Canes Coralled At House of Horrors

The Hurricanes poor play in the Bank Atlantic Center for the Orange Bowl classic continued Saturday as the previously undefeated Hurricanes were dumped by Winthrop 70-64. Miami has now lost its last six games in Sunrise while its intra-state rival Florida has never once lost in the Bank Atlantic Center. Entering this game as we discussed earlier in the week, I saw Winthrop, a team that has made the last 3 NCAA Tournaments as a favorite because of their experience and Miami's very poor record against weak opposition in the Bank Atlantic Center. Why Miami continues to give away valuable games simply to participate in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic and event that revolves around the University of Florida's participation is beyond me. The new Athletic Director whomever he or she is should reconsider Miami's commitment to the event.

The Canes were frustrated early in the game but had stormed back to take an eleven point lead at the under sixteen minute timeout in the 2nd half. But as we discussed in our pre-game analysis, Winthrop is an experienced team that shoots lights out from outside, and Miami's inside game wasn't clicking. A 15-0 run put Winthrop up 44-40, and they would never relinquish the lead.

The Hurricanes entered the weekend ranked #19 in the nation and will likely fall from the Top 25 now. While losing is never a good thing, it can be a valuable teaching tool for these Canes, so inexperienced at playing tight games against worthy opposition this season. Winthrop is more indicative of the type of team Miami is likely to face in the ACC than Providence, St John's or Mississippi State, decent teams already beaten by Miami. Those teams rely more on dribble penetration or a strong inside game, and are classic teams from the Big East or SEC. However the ACC is a more perimeter, full court oriented league with great outside shooting. Miami's inability to shut down Winthrop's outside game, or make its free throws late (while chasing the game the Canes missed five free throws in the last four minutes of the game, including a critical front end of a one and one when the Winthrop lead was just four)is a very bad sign for ACC play. Considering Miami had allowed more 65 points just once this season prior to Saturday perhaps it was just a one off which every team suffers. However, if defensive woes appear for the Canes, expect the team to spending this March in the NIT instead of the NCAA.

For the record, I think Miami's loss could be very valuable as Frank Haith had tried to tell his team all week that they weren't as good as the headlines indicated nor ready for ACC play. This loss allows the staff to refocus on the task ahead- the ultimate task of making the NCAA Tournament. National rankings are nice and while it was certainly a welcome change from the recent past to see a number next to Miami's name on the scoreboard ticker, being ranked simply puts a target on your back that these young Canes weren't ready for yet. A theory exists that Miami would have lost to Mississippi State in Starkville had the Canes been ranked that week. (the pollsters catapulted St Mary's over Miami into the Top 25 and left the Canes as the top team in the others receiving votes category) Now that Winthrop who beat Notre Dame last year in the NCAAs and were highly unfortunate not to defeat Tennessee the year before has added Miami to its list if high profile victims the last few seasons, the Canes can regroup and refocus in relative obscurity, just as they began the season on fire in a vacuum.