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| Manu Lecomte(Photo Credit: Associated Press) |
Written By: Nathan Skinner
Canes Rising Contributor
"He can take his'n and beat your'n and take your'n and beat his'n."--Bum Phillips
If you don't understand what Bum was stating, you're not alone. What Bum was saying is that an outstanding coach can win with any team he's given, regardless of whether they fit his preferred system. Jim Larranaga is an outstanding coach, and he proved it again last season. If you weren't watching the 'Canes last season, you missed one of the best coaching jobs in program history. The 'Canes weren't expected to be a factor, due to a majority of the experienced talent graduating, and Shane Larkin declaring for the NBA Draft. This team was supposed to be the worst team in the ACC, and they found a way to not only compete, but upset some teams. This 'Canes team found a way to beat North Carolina in the Dean Dome, and fought a top 10 Syracuse team down to the wire in the Carrier Dome. This was one of the best defensive teams in the ACC, turning every game into a clinic in zone defense. The young players who were forced to play big roles are back, and Larranaga added some outstanding talent through recruiting and transfers. This team is far better than the experts think, and should challenge for a postseason berth.
Backcourt
Manu Lecomte may not be a superstar guard, but he's grown into a solid player. Lecomte, a player recruited to be Shane Larkin's backup, was forced to become a starter, and did well, averaging 7.7 points per game. Manu should be able to improve upon these numbers, especially after he finished the season on a tear. He was far from the undersized, lost player he was early in his freshman campaign. Lecomte will not be a starter this season, because Miami has a new point guard who is experienced, and talented. Angel Rodriguez arrives in Coral Gables following a stint at Kansas State. While with the Wildcats, Rodriguez averaged 11 points and 5 assists per game, and was a very good defender. Rodriguez can create off of the dribble, and he can create opportunities for other players. One of the players who should see a ton of open shots thanks to Rodriguez is redshirt freshman Deandre Burnett. Burnett, a pure scorer was forced to redshirt after suffering a wrist injury early last season. In his few appearances, he flashed the scoring ability that made him a highly touted recruit. Burnett hasn't been an overly impressive defensive player, that should change with experience.
Deandre isn't the only young guard who may be asked to contribute early. Ja'Quan Newton, and Corn Elder are two young players who may be relied upon for minutes, especially with the absence of Davon Reed. Reed suffered an injury during the off-season, and most likely won't participate this season. Elder is also a member of the football team,which means he won't be available until January, at the earliest. Newton was a top 60 recruit, so fans should have high expectations for the talented newcomer. Reed's injury will put more pressure on Sheldon McClellan, a transfer from the University of Texas. McClellan, a former prep star, averaged 13.5 points per game for Rick Barnes, but struggled from the perimeter, only shooting 29% from deep. McClellan is an athletic slasher who will be able to exploit open areas around the rim, and finish on the break. The key to this unit will be finding a way to maximize the talent available. There's more than enough players to fill the positions, but with the lack of depth in the frontcourt, Larranaga may end up playing 3-4 guards at a time, leading to some problems against larger teams.
Frontcourt
There is a shortage of skilled, experienced bigs on the roster. The Canes have ONE returning frontcourt player in Tonye Jekiri, a player who is still developing. Jekiri, a long and athletic seven footer, is still limited offensively and struggles to create opportunities in the low post. Jekiri has shown ability as a passer out of the high post, but the team will need him to do more. He has to be the leader of this unit, because the rest of the bigs are inexperienced, and in some cases, marginally talented. Ivan Cruz-Uceda will not be eligible until January, due to a NCAA ruling. Uceda, will be a valuable player, with his ability to score and his high skill level. Joe Thomas is a newcomer who was a role player at Niagara University, he should be able to provide bulk on the front line. Freshmen Omar Sherman and Chris Stowell may see some playing time, but fans shouldn't expect much from these youngsters at this point. If Larranaga can find a way to get any consistent offensive production from the front-court, it will be a semi-miracle. However, this frontcourt should be good enough to provide adequate rebounding, and interior defense.
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