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| Adrienne Motley looks to lead the 'Canes to the NCAA Tournament(Photo Credit: The Miami Hurricane) |
Written By: Nathan Skinner (@Canedude08)
Canes Rising Contributor
The last time we checked in on Katie Meier's 'Canes, they were one of the hottest teams in the country, coming off of an impressive win over Notre Dame. The 'Canes are now a team that is limping to the finish line, victims of inconsistent play and heartbreaking losses. While Adrianne Motley continues to amaze, this team has been rocked by player defections and young players hitting a late season wall.
Since their thrilling upset victory over the Irish, the 'Canes are a pedestrian 6-8, and mired in a four game losing streak. The 'Canes have lost games in every way imaginable, they've been dominated by superior teams, they've been nipped at the buzzer by weak teams. Miami is a team that is firmly on the bubble, currently projected as a twelve seed in the latest ESPN Bracketology. This team hasn't been the same since the Notre Dame game, and some of that can be attributed to the sudden loss of Laura Quevedo. Quevedo, a freshman guard, decided to return home to Spain at the beginning of conference play. The 'Canes sorely miss her perimeter shooting, her athleticism, and her ability to stretch the floor. Quevedo flashed immense talent, losing her in the middle of the season hurt. The 'Canes have struggled from the perimeter, with only three players shooting above 30% in ACC play. Scoring has been an issue for the 'Canes, but defense has been an even larger issue. When Miami was on top of the conference standings, they were an uptempo team that forced turnovers in bunches. That hasn't been the case, as the 'Canes have been unable to turn teams over. Miami isn't getting it done at the line either, shooting 65% from the line, compared to 68% for the opposition.
The areas of concern are known, but how can they be addressed? Katie Meier can't go out and replace Quevedo's production at this point but she can maximize the talent on the roster. Meier is one of the best coaches in the country, so it's safe to assume that she will put players in position to win. A lot of Miami's problems will be solved if Suriya McGuire can get back on track. McGuire, an explosive player who has world class speed has underachieved during conference play, scoring 6.1 points per game. McGuire is too good, and too talented to be struggling like this. McGuire being able to score in transition is important, and will help Miami find hidden points. Meier may want to press more, especially seeing how much the 'Canes are struggling in the half court. This team has to find someone who can be a third scorer. Adrianne Motley and Michelle Woods are the top scorers, but the third scorer role has been filled by a rotating mix of players. Someone has to step up.
Thursday, the 'Canes will face Virginia in the second round of the ACC Tournament. Will it be the beginning of a rebirth, or the final chapter of a frustrating season? We will find out soon enough, but regardless of the end result, this season has been a ride to remember.
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