The ‘Canes suffered a heart-breaking loss to the Maryland Terrapins falling 75 – 70 in an effort that left ‘Canes fans scratching their heads. Miami seemed to grab the momentum in the final minutes and outplayed the Terps for most of the game, but sloppy play at the end gave Maryland enough room to squirm out of their shells and secure the victory.
Coach Chris Caputo told 'Canes fans that Reggie Johnson (42) didn't play much because his knee was bothering him.
It was a game that the ‘Canes seemed on the verge of putting away at several points. There were times where just one more rebound or made shot could have made Maryland quit. But the Terrapins hung tough. Terrell Stoglin (20pts, 2reb, 3ast) needed a ton of shots, but was money on the stripe at the end of the game.
Where Maryland was clutch, Miami struggled . . . badly. As one poster on canestime.com framed it “We worked hard for that loss”. The ‘Canes have been adept at putting away lesser-talented teams this season but that trend faltered and buckled with a tough loss. The ‘Canes needed 2OT’s to beat Maryland at home, but that was without Kenny Kadji (16pts, 8reb, 1blk) who played a strong game. Reggie Johnson (3pts, 4reb, 1ast) only played 15 minutes and didn’t appear to hit the floor the entire 2nd half. It was in the 2nd frame that the ‘Canes were dominated on the boards.
Trey McKinney Jones (13pts, 2reb) was on fire from the field but didn’t get many opportunities in the 2nd half. TMJ was 4-5 from the field and nailed 3 of his 4 bombs from beyond the arc. Durand Scott (14pts, 5reb, 1ast) fouled out in the waning moments. James Padgett (16pts, 6reb) had an impressive game for Maryland, connecting on a variety of post-moves.
Make no mistake – this was a game the ‘Canes let slip away. Out of 9 turnovers – a pretty good line – 3 of them were in the final minutes and proved to be the difference in the game.
Despite the loss, Miami’s chances at the NCAA Tournament aren’t dashed. The ‘Canes have 3 games left before the ACC Tournament begins on March 8th in Atlanta, Georgia. With the loss against Maryland, the game against FSU becomes a must-win (barring a deep ACC Tourney run) game.
Next Game: Miami takes on FSU at the BUC on Sunday. Let’s rally around the team and pack the BUC! There’s a lot of basketball left to play.
With the NFL Combine slated to begin on Feb. 22, I have decided to make a list of players from Miami that have declared for the 2012 NFL draft. We have added our two cents and also included the rankings and write-ups from WalterFootball.com.
Our thoughts:
Though some of the players are joining the draft for the right reasons, some others’ decisions are questionable. Personally, I come from the mind-set that you only leave early if you are projected to be drafted in the first or second round (there are some exceptions to this but this is my general principle.) This is especially true if you are a RB, since the wear-and-tear (i.e. number of carries) and risk of injury is so great. For all others, they should enjoy the benefits of staying in school for another year, finish getting their degree, and put together another strong year of play, thereby increasing the chances they get drafted higher, which results in a bigger payday and a larger commitment level from the NFL front office and coaching staff.
I understand the logic of some coaches and agents: players, especially with the new NFL rookie contracts, are really playing to get a second contract in which they receive their payday. It not an irrational or flawed decision, but I believe the added experience of staying all four years has more positives than leaving early does.
That being said, the NFL Combine will give some UM players the opportunity to display their talents – especially their speed and athleticism – which can make a considerable difference come draft day. This was especially true for the Raiders Organization (loved speed, just ask DVD) pre-Al Davis. Now it may be slightly less significant. Regardless, this is a great opportunity for many “day 2ers” to showcase themselves. Many ‘Canes have a lot to gain from this event.
Currently, 7 of the 10 players who declared for the draft have been invited to attend the event. They are: Brandon Washington, Marcus Forston, Olivier Vernon, Tommy Streeter, Travis Benjamin, Lamar Miller, and Jacory Harris.
Lamar Miller is projected as a late first, early second round pick (#2 RB overall), so his decision is a total no brainer.
Tommy Streeters’ decision on the other hand, being a red-shirt Sophomore, and only 1 real season of game tape, is a bit questionable. Yes, he’s ranked as the #8 WR, but with another year of film, he could have gone much much higher. Although, I’m sure the uncertainty of who was going to throw him the ball, and that many of his buddies are leaving probably factored into his decision. Overall, I don’t totally disagree with Streeter.
Spence, as a senior, had no choice, but he is highly ranked anyway, being the #7 overall LB prospect (may have improved after senior bowl). J12, Ojomo, Benjamin, Byrd, and Regis are also all seniors, so no questions here. Unfortunately though, Regis, Ojomo, Benjamin, Byrd and Jacory will all be lucky to get drafted (per the draftniks), but as usual, will likely get a Free Agent contract considering the number of players over the past several years that have underwhelmed at Miami and have gone on to have success at the NFL level (thanks again Coker and Shannon!!!!!!!).
The other players choosing to depart early leave me a bit confounded. Vernon has played few games over his three year career. Talented? Unquestionable. Proven? No chance. So why not return as the dominant favorite to start and potentially zoom up the draft board? No idea. Projected as a 4-5rd pick is nothing to laugh at, but little downside and huge upside exists if he returned in my opinion. Overall, don’t love the decision.
I view Forston exactly the same as Vernon. See above. Only thing I can add here is that all his childhood buddies from Northwestern are leaving, so he probably had little interest in staying behind. Probably part of their master plan hatched in High School.
Guard Brandon Washington is similar to Vernon and Forston with one major exception, he would have likely been a lock as a day 1 pick if he stayed one more year. He has the size, speed, aggression, and talent to be a top pick. Last year he played tackle, but his natural position is guard (projected at guard in NFL.) Another year in the system would have made a huge difference stock-wise. This is especially true if Seantrel Henderson moved to left tackle and the coaches allowed Washington to return to his natural position.
Though I have stated my case above its hard to really come down on a guy for wanting to leave early and reach his dream. All these guys have a chance to make a difference at the next level. I wish good luck to all the ‘Canes on their quest for success in the NFL!!!!!!
(So, I have included this tangential highlight reel of monster UM hits. I literally couldn’t help myself. See it in your heart if you can forgive me.)
Personal note: Dear Coach Golden, please show this video before each game next season. I think each and every current and future ‘Cane needs to know what we expect from players at “The U.” This is what our former glory looks like. Teams were literally afraid of playing Miami. Like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson in their heyday, the game was half over before it even started…….. Man am I excited for football season already!!
Here are the individual rankings and write-ups by WalterFootball.
DEFENSE
Olivier Vernon*, DE, Miami
Height: 6-4. Weight: 265.
Projected 40 Time: 4.71.
Position Rank #21
Projected Round (2012): 4-5. 12/21/11: Vernon was suspended for the first six games of the season by the NCAA. In six games, he had 18 tackles with 3.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Vernon played well against Boston College in the season finale. He is a good athlete who should test well before the draft. Vernon has decided to skip his senior season, which looks like a questionable decision.
Adewale Ojomo, DE, Miami
Height: 6-4. Weight: 270.
Projected 40 Time: 4.81.
Position Rank #26
Projected Round (2011): 7-FA. 12/21/11: Ojomo was suspended for the first game of the season by the NCAA. He had 19 tackles with 3.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Ojomo tried to return for another season but was denied a sixth year by the NCAA.
Marcus Forston*, DT, Miami
Height: 6-3. Weight: 310.
Projected 40 Time: 4.97.
Position Rank #17
Projected Round (2012): 3-4. 12/16/11: Forston was suspended for the first contest of the season. He recorded five tackles in three games before going down with a season-ending knee injury. Ohio State center Mike Brewster had a good game against Forston. Forston declared for the draft and signed with Drew Rosenhaus, so he cannot change his mind and return to school. Forston is a good athlete with potential but has legitimate durability concerns entering the NFL.
Micanor Regis, DT, Miami
Height: 6-2. Weight: 305.
Projected 40 Time: 5.13.
Position Rank #29
Projected Round (2012): 6-FA. 12/16/11: Regis had 41 tackles with 6.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks this season. He did not look good going against Ohio State center Mike Brewster.
Sean Spence, OLB, Miami
Height: 6-0. Weight: 225.
Projected 40 Time: 4.49.
Position Rank #7
Projected Round (2012): 2-3. 12/26/11: This season, Spence was all over the field, yet constantly around the football, for Miami. He is a good tackler who rarely gets caught out of position. For 2011, Spence had 106 tackles with 14 tackles for a loss, three sacks and a forced fumble. He played very well against Georgia Tech, Miami and in many other games. The only thing that holds him back from being ranked higher is a lack of size. Getting off blocks could be an issue for Spence at the next level
OFFENSE
Jacory Harris, Miami
Height: 6-4. Weight: 200.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Position Rank #22
Projected Round (2012): FA. 1/9/12: After showing some improvement throughout the season, Harris ended the year with a four interception game at home against Boston College. He was suspended for the Hurricanes’ first game of the season for his role in the Miami scandal. Harris completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,486 yards for 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Lamar Miller**, RB, Miami
Height: 5-11. Weight: 212.
Projected 40 Time: 4.46.
Position Rank #2
Projected Round (2012): 1-2. 1/16/12: Miller was a dynamic playmaker in 2011. He ran for 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns rushing while averaging 5.46 yards per carry this year. Miller showed the speed to break off long touchdown runs, and is a threat to score with any touch. He also has the size and strength to handle a large amount of carries. The redshirt sophomore was one of the most dynamic backs in college football.
Tommy Streeter*, WR, Miami
Height: 6-5. Weight: 215.
Projected 40 Time: 4.52.
Position Rank #8
Projected Round (2012): 2-3. 12/12/11: In his first season of playing time, the junior Streeter was a source of big plays. He is a tall, lanky wide receiver who has the speed to stretch the field. In 2011, Streeter caught 46 passes for 811 yards and eight touchdowns. He is an excellent red-zone weapon due to his height and leaping ability. Streeter is raw and needs a lot of work as a route-runner. His draft stock probably could have been enhanced if he returned to Miami for his senior season before going pro, but Streeter declared and hired an agent, so there is no turning back.
Travis Benjamin, WR, Miami
Height: 5-10. Weight: 175.
Projected 40 Time: 4.49.
Position Rank #33
Projected Round (2012): 6-FA. 12/12/11: Benjamin was suspended to start the season. He ended up catching 41 receptions for 609 yards and three scores. Benjamin needed to be more productive than that, and he also could have been more aggressive on some balls thrown to him deep downfield.
Brandon Washington*, G, Miami
Height: 6-4. Weight: 320.
Projected 40 Time: 5.21.
Position Rank #7
Projected Round (2012): 3-4. 1/16/12: After being a 2010 All-ACC pick at guard, Miami moved Washington to left tackle after Seantrel Henderson was injured. Washington had a mixed season at left tackle. He did a quality job of run blocking for Hurricanes running back Lamar Miller. Washington has a nice combination of power and mobility, but belongs on the inside.
Head coach Al Golden was openly critical of Washington after he struggled against North Carolina and defensive end Quinton Coples. Washington took offense at his coach’s criticism, but remained the starter at left tackle. He has some talent, and his situation at Miami led him to entering the draft. In the NFL, Washington definitely has to move back inside.
(Editor’s note: Special thanks to Jeremy Gold with http://turtle-soup.com/ for working on this collaboration and providing advanced scouting on Maryland)
Just a little over three weeks ago Miami and Maryland staged a battle for the ages, with Miami holding on 90-86 in double OT. Maryland hopes to gain a measure of revenge as the ‘Canes head to College Park to take on the Terrapins (8pm EST Raycom/ESPN3). For the Hurricanes it is another opportunity to get one step closer to an NCAA Tournament bid. With just 4 games remaining most experts project Miami to barely make the field. Maryland proved no easy out last time these teams met, however this time around the ‘Canes will have big man Kenny Kadji available. Kadji missed the game on February 1, with a concussion. Miami will need K2 and company to fire on all cylinders to take out ACC leading scorer Terrell Stoglin (21.4 ppg) and the Terrapins.
The 'Canes and Terrapins really battled hard back on 2/1.
Projected Starting Lineups:
Miami
C Reggie Johnson 6’10 290 JR
F Kenny Kadji 6’11 260 SO
G Trey McKinney-Jones 6’5 216 JR
G Malcolm Grant 6’1 188 SR
G Durand Scott 6’4 198 JR
Maryland
F James Padgett 6’8 215 JR
F Ashton Pankey 6’9 220 FR
G Pe’Shon Howard 6’3 195 SO
G Sean Mosely 6’4 210 SN
G Terrell Stoglin 6’1 185 SO
Keys to the Game:Keep firing Malcolm!! Yes Malcolm Grant has been in a prolonged shooting slump. His last effort against Wake Forest he was 3-10 on threes, and his shooting percentage in ACC games overall has been alarming. The good news for Grant is that Coach Larranaga is clearly in his corner. His shot selection has improved slightly in the last few, and a high percentage of the shots he’s missed have been long. In other words there is nothing physically wrong with him. Grant is one big game from breaking out big time. Something tells me tonight is the night.
Coach L tells Malcolm Grant to keep shooting!
Take control early. Maryland is no easy place to play. If the crowd gets into it, Miami will have a tough game on its hands. With Reggie Johnson and Kenny Kadji down low, Miami has a big size advantage and should dominate the boards. Durand Scott should be able to penetrate at will. Terrell Stoglin is going to get his, but Miami must make Stoglin’s running mate Sean Mosely and promising big man Alex Len non factors.
Best Match-up:Rion Brown VS Nick Faust. Maryland’s 6’6 freshman swing man appears to suddenly get it, The highly touted Faust is averaging 14 ppg over his last three. Faust is the most athletic guy on the Terps roster, but Brown specializes in shutting just such a player down. Brown also got it done on the offensive end last time out with 11 against Wake Forest, and has been abusing the rim of late with some of the best dunks in the conference.
Here’s an example of Brown’s athleticism off the nice feed from Trey McKinney Jones.
Prediction: Miami has more at stake than Maryland and therefore should come up more aggressive. Stoglin and Faust will do enough to keep the Terps in it, but Malcolm Grant will rediscover his stroke and Reggie Johnson and Kenny Kadji will be too much inside. Miami gets a hard-fought victory 73-68.
Here is our full Q&A with Jeremy Gold of http://turtle-soup.com/ Be sure to check out his site to see our answers to his Q&A as well.
C6: How would you classify Mark Turgeon’s first year in College Park? What does Maryland need to do for the remainder of this year and in the future to be more successful?
TS: Mark Turgeon is an EXCELLENT basketball coach. This team is young and relatively unheralded. Even Terrell Stoglin was barely in the Top 100 coming out of high school. Given the lack of talent and injuries, what this team has accomplished is remarkable. The Terps beat Notre Dame with 7 scholarship players. They have a legitimate shot to be .500 in the ACC. As for the future, the Terps have a good recruiting class coming in with Shaquille Cleare being the centerpiece. He’ll be a great compliment to Alex Len. If Stoglin stays and he learns to share the ball better, the Terps will be Top 25.
C6: What did you see in the first match-up between these teams that would Maryland confidence? What makes Miami potentially a difficult opponent for the Terps?
TS: The Terps came back in large part due to Miami’s foul problems. It doesn’t appear that the Canes can guard Stoglin so he will need to remain hot if the Terps are to have a chance. The Terps big men are not stout enough defensively and that could really hurt the Terps if the Miami big men can get it going.
C6: Alex Len appears to have serious potential, but is inconsistent. In the games he has struggled, has it just been a matter of not getting him the ball enough? Do Maryland fans feel like Terrell Stoglin takes too many shots?
TS: It’s more than just not getting shots. He’s still learning the game. Most of the time, he just doesn’t know what to do in the offense or how to get good position on his defender. He continually makes rookie mistakes like bringing the ball down when he gets an offensive rebound. He is, however, an unreal talent with good shooting ability, athleticism, and ridiculous size. He needs to get to a big man camp in the offseason. If he does that he could be the most improved player in the ACC next season.
C6: How do you see this game playing out? What is your prediction?
TS: I think the Terps will pull it out late. They’ve proven that they can play with Miami and the Terps are stout at home. Out of the ACC, only UNC and Duke have won at Comcast this year.
C6: How many/which teams from the ACC do you see making the NCAA Tournament?
TS: I think 6 teams should get in. Miami would be the 6th team but they will need to win 9 games in the ACC plus 1 game in the ACC Tournament. I think that is doable. The Terps will likely need four wins in Atlanta to get in. Mark Turgeon said as much at his press conference this week.
Coach Jim Larranaga started out his pressor last Thursday by telling a neat story regarding a chance encounter on a NJ expressway and how that encounter turned into a great long-term personal relationship.
That short story, along with other interviews by former players and coaches, encapsulated the general feel of being around Coach Larranaga. People describe Coach L as a genuinely kindhearted, determined, detail-oriented, passionate, intense, and intelligent man, who also just so happens to be a phenomenal coach.
Here are some quotes to digest.
Coach Derek Kellogg from UMASS, a former Larranaga assistant had this to say: “I have the utmost respect for Coach Larranaga and his program. Some of the things we’re doing I can attribute to when I worked with him at George Mason. He’s been a mentor to me,” Kellogg said. “He’s going to have this program where everyone’s looking for it to go. He’s a great coach and a great mentor.”
and
“I had a great time with him,” said Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who was Larranaga’s co-coach in 2006 (during a Michael Jordan event.) “He’s a really neat guy to be around. He has as good people skills as any coach I’ve seen. Being around him, that was the first thing I noticed, and that is why he’s been successful. He’s able to get the most out of people in a positive way.”
Coach Larranaga’s not your run-of-the-mill coach that solely cares about winning at all costs. He’s in it for the betterment of the student-athletes, and that’s why kids gravitate to him; pleasantly describing their experiences in being coached by him.
Like all great coaches, he is a teacher first. His demeanor is calming, focusing on the process of playing well and knowing that wins are a by-product of having the right kids receiving the right instruction and being put in a position to win. He quotes everyone from Ghandi to Aristotle to the NBA’s Kevin Garnett, usually to prod and motivate his players to achieve more then they think they are capable of.
On the sidelines you can see him interacting with the players, especially the players sitting on the bench. Constantly coaching and instructing them on what to look, and do, should your number be called. His passion and intensity is tangible and players obviously feed off that energy. They sometimes lose, but never quit. Even in two tough games this year (home vs Maryland and @ Duke), when historically they may have floundered, they found a way to win, riding the confidence of their coach.
This is a truly welcomed reversal of the underwhelming experiences “The U” has endured under the Perry Clark and Frank Haith era’s, and this is only his first season with the team.
If nothing else, its the smallest and simplest of details where one can instantly notice the considerable difference in coaching (for some additional color check out his coaching instructional videos on youtube). In previous years, Miami had considerable trouble in-bounding the ball and breaking the press. Today, no such difficulty exists. They get the details right. The players look and feel like a real team, capable of beating anyone.
Coach L is also known for finding kids in the “Money Ball” mold, i.e. he focuses more on statistics than he does on a kid passing some “eye test.” Not only is that used as part of game planning, but it was also a strategy he exploited while recruiting at George Mason and it will unquestionably be used at Miami; although, it should be a bit easier to recruit kids to Miami.
Like virtually all organizations, things are top down oriented. That’s how culture is created and it must be constantly reinforced over time. Larranaga’s demeanor, passion, caring, and teaching are the bedrock of this new culture. Furthermore, the recruits he brings in will be a reflection of him: hard-working, caring, passionate, intelligent, determined to win, and more than just a number on a jersey. In short, they will be successful.
Here are two video’s that really show you what we are getting in Coach Larranaga.
The kids that attended George Mason – coach Larranaga’s previous school, played their hearts-out, making the NCAA tournament 5 times in 12 years – a enviable record for any coach (for more on that click here.) On numerous occasions they beat “better” teams (on paper) including GM’s fantastic road to the final four in 2006 in which the commuter school beat titans Michigan State and UCONN. The reason for their success? Its not just talent, its what you do with that talent.
Over his career as a college head coach, Coach L has coached 66 players that have gone on to play professionally (the full list is here.) Consider that for a moment. Here is a coach, that until this current season has only been at 1 mid-major (George Mason) and several smaller programs, and yet his players have gone on to play professionally.
And that’s what should be the norm from here on out. In his first season as head coach at Miami, Coach Larranaga is already proving that he can make guys better. For the first time since joining the ACC, Miami is above .500 in conference wins at 7-5, with 4 to go. Though not a given, the team also has a chance to make it to March Madness, instead of watching it from their couch’s. What a welcomed and exciting possibility that is!
Needless to say, I am proud to be a ‘Canes basketball fan, and this is easily the most excited I’ve been for the future of this program since I started obsessing over it in 1996. I am attending every game I can with a blend of intrigue, hope, and passion, so I can help support Coach L and the players in their quest to make the Tourney. Its vital that you do the same.
How can you not be enthralled with “The U’s” future?
Four regular season games to go and Miami (16-9 overall 7-5 ACC) remains a bubble team, albeit one with a strong resume.
Coach L tells Dequan Jones to keep his bags packed for March Madness
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has the ‘Canes in as a #13 seed and one of the last four in, in his latest projection. But how will all that change, based on the ‘Canes last 4 games?!?! No need to wait for ESPN, Category 6 worked all night with our science and math departments to give you this breakdown:
Joe Lunardi has nothing on the Category 6 computer.
Scenario 1: Miami runs the table and finishes 11-5 in the ACC. Our computers returned a result on this scenario faster than a Devin Hester forty. 99.999% chance they get in with a seed anywhere from 7-9. Even a quick exit in the ACC tournament wouldn’t derail the ‘Canes. Only the miniscule chance that Nevin Shapiro is released from prison, and takes over the reigns as AD could leave UM out under this scenario.
Scenario 2: Miami finishes 10-6 in the ACC including a win over FSU. 98.7% chance of getting in, with only the highly unlikely circumstance they upset the committee and replace Jim Larranaga with Seth Greenberg as coach, causing their demise (sorry Virginia Tech). Likely a 9-10 seed, depending on if they do work in the ACC Tourney.
Scenario 3: Miami finishes 10-6 but loses to FSU. 93.3% chance of getting in. In this scenario UM only gets left behind if NC State defeats UNC Tuesday and beats everyone else on their schedule minus the Hurricanes. 10 seed or lower.
Scenario 4: Miami finishes 9-7 and beats FSU. 74.4% chance of getting in. Again the odds go up if NC State fails to beat UNC, as the Wolfpack and Miami appear to be in direct competition for a bid. A win over FSU gives the ‘Canes a huge edge as it would provide a 2nd win over an RPI top 50 (Duke of course being the first).11-13 seed.
Scenario 5: Miami finishes 9-7 and loses to FSU. 44.3% Here is where things get murky. If the ‘Canes split their final four and can not defeat the Seminoles, they are at the committee’s mercy. They can still improve their chances with a strong showing in the ACC Tourney, but this scenario defines “bubble”. 13 seed if they get in.
Scenario 6: Miami finishes 8-8 in the ACC, 21.2 %. Barring a big time run in Atlanta (ACC tournament championship appearance), the ‘Canes are headed to the NIT. Forget seeding, just lucky to be considered at this point.
Durand, we are just as confused as you when it comes to the science of selecting the field of 68.
Note: When we tried to enter data for the ‘Canes losing each of their 4 remaining games, the computer went into power save mode and displayed a screen saver of random fans throwing up a “U”. Our technical department is investigating this anomaly.
Keep an eye out for more from our science and math departments as we fill their glasses with Red Bull and keep them from the light of day.
Coming off two tough close losses to some of the ACC’s best, Miami’s MASH unit looked to get back in the win column. Despite taking a nasty tumble at the end of the UNC game and injuring his knee, Miami’s hard-nosed junior guard Durand Scott (18pts, 7reb, 3ast, 3stl) demonstrated Wolverine-like recuperative powers as he was all over the court and had plenty of lift when finishing at the rim.
Reggie Johnson (6pts, 8reb, 2ast, 1stl, 1blk) and Garrius Adams (6pts, 2reb, 1ast) – the other walking wounded for the ‘Canes – both contributed. Johnson struggled to get into rhythm the 1st half but was effective on the boards and served as a facilitator as the ‘Canes racked-up open trifecta attempts against the quickly-collapsing Wake zone. The action was the first for Adams since he suffered a torn meniscus several weeks ago. Having Adams back does a world for the ‘Canes versatility as Adams has a wide-range of skills – including hitting the 3.
Kenny Kadji (18pts, 5reb, 1blk) was a difficult match-up for Wake. The highly-skilled face-up PF demonstrated his entire arsenal. Rion Brown (11pts, 6reb, 3ast, 1stl) continued his high-flying antics and seems to improve every time out. Brown again had the play of the game in taking a perfectly thrown lob by Kadji that he caught way above the rim and put down over a Wake Forest defender. Category 6 spoke with Brown just yesterday. If you haven’t seen the clip, watch below. Warning – the audio was less than stellar so be sure to bring patient ears.
Rion Brown (15) goes way up to grab the Kadji lob and finishes with authority.
Malcolm Grant (9pts, 3reb, 6ast) hit some early 3′s and found his teammates with crisp passes. The trio of Trey McKinney Jones, Shane Larkin and DeQuan Jones didn’t score much, but their defense and patience offensively allowed the ‘Canes to find vulnerable chunks of the Wake zone to exploit.
The path the game took was very congruent to the preview Category 6′s own Jerry put together. Wake was able to hold it close by halftime but it was all UM in the 2nd frame. Wake Forest was hot in the 1st half, but their magic pixie dust ran out against a much bigger team in the Hurricanes. Miami smelled blood and nailed shot after shot, ultimately building an insurmountable lead.
Player of the Game: Durand Scott. It was a difficult choice between Scott and Kadji, but Scott was listed as “questionable” and seemed to shrug off an ugly looking knee injury in the waning moments of the UNC game to come back and decimate Wake Forest. Another thing . . . the term “warrior” in sports tends to get thrown around carelessly at times. Make no bones about it: Durand Scott is a “warrior”.
Durand Scott (1) helped the 'Canes trounce Wake Forest.
Offensive Player of the Game: We’ll go with Kadji here. Both Scott and Kadji finished with 18pts and were incredibly efficient.
Defensive Player of the Game: Team effort, but the nod goes to the omnipresent Scott.
Next Game: Wednesday, Feb. 21st @ Maryland. 8PM tip-off. In order for Miami to further their push for an NCAA bid, the ‘Canes will have to go into Maryland and defeat the Terps. These two teams met in Coral Gables earlier in the season and the ‘Canes won a thrilling 2OT contest. In that game the ‘Canes were without Kadji’s services. In this game K2 will be on the floor and will be a factor in the outcome.
The ‘Canes look to get back into their winning ways today against the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest in the friendly confines of the BUC at 1PM. With a win today the ‘Canes would move to 7-5 in the ACC Conference and keep themselves squarely in contention for a ticket to the Dance.
Yesterday, Category 6 had the opportunity to chat with sophomore guard Rion Brown. Listen carefully, Rion didn’t even pick up a basketball until 8th grade. When you watch his smooth shot that fact seems preposterous. If things had gone Rion’s way, he might be playing WR for the ‘Canes, but we’re happy to have him on the hardwood. Note: the audio in some sections is difficult to hear with some of the background noise.
Coach Larranaga was up next. As usual, Coach had a lot to say and is never at a loss for an interesting story or in providing a different way to look at a situation. Watch for the Larranaga – Jeremy Lin connection. Linsanity!
We missed Trey McKinney Jones on our visit, but we’ll try to catch up with him next time.
Good luck to the ‘Canes today. Support The U and get to the BUC!
