Game On!

AP Photo

For thirty seven minutes the atmosphere this afternoon in the Bank United Center was lame. After a sellout crowd left Wednesday nights anemic performance against North Carolina deflated fewer than 5,000 people, many sporting the orange and blue of Clemson showed up today at the BUC. While the Canes raced out to a 24-12 lead thanks to some decent play inside for a change by Anthony King, Clemson quickly came back and the Miami lead was only two at the half. The Canes through some excellent rebounding and lucky bounces of the ball took a 45-39 lead but then Clemson went on a 10-0 run and the Canes guards were MIA, with James Dews and Jack McClinton struggling for good looks against the Tigers 1-3-1 zone. Then two things happened. The crowd came to life when Jimmy Graham was called for a strange foul on Terrance Oglesby as the shot clock expired. It was a three shot foul and Oglesby made all three free throws to extend the Clemson lead to 6 with under 3 minutes to play, but in the General Admission section I sensed that foul had fired up the crowd. Then Clemson foolishly chunked their effective zone and went to a man to man look and Jack Mclinton finally getting some space meant three spectacular three pointers in a row and a Miami come from behind win. I just got back from the game and have more thoughts which I will post later, but the Canes having seemingly quit on the season came to life in the last three minutes. Now, the game is on. The odds and deck are still stacked against the Canes returning to the NCAAs for the first time in six years, but at least they have a chance and unlike the football team have the character to fight through adversity. More shortly.

Some Other Thoughts:

• Ray Hicks again today made a critical mistake fouling a guy softly on a breakaway giving up a three point play. This same mistake arguably cost Miami one ACC game versus NC State and certainly didn't help today.
  
• Lance Hurdle very well could be the x-factor for the Canes this season. He's playing well at the moment in the full court offense and gives the Canes some defensive flexibility to press or extend the defense. He's also the quickest player on the team.
  
• Anthony King and Brian Asbury, arguably Miami's two most talented players continue to be ineffective. Asbury did make all his free throws today however.
  
• Jimmy Graham's intensity and work ethic are quite possibly the only thing standing between this team and finish in the ACC basement. It seems when Graham is on the floor and is playing with his characteristic fire, the team improves its play and shows more emotion and hustle.
  
• Miami returns to network TV for the first time five years on Saturday versus Duke on ABC. Later this week we'll have a history of Miami Basketball on network TV, the highlights and the low lights.