responsibility to behave in a way that fits the image of the University, and the athletic department. Contrary to popular belief, The U isn't "Thug U", and the fans should behave accordingly. While the shove wasn't a violent one, it was unnecessary, and shouldn't have happened. Another issue involves fan involvement. It's sad that Jim Larranaga has to consistently beg fans to make noise, to show some enthusiasm . One could understand why fans didn't care during the Haith era, but this program has come a long way since then, and fans should be willing to do more than show up late, and leave at halftime. This problem is especially prevalent in the student sections, where people care more about Instagram, and Twitter, than they do about their 'Canes. It's ironic that people who are angry about the underachieving football program won't support a true winner, a winner that is literally everything the football program isn't.
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