Canes Victory over BC a Great Sign

By Kartik Krishnaiyer
Canes Rising Staff

Miami had trouble with expectations this season. Preseason #17 in the AP Poll, the Canes lack the tradition to cope with these sorts of expectations nationally. With a fan base whose primary concern appears to be the 2020 football recruiting class and a local media who indulges these fans, a few early season Canes loses to quality opponents had people jumping off the bandwagon.

There is plenty of room for bandwagon hoppers to jump back on. Miami's performance last night in Chestnut Hill was the team's best of the season. Sure Miami recorded solid road wins at Kentucky and St John's earlier this season but those wins weren't as complete or impressive on the eye as this one. Miami is peaking at the right time as the ACC starts in earnest.

The Hurricanes have more trouble traditionally with Boston College than with any other opponent. The Hurricanes 9-21 record versus the Eagles since 1990 entering Saturday's night's game speaks volumes about the issues Miami has had in the series. The Hurricanes last win in the Conte Forum prior to last night was in 1999, and even that game which matched a Miami team that would secure a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a BC team that finished last in the Big East was a struggle.

Miami had beaten Florida in Gainesville, North Carolina in Chapel Hill, Kentucky in Lexington, Connecticut in Storrs (several times), Syracuse in Syracuse, Georgetown in Washington, among other road wins since Miami's last win at Boston College. Yet Miami had more opportunities since 1999 to beat the Eagles on the road then any of the team mentioned above. (For example Miami has played Florida once in Gainesville since 1999 and won that game.)

So in other words, Boston College has been the ultimate Miami pitfall. Complicating matters last night were injuries to Eddie Rios and Julian Gamble which made them unavailable and then the foul problems for Lance Hurdle and Jack McClinton, which left Miami without a ball handler for much of the last few minutes.

But several Canes who have been inconsistent had their best games of the year Saturday night. Dwayne Collins stat line may not have been the most impressive this season, but his play was. Collins controlled the paint as he has so rarely done this season using his body to get to the basket on offense and to box out on the defensive end allowing team mates to gather long rebounds. Collins also got to the line often and shot free throws at the sort of clip that you usually only see from guards.

Adrian Thomas, the often injured junior out of Pembroke Pines had perhaps his best game in his four year career (Thomas received a medical redshirt after playing a few games as a Sophomore.) Thomas has lost a lot of weight in rehab and cannot play as big as he previously did. But he's still athletic and a great perimeter defender. When he hits outside shots like he did last night he becomes an amazing difference maker.

Brian Asbury has been much maligned by the few Canes fans who really pay close attention to Basketball. But Asbury while never meeting the inflated expectations Scout.com and Rivals.com had for him has settled into a nice niche as a role player who can plug a hole at any position. Last night it was as a ball handler and to defend Tyrese Rice late. It was also to hit clutch shots and free throws with the game on the line.

Jack McClinton had one of his worst games since joining the program three years ago last night. A liability on defense and a poor handling characterized a rare bad performance from Jack. Perhaps all the national hype of his matchup with Tyrese Rice and the presence of Digger Phelps and Andy Katz two of the biggest national media figures who cover this sport spooked him. Rice for his part didn't have his best game either, leaving BC to depend on other players who the Canes were able to shut down.

Beating B.C., winning on the road and getting major contributions from other player besides Jack McClinton all point to a corner turned for the Canes. Obviously the ACC is battle night in and night out, but last night was a clear message sent to local fans and national media alike that Miami is still a factor in the league and one that should be dancing come March.