Quick Shots: Louisville (Round II)

Tonye Jekiri grabs a rebound(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

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


The difference between bubble teams that make the NCAA Tournament, and the teams that don't is that the former takes advantage of opportunities.  Miami had a golden opportunity to steal a crucial road win against a highly ranked team and failed to do so.  While today's 55-53 defeat stings, Miami is still alive and battling for a spot in the Big Dance. Miami is now in a tough spot, where their next regular season loss will put them out of  contention. 

Quick Shots

Backcourt Blues--Louisville's aggressive full court press is a handful for most teams, but for Manu Lecomte and Angel Rodriguez, it was a nightmare straight out of a Tim Burton film.   Miami's point guards looked lost and unsure, things that the press feeds on.  Manu and Angel combined to go 2/14 from the field, and turn the ball over an unacceptable eight times.  Lecomte tends to struggle with teams that harass him with athletic guards, so this isn't a big shock.  However, Rodriguez's struggles are shocking, especially seeing how many of his attempts were quality looks.  Angel can't finish at the rim, he refuses to use a floater when he gets into the lane, and has a low basketball I.Q.  With the game in the balance, and the ball in his hands, Angel chose to play hero instead of getting the best possible shot.  Miami didn't need a three point basket, but that didn't stop Angel as he took a contested, low percentage heave, with time remaining.  There's few teams that can win when their point guards are not only bad offensively, but turning the ball over as well.  Miami couldn't overcome Manu and Angel.

Lax Sheldon--Sheldon McClellan had another outstanding game, scoring a team high seventeen points and grabbing four rebounds.  The problem is that McClellan was a non factor during the final three minutes, not registering a shot in that span, and not being a factor in the offense.  Sheldon is a very good player, but he has to be more assertive when Miami is struggling offensively.  The 'Canes have to find a way to get McClellan involved late in games, or when the offense is stagnant.  He has the ability to create his own shot, and unlike Angel Rodriguez is a player who can be trusted to make good decisions.  No excuse for him to not see the ball in the final three possessions, with the game on the line.

Dirty Glass--Outside of Tonye Jekiri, the 'Canes were unable to be a factor on the boards.  While the 'Cards are a long, athletic team that will get their fair share of rebounds, Miami's effort was abysmal, especially on the defensive glass.  Allowing a team who doesn't shoot well additional opportunities is unacceptable.  What's the point of playing outstanding defense for 30+ seconds, only to allow your opposition to get an offensive rebound? Louisville had seventeen offensive rebounds, five more than the 'Canes. The 'Cards out-rebounded Miami by seven total boards(41-34), with Tonye Jekiri accounting for fifteen of those rebounds.  Between the other nine players who received playing time for Jim Larranaga, they could only come up with nineteen rebounds.  That's pretty bad, and it's easy to see why Louisville was able to get some cheap put-backs and extra possessions late. 

No Relief From the Bench--Jim Larranaga has used a ton of lineups this season, searching for a consistent rotation.  Today, Coach L played ten guys, with the bench giving him practically nothing offensively.  The bench combined for a grand total of eleven points, compared to seventeen for the 'Cards.  While that margin isn't huge, this game was a one possession game coming down the stretch. Every point counts, and Miami's bench didn't provide much of a offensive punch.   The one positive from the bench was that they were able to eat minutes, allowing struggling players like Manu Lecomte to remain on the bench.  Deandre Burnett provided a boost, giving Miami nine points and creating some nice opportunities down the stretch.  However, he did have a crucial turnover late, and also slipped on a drive, setting up another turnover.  Miami needs the bench to step up in big games, and give the 'Canes additional scoring and energy.  They didn't do that today, and the 'Cards were able to grind Miami into submission.

Quick Shots: Louisville

Davon Reed(Photo Credit: USA Today)

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


The 'Canes needed to steal a game in order to reestablish themselves as a bubble team.  That didn't happen on Tuesday as Miami fell 63-55 to the Louisville Cardinals.  The 'Cards are a very good team, and Miami fought valiantly, but close losses are still losses.   It's amazing to think that two weeks ago, Miami was considered a dark horse, a team that could turn heads in March. That seems like a very long time ago, with the 'Canes in the midst of a three game losing streak.


Quick Shots

Struggle Watch 2015--No breaking news to report, Angel Rodriguez is still doing everything in his power to drive Jim Larranaga insane.  A perfect illustration of what Angel is came with under two minutes remaining, with the 'Canes down four.  The 'Canes had the ball early in the shot chock, and Angel decided to take a contested twenty-eight foot jumper.  That shot ended all hopes of a Miami comeback.  That's the problem with Angel right now, he has no concept of what a good shot is, he tries to play hero every night.  Last week, an ESPN analyst tried to compare Angel to former 'Cane Shane Larkin.  They aren't similar in the least,  Shane understood what was expected of him, he had a high basketball IQ. Angel isn't a dumb player, he just does a lot of mind boggling things, at the worst possible time.  It's getting to the point that I shudder when #13 touches the ball, because I know the odds of something positive happening aren't favorable.  Most good players have one or two bad shooting nights per season, Angel is a 33% shooter on the season.  When a player is shooting that poorly, and refuses to shop shooting horrible shots, a change is needed.  Ja'Quan Newton and Manu Lecomte may not have the top end ability that Angel has,  but they aren't walking grease fires either.  We all hope that Angel can snap out of this, but Miami's season can't be allowed to go down the drain merely because Rodriguez wants to live out his Jack McClinton fantasies.

"Gunner" Reed--When did Davon Reed become a lights out shooter?  It's hard to pinpoint exactly, but Davon has become one of the better shooters on the team.  Tonight, he was on fire, connecting on five deep bombs, and scoring a team high nineteen points. He played within himself, taking excellent shots, shots that were in rhythm, and within the flow of the offensive set. All of his shots were perfect, with only one even coming close to touching rim.  Reed wasn't only the best offensive player Miami had, he was the best defensive player as well, disrupting passing lanes, forcing players to take contested jumpers.  The light has come on for Reed, a player who has struggled to find his niche.  There's few players in the ACC who can do the things that Davon can, and he's quietly become a valuable player.  With the struggles of Angel Rodriguez continuing, Reed should see more shots, he has the talent, and smarts to become the second scorer the 'Canes desperately need.

Where's "The General"?--Sheldon McClellan has been a non-factor the last week, only scoring a combined 25 points in the last three games.  That's a far cry from his fifteen point per game average, an average that leads the team. McClellan has to get involved in the offense, he hasn't been looking for his shot, he's been far too passive.  Sheldon isn't a pure shooter, he isn't a pure slasher either, he's an athletic hybrid who can create off of the dribble, but can also hit open shots when available.  It may be time to work Sheldon off of screens, create some one on one situations, and allow him to overpower the competition. Miami needs scoring help, and it doesn't help anyone when McClellan is a ghost. 

Who's going to Step Up?--No, that isn't a reference to the horrible dance movie, this is a legitimate question.  Besides Tonye Jekiri, and Davon Reed, there isn't anyone else on the roster one can count on.  Tonight, Manu Lecomte and Ja'Quan Newton were steady at the point, with Newton being a little wild at times.  Omar Sherman isn't the kind of player who can play major minutes right now, and Ivan Cruz-Uceda is still rusty, and isn't the most athletic big.  For this team to become consistent, there has to be more than two guys that can be counted on.  Over the next week, Miami needs 5 players that can fill a role every night.  Tonye provides interior defense and scoring, Davon is a demon on the defensive end, and can score when needed.  Those are the only two players who have filled their roles on a consistent basis.  Teams that don't have defined, consistent roles are rarely successful. 

Gameday Report: Louisville

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


Opponent: University of Louisville
Location: BankUnited Center(Capacity: 7,942)
Time: 8PM ET
TV/Radio: RSN(Raycom)/WVUM(90.5 FM)

Who's The Best?

Louisville's Best Scorer-- Terry Rozier(18.1 PPG)
Louisville's Best Rebounder-- Montrezl Harrell(8.9 RPG)
Louisville's Best Distributor-- Chris Jones(3.9 APG)
Louisville's Best Perimeter Shooter--Terry Rozier(36.4%)
Louisville's Best Free Throw Shooter--Terry Rozier(76%)

Who to Watch For

This is the home game that every 'Canes season ticket holder circled on the calendar, and it will not disappoint.  The Cardinals are a team that will arrive in Coral Gables in high spirits, following their comebackwin over North Carolina.  Rick Pitino's squad isn't overpowering, but they do a lot of things very well, and are capable of being a major factor in the NCAA Tournament.  Montrezl Harrell is an explosive 6'8'' forward who is averaging fifteen points, and nine rebounds per game. Harrell is a dynamic player who is dominant force in the paint, and is a good shot blocker on the defensive end.  He may not have overwhelming size, but his athleticism makes him a potential matchup nightmare.  While Harrell is the best overall player, he isn't the best scorer on the roster, that honor belongs to Terry Rozier.  The sophomore guard leads the Cardinals in scoring and in three point shooting percentage.  Rozier is a classic slasher, who uses speed, and a good handle to get to the rim.  North Carolina found out the hard way about Rozier, as he riddled them for 22 points.  Chris Jones joins Rozier in the backcourt, and he's very capable, averaging over thirteen points per game.  Jones is a senior leader who was one of the best scorers at the junior college level before he arrived at Louisville.  While he isn't expected to be a dominant scorer, he can explode at any time as evidenced by his scintillating twenty eight point performance against Boston College. 

Keys To Victory

1. Defeat Harrell--Montrezl Harrell is a fine player who will create matchup difficulties.  He is extremely similar to Syracuse's Rakeem Christmas a player who was able to score 23 points on the 'Canes.  Tonye Jekiri has to be able to defend Harrell one on one, and he has to do it without fouling, as the 'Canes can't afford to go long stretches with Jekiri on the bench.  If the 'Canes can find a way to limit the explosive Harrell, students may get their first chance to storm the court this season.

2. Saved by an Angel(Rodriguez)--The 'Canes need Angel to snap out of this slump, for there's no possible way Miami can emerge victorious without the enigmatic guard.  Rodriguez has been flat awful since the win in Cameron Indoor, connecting on under 30% of his attempts since.  Louisville will rely on a ton of man defense, which means that Angel should be able to get to the rim, and create for others, especially Tonye Jekiri.  Getting to the free throw line should be a high priority for Rodriguez, that is the easiest way for a struggling shooter to get back on track.  Even if his offensive game isn't back by Tuesday, he has to be a better decision maker, and  a willing defender.  Terry Rozier will score at will, if Angel doesn't challenge him. If Rodriguez continues to struggle, Jim Larranaga has to go to a combination of Ja'Quan Newton, Manu Lecomte, and Deandre Burnett.  Between those three players, one should emerge as the hot hand. 

3. Energy, Energy, Energy--Miami didn't lose to Georgia Tech because the Yellow Jackets are a better team, the 'Canes lost because they were lifeless.  Miami couldn't overcome a sluggish start, which allowed Georgia Tech to build a significant lead.  In his postgame comments, Jim Larranaga pointed out that a lack of fans was to blame for the lack of energy in the building, something that won't be an issue Tuesday.  The BUC will be packed, with Louisville backers being a significant part of the crowd, so look for an electric atmosphere.  The 'Canes have to come out, and give those fans who show up a reason to get rowdy, with an early run.  This fanbase will support a winner, but that winner has to be winning early.

4. Shoot To Kill--Miami depends on the three ball, there's no doubt about that.  For Miami to beat Louisville, those shots have to find their way to the bottom of the net.  Taking good shots is also an important concept, for it's likely that Louisville's size advantage will lead to them having a significant advantage on the boards.  Players like Davon Reed, Manu Lecomte, and Omar Sherman will have open shots from deep, it's imperative that they shoot a high percentage.  If Miami can ride a wave of threes to a big lead, that may be the difference as an upset like this usually plays out with the underdog racing out to a big lead, and then holding on as the favorite makes a charge.