Keeping Hope Alive: Miami's Seniors Come Through in the Clutch

By Kartik Krishnaiyer
Canes Rising Staff


Miami's season hung in the balance. Down nine at halftime to an NC State team without Courtney Fells, the Canes needed a spark.

Miami got the spark from the four seniors on the team. Big man Jimmy Graham came up huge with athletic open court steals and incredible intensity on defense. Point guard Lance Hurdle picked up his defense, Brian Asbury crashed the boards and Jack McClinton was well, Jack.

The best senior class Miami has had since John Salmons, and Elton Tyler said goodbye with an NCAA bid in 2002, wants another taste of the NCAA tournament. But the underclassmen played with indifference for much of the game, and will need to step up in Atlanta this week if Miami is to make it's second straight NCAA appearance.

Dwayne Collins sleepwalked through much of the game showing up late, while Adrian Thomas, the Broward County kid has clearly hit a wall in his development. Five star recruit DeQuan Jones again showed little for all his athleticism and talent. James Dews who has played well of late struggled having his worst game in over a month.

But today was about Miami's seniors. A seventeen point second half turnaround fueled by four seniors who don't want to end their careers in the NIT.

This represents a solid win. NC State, so horrible when Miami lost an overtime game in Raleigh almost two months ago, has recently been playing the top teams in the league tough. Given the Canes horrific midweek performance against bottom feeder Georgia Tech, and the pathetic first half today, Miami's second half could be the stuff of legends, if the Canes can keep it going.

Next up is the ACC Tournament, and either Virginia Tech or Maryland. Thursday's first game will feature a desperate Miami team against an equally desperate VT or Terps squad. A win means a good shot at the dance, especially for the Canes whose RPI is higher than VT or MD. A loss, and the NIT awaits.

The stakes never get higher than this. Will Miami's seniors be able to carry the team again or will the underclassman step up? Thursday afternoon we'll get out answer.