Quick Shots: Iowa (Tournament Edition)

J. Thomas(3) sizes up Samantha Logic(Photo Credit: HurricaneSports.com)

Written By: Nathan Skinner (@Canedude08)
                Canes Rising Contributor

It was a fun ride while it lasted, but it came to a frustrating end in Iowa City Sunday afternoon. The third seeded Iowa Hawkeyes rode an outstanding second half performance to defeat Miami 88-70.  While Iowa's numerous weapons ultimately overwhelmed the 'Canes, this game was close until midway through the second half. Miami may be out of the NCAA Tournament, but this team should be proud of what they accomplished this season, and ready to advance further next season. 


Quick Shots

Motley Crew--Adrienne Motley started this game slowly, scoring a measly four points in the first half.  The second half was a different story as the sophomore guard poured it on, scoring fourteen in the half.  She did run into foul trouble in the second half, which forced her to the bench. Without Motley, the 'Canes struggled, and Iowa went on a run which put the game out of reach.  Money Mot will return for her junior season this fall, look for her to be in the running for a lot of awards. 

Lack of Logic--No, this isn't referring to the trolls who have taken residence in the 'Canes Rising comment section, this is a reference to Iowa's Samantha Logic.  Logic is one of the best point guards in the county, but she  struggled all afternoon, committing seven turnovers and scoring twelve points on 4/11 shooting.  Logic couldn't get away from Michelle Woods, Miami's defensive stopper.  What Woods did to Washington's Kelsey Plum was good, this was just as impressive.

Bethany Doolittle--Bethany's surname doesn't match her production, which is great for the Iowa Hawkeyes.  While Samantha Logic was for all intents and purposes out of the game, Doolittle stepped up and delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a game high 22 points and grabbing  eleven rebounds.  Bethany also was a stopper on the defensive end, racking up three blocks.  Miami's bigs got into foul trouble attempting to defend the senior center, and she feasted at the line as a result. If you were to tell Katie Meier before the game that Doolittle would be Iowa's best player, she would have assumed that the 'Canes would be in position to win coming down the stretch.  That wasn't the case, as Doolittle dominated.  Her touch around the basket, and her midrange game were excellent.

Jessica Thomas--Adrienne Motley couldn't carry the 'Canes alone, and J.T. tried to provide some assistance.  The young guard scored 20 points, but it was on 8/21 shooting.  Thomas started the game hot, scoring in bunches in the first half.  Her aggressive play gave Miami a much needed boost, and kept the 'Canes within striking distance early.  Thomas has emerged as a player to be reckoned with, and fans should look forward to her continued development.

Candy Stripers--The free throw line was sweet for Iowa as the Hawkeyes were able to march to the line at will, shooting 33 free throws, making 23.  The 'Canes weren't able to get to the line, only taking eleven the entire game.  The Hawkeyes struggled offensively in the first half, it was their free throw shooting that kept them in the game.  Miami could have gotten to the line more often had the 'Canes not settled for midrange jumpers.  The first half injury to Suriya McGuire really hurt the 'Canes, as McGuire is one of the best slashers on the team.  While McGuire was able to come back from her ankle injury, she wasn't the same, rarely showing the explosiveness that makes her dangerous around the rim. 

Quick Shots: Washington (Tournament Edition)

Michelle Woods(10)(Photo Credit: USA Today)

Written By: Nathan Skinner (@Canedude08)
                 Canes Rising Contributor


Katie Meier's team is still dancing, following a thrilling 86-80 victory of the Washington Huskies.  This was basketball at its finest , with both teams facing and overcoming adversity throughout.  Following a big Miami run midway through the second half, the Huskies came back with a vengeance, forcing the 'Canes to hold on down the stretch.The 'Canes advance, but the road doesn't get any easier as their next opponent, Iowa is playing on their home floor.

Quick Shots

Money Mot Cashes In-- If you read the Gameday Report, you knew that for the 'Canes to have a chance, Adrienne Motley had to be a major factor.  Motley was more than a factor, she was the best player on the floor.  Money Mot was outstanding, scoring thirty points and dominating the game with her athleticism.The most impressive part of her performance was that it was incredibly efficient.  Motley connected on 55% of her field goals, and 80% of her free throw attempts. The most dangerous teams in March are the teams with star guards, and Miami has a supernova.

Unsung Heroes--Adrienne Motley may be the unquestioned star, but she isn't winning games by herself, she is getting a ton of help.  On Friday, Miami's mostly unknown supporting cast had one of their best performances of the season.  Jessica Thomas, a player who emerged late in the season scored nineteen points, and snagged six rebounds.  That's not a bad haul coming from a woman who stands 5'6''. Thomas' performance wasn't unexpected, but Erykah Davenport's was.  Davenport grabbed a game high thirteen rebounds, and scored six points.  Necole Sterling, a talented shooter also came alive against the Huskies, scoring eleven points. To beat a team like Washington, everyone has to chip in.  On Friday, everyone that Katie Meier played contributed.

Spotless Glass--One could eat off of the backboards at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, as the 'Canes cleaned them to perfection.  Washington had a size advantage, but Miami owned the glass, outrebounding the Huskies 46-40.  Outside of Erykah Davenport's effort, there were other players who stepped up.  Seven players out of the nine who played had at least four rebounds, that's the definition of TEAM rebounding. Washington jacked up shot after shot, and the 'Canes were able to make sure that the Huskies didn't get second and third opportunities.  That's where this game turned.  Washington wasn't great from deep(10/29), and the 'Canes made sure that the Huskies were one and done on the offensive end.

Shoot to Kill--While the Huskies struggled from beyond the arc, Miami was hot from the perimeter, shooting 58.3% from deep.  It was the three ball that allowed Miami to jump on top of the favored Huskies early and build a double digit lead midway through the second half.  The 'Canes did an outstanding job of finding open shooters, and putting them in position to score.  Necole Sterling, Michelle Woods and Adrienne Motley tied for the team lead with two long treys each. If you don't know who Ms. Sterling is, now's a good time to learn, she can light it up beyond the arc.  The only place the 'Canes didn't shoot well was from the charity stripe, connecting on only 62.5% of their attempts. The three ball is the great equalizer, and it allowed Miami to stay with an outstanding Washington team, and ultimately helped the 'Canes pull off the upset.

Breaking News: 'Canes in NCAA Tournament

Katie Meier and Adrienne Motley(Photo Credit: Miami Herald)

Written By: Nathan Skinner (@Canedude08)
                 Canes Rising Contributor

Break out the green suede shoes,  the 'Canes are going dancing! In a shocking development, Katie Meier's 'Canes earned a bid to the 2015 NCAA Tournament.  The team didn't finish the season as well as Meier wanted, but had enough big wins to merit selection. Stay with 'Canes Rising, as we will provide all the information you'll need for Friday's opening round!

Limping to the Wire

Adrienne Motley looks to lead the 'Canes to the NCAA Tournament(Photo Credit: The Miami Hurricane)

Written By: Nathan Skinner (@Canedude08)
                  Canes Rising Contributor

The last time we checked in on Katie Meier's 'Canes, they were one of the hottest teams in the country, coming off of an impressive win over Notre Dame.  The 'Canes are now a team that is limping to the finish line, victims of inconsistent play and  heartbreaking losses.  While Adrianne Motley continues to amaze, this team has been rocked by player defections and young players hitting a late season wall.

Since their thrilling upset victory over the Irish, the 'Canes are a pedestrian 6-8, and mired in a four game losing streak.  The 'Canes have lost games in every way imaginable, they've been dominated by superior teams, they've been nipped at the buzzer by weak teams.  Miami is a team that is firmly on the bubble, currently projected as a twelve seed in the latest ESPN Bracketology.   This team hasn't been the same since the Notre Dame game, and some of that can be attributed to the sudden loss of Laura Quevedo.  Quevedo, a freshman guard, decided to return home to Spain at the beginning of conference play.  The 'Canes sorely miss her perimeter shooting, her athleticism, and her ability to stretch the floor. Quevedo  flashed immense talent, losing her in the middle of the season hurt.  The 'Canes have struggled from the perimeter, with only three players shooting above 30% in ACC play.  Scoring has been an issue for the 'Canes, but defense has been an even larger issue. When Miami was on top of the conference standings, they were an uptempo team that forced turnovers in bunches.  That hasn't been the case, as the 'Canes have been unable to turn teams over.  Miami isn't getting it done at the line either, shooting 65% from the line, compared to 68% for the opposition.

The areas of concern are known, but how can they be addressed? Katie Meier can't go out and replace Quevedo's production at this point but she can maximize the talent on the roster.  Meier is one of the best coaches in the country, so it's safe to assume that she will put players in position to win.   A lot of Miami's problems will be solved if Suriya McGuire can get back on track.  McGuire, an explosive player who has world class speed has underachieved during conference play, scoring 6.1 points per game.  McGuire is too good, and too talented to be struggling like this.  McGuire being able to score in transition is important, and will help Miami find hidden points.  Meier may want to press more, especially seeing how much the 'Canes are struggling in the half court.  This team has to find someone who can be a third scorer.  Adrianne Motley and Michelle Woods are the top scorers, but the third scorer role has been filled by a rotating mix of players.  Someone has to step up. 

Thursday, the 'Canes will face Virginia in the second round of the ACC Tournament.  Will it be the beginning of a rebirth, or the final chapter of a frustrating season? We will find out soon enough, but regardless of the end result, this season has been a ride to remember. 

The 2014 Canes Hoops Preview (W)

Adrienne Motley(23) will look to explode onto the national scene this season(Photo Credit: AP)

Written By: Nathan Skinner
                 Canes Rising Contributor

Last season didn't end the way Katie Meier and the 'Canes wanted, with a loss to Stetson in the first round of the WNIT.  The fact that making the WNIT was seen as somewhat disappointing is an indication of how far this program has come under Meier.  Before last season, the 'Canes had been to three consecutive NCAA tournaments, with second round appearances in two of those years.  Fans were treated to the best stretch in program history, led by Shenise Johnson and Riquna Williams. Those glory days may be returning after a short hiatus, for the 'Canes are a talented team with a budding star in Adrienne Motley.

Backcourt

This team will go as far as Adrienne Motley takes them.  Motley is a player that can score in bunches, and is exciting to watch. She had an outstanding freshman season, leading the team in scoring at 11 points per game. Her superlative play landed her a spot on the All-ACC Rookie Team.  Fans should expect Motley to be a contender for All-ACC honors this season, she's that talented.  Motley isn't the only exciting guard on the roster.  Suriya McGuire is an athletic player who has struggled with consistency, but has the tools to be extraordinary.  McGuire was 4th on the team in scoring last year, averaging over 9 points per game. She benefits most from Meier's aggressive defensive philosophy, due to her athleticism, and her ability to create easy points on fast breaks.   This backcourt isn't a two woman show, as this unit is very deep.  Players like Jessica Thomas and Michelle Woods will battle for playing time, and should make a significant contribution. Thomas had some impressive moments at the point last year, that experience should pay dividends this season.  Woods is an upperclassman who came in with much fanfare, but was seriously injured in a 2013 automobile accident which kept her off the floor last season.  Nigia Greene and Laura Quevedo are two players who may be the odd players out.  Quevedo is a first year player from Madrid, Spain who played well in international competition.

Frontcourt

During Katie Meier's tenure, the front court has been undersized, as Meier has depended on smaller, quicker players to create havoc in the open court.  This reliance on smaller players has led to an inability to rebound, and an inability to score in the post. This year, the 'Canes shouldn't have a problem scoring in the post, because Keyona Hayes can score in the painted area. Hayes, a player who came on strong towards the end of last season, averaged 10.5 points per game, with 6.5 rebounds. If Hayes can continue her development, Katie Meier may have her first elite low post threat.  Jassany Williams is a solid rebounder, and defender who brings maturity and leadership to the unit.  A big question entering the season is whether the two highly touted freshmen can find their way into the rotation.  Khaila Prather, and Erykah Davenport are two players who may end up earning significant playing time early in their careers.