Canes Must Improve Late Game Performances

Despite an 8-0 start to the season Coach Frank Haith isn't happy with the Hurricanes performance. The Hurricanes have beaten some quality teams and have done what they need to do to win games, but Haith's concern is the lackadaisical coasting the Hurricanes have now shown on three occasions when having large leads late in games. Against Virginia Commonwealth Miami led by 17 with less than five minutes to go, but sloppy ball handling and an inability to break the press allowed the Rams to cut the lead to five at one point and lose by only six. Miami had led by at least ten points from the under twelve timeout in the first half until under two minutes remained in the game but the Canes obviously felt they could coast into the locker room.

The same thing happened almost two weeks ago against Alabama State. Leading by 19 with three minutes to go, Miami was sloppy and undisciplined in the final few minutes winning the game by only nine. then Saturday against FIU as we mentioned in our post game wrap the Hurricanes allowed a 26 point lead to dwindle to 14 in a frantic final few minutes where Eddie Rios inexperience handling the ball against a full court press was once again exposed. Save some very smart plays by Fabio Nass and Lance Hurdle in that stretch, FIU may have lost by only single digits after trailing most of the game by double digits and almost the entire second half by twenty plus points.

Coach Haith has made it clear to his team and to the media that coasting into then locker room is not acceptable. One factor that this team must overcome if the impact of the dismissal of Denis Clemente. It is obvious Eddie Rios despite great potential and shutdown defense has a lot to learn on the offensive and ball handling end of things. Rios is greener than I think many Canes fans expected, while Lance Hurdle at least based on the last two games looks like a steadier bet at point guard. One thing is for sure. With Mississippi State, Winthrop and the ACC looming, Miami better figure out how to finish games properly real quickly.