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| Davon Reed(5) drives the lane(Photo Credit:Getty Images) |
Canes Rising Contributor
Throughout this season, Miami has faced and overcome adversity. The NIT Final wasn't an exception, as the 'Canes were forced to play without talented center Tonye Jekiri, and starting point guard Angel Rodriguez. Manu Lecomte gamely attempted to play tonight, but his knee injury proved to be too much to overcome. The 'Canes, while valiant were unable to overcome losing two starters, a key reserve, and the referees, falling to the Stanford Cardinal 66-64. Miami fought to the end, and put themselves in position to win, but couldn't overcome a crucial play late in overtime.
Quick Shots
Brutal Bigs--Going into the game, it was known that Miami was going to struggle inside, due to Tonye Jekiri not being available. This was worse than imagined, the 'Canes completely folded inside, with both Ivan Cruz-Uceda and Omar Sherman being totally dominated by Stanford's front line. While the bigs stepped up late and helped Miami get back in this game, it would have been nice had they been involved for the entire game. Cruz-Uceda and Sherman combined for eleven points, and eleven rebounds. That is barely replacement level for Jekiri, who averages nine points and ten rebounds per game. The one area ICU and Sherman were valuable was swatting shots, they combined for five blocks on the evening. Joe Thomas was a pleasant surprise, ending his collegiate career with a gritty performance, capped off with a Sportscenter Top Ten Play.
FINISH--The 'Canes started the game with some ill-advised perimeter jumpers. Once Deandre Burnett checked in and started slashing to the rim, the rest of the team followed, and was able to get some outstanding looks. The problem was that the 'Canes struggled to put those good looks down. While finishing around the rim has been a problem all season, tonight was extremely frustrating. This game was extremely close, leaving points on the floor was the last thing the 'Canes should have done. These players need to hit the weight room, and learn how to finish at the rim. If the 'Canes are to take that next step, they will need to win close games. Close games are won at the rim.
Salute The General--Sheldon McClellan didn't have one of his best shooting nights, going 5/16 from the floor, but he was there when the 'Canes needed someone to step up. Late in the game, with Miami desperately attempting to draw even with the Cardinal, McClellan unleashed his inner Kobe Bryant, and carried this team to overtime. Whenever Miami needed to answer Stanford, they turned to Sheldon, who used his athletic gifts to get to the rim, and to the free throw line. When he arrived at the charity stripe, he took full advantage, converting on six of his seven attempts. I've complained at times that McClellan isn't assertive enough, that wasn't the case tonight, Miami isolated him at the top of the key late, and every time, he made the right decision. He didn't settle for jumpers, he drove the lane, and forced the Cardinal to stop him. That's what elite players do, they force the opposition to defend them.
Rip Job--While the 'Canes didn't help themselves by leaving points on the floor, these referees did a good job of robbing Miami, and the fans who came out to see this game. There's few things more frustrating than watching a referee decide a game, instead of the athletes on the court. That's exactly what happened tonight, with Miami leading late in overtime. Davon Reed played outstanding defense, and did everything right. Stanford's Chasson Randle threw himself into Reed, while elbowing the defender in the throat. The referee who was closest to the play didn't call the foul, an official on the other side of the court felt the need to stop the action. There's few games in which you can point to one play, and definitively state that was the turning point, tonight was one of those select instances.
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