2011-12 Miami Hurricanes Basketball: A Roller Coaster Season and the Birth of Category 6.

Miami’s up and down season came to a thudding end last night with a disappointing loss to Minnesota in the second round of the NIT. But we would be remiss if we did not reflect on that was if nothing else an eventful year.

The 11-12 ‘Canes Hoops Timeline:

April 5, 2011: Frank Haith resigns after 7 mediocre seasons in Miami, One NCAA Tournament appearance, and 129-101 record. Little did we know at the time the Haith era was unfortunately, far from over.

April 23, 2011: In a surprise move Miami announces the hiring of former George Mason Coach Jim Larranaga. Many speculated UM would make a run at Kansas State’s Frank Martin. But the ‘Canes instead go with the 61-year-old Larranaga who brings an energetic approach and Final Four experience to Coral Gables.

May 5, 2011: Josh invents “Category 6″ a grassroots movement/blog site designed on building support for Miami’s traditionally under supported hoops team, as well as all things UM. ‘Canes hoops, the Blog world as we know it, and our lives (or lack there of) will never be the same.

July 1, 2011: C Reggie Johnson suffers a torn meniscus in a pickup game with teammates. Johnson who is perhaps Miami’s most important player, is expected to miss 5-6 months.

August 23, 2011: C/F Julian Gamble tears his ACL and is out for the year. With Johnson already down, Miami’s front court is suddenly extremely thin before a single game is played.

November 10, 2011: On the eve of the hoops season UM announces that F DeQuan Jones, their most athletic player, will sit out the entire season amidst allegations his family received $10,000 from Nevin Shapiro to commit to Miami.

The loss of DQJ hurt UM early.

December 17, 2011: Reggie Johnson returns to the line-up and UM beats FAU 93-90 in OT. Johnson goes for 15 points 9 rebounds 5 assists and 5 blocks in one of his two best performances of the year.

December 21st 2011: With the help of his attorney, DeQuan Jones is reinstated after missing 10 games. The Shapiro allegations as they pertain to DQJ seem to be completely debunked. Miami suddenly seems like a deep and dangerous squad.

December 22nd, 2011: In tragic news, Malcolm Grant’s 36-year-old brother Yatti, dies of a heart attack. Grant would miss the next 2 games and struggle though out the year. The tragedy reminds us all that there are more important things in life than basketball.

Malcolm Grant suffered through a very difficult year personally.

January 21, 2012: G/F Garrius Adams, who began the year as a starter has knee surgery and is expected to be out 4-6 weeks. Coach L also announced that freshman G Bishop Daniels is injured and will redshirt this season.

January 22, 2012: Miami loses to NC State 78-73 at home. UM shoots just 2-20 from downtown. After the game Coach L questions the teams intensity.

February 5, 2012: Miami extends its winning streak to 5 in a row with a shocker, defeating Duke 78-74 in OT on the road. Reggie Johnson is a man amongst boys with 27 points and 12 rebounds, and suddenly the ‘Canes are mentioned as an NCAA Tournament caliber team.

Reggie Johnson destroys Duke.

A Star is Born??? Over a 5 game stretch streak Kenny Kadji is unstoppable, averaging 17.5 ppg 8.1 rpg 2.0 blcks and knocks down 8-16 from long-range.

February 15, 2012: In one of the most outrageously one-sided officiated games you will ever see, Miami loses AT HOME to UNC 73-64. The ‘Canes build an early lead and play extremely well at times, but can not overcome a 23-8 FT advantage for the Heels. Miami now sits squarely on the NCAA bubble coming down the stretch.

February 21, 2012: Miami loses a heart breaker 75-70 at Maryland. UM controls the game through out but fails to execute down the stretch. Miami goes nearly 9 minutes with out a FG and gives up several huge offensive rebounds in the collapse. The ‘Canes NCAA hopes seem to be faded.

February 26, 2012: Just hours before a critical game against FSU, Miami announces that Reggie Johnson is ineligible due to travel benefits his family received from the previous coaching staff (Haith).

Reggie was forced to sit out against FSU.

Despite not having Johnson in the line-up Miami plays perhaps their best game of the season, annihilating FSU 78-62 behind a strong performance from Durand Scott. Miami’s NCAA hopes suddenly are revitalized.

Perhaps the highlight of UM's season.

February 29, 2012: Miami shoots itself in the foot by losing 77-73 to fellow bubble opponent NC State. Miami loses despite the reinstatement of Johnson earlier in the day.

March 9 2012: After defeating GT in the first round of the ACC Tournament, Miami is set to face FSU in the quarterfinals in their most important game of the season. Just hours before tip-off it is announced that Durand Scott is ineligible for receiving improper benefits from the previous coaching staff (Haith). In an atrociously officiated game, UM is defeated 82-71. Their bubble appears to have burst.

March 14, 2012: UM announces Scott will be reinstated after serving a 6 game suspension. Miami defeats Valpo 66-50 in the first round of the NIT.

March 19, 2012: The ‘Canes play perhaps their worst game of the season and lose at home to Minnesota in a near empty Bank United Center. The season, ends sadly.

Overall the season can not be judged as either a failure or a success. While the team did not accomplish its goals, it would be hard to argue that any team in America faced more distractions, adversity, or flat-out bad luck than Miami.

2011-12 Noteworthy:

Newcomers Shane Larkin, Trey McKinney-Jones, and Kenny Kadji all showed incredible promise.

Larkin, just a true freshman, saved his best for last. The son of hall-of-fame baseball player Barry Larkin, averaged 7.4 ppg 2.5 rpg 2.5 apg and 1.6 stls. Larkin may already be one of the quickest players in the country and played exceptionally well at the end of the season. If his floor game improves he could become a superstar.

Shame Larkin could be the key to UM's fate next season.

McKinney Jones averaged 7 ppg 3.5 rpg and shot 37.5 % from downtown. TMJ hit several clutch shots throughout the year and at times was Miami’s most consistent player.

TMJ had a solid first year at UM.

Kadji finished the year averaging 12.0 ppg 5.4 rpg 1.6 blcks, and shot 42.4% from downtown. At times K2 was the ‘Canes best player. At 6’11 he needs to improve on his rebounding. If he does not only will he be an ALL ACC player, he will find himself in the NBA.

While Rion Brown averaged only 6.9 ppg on the season, expect more from him next year. Brown averaged 14.7 ppg over the last 4 games of the season. Along with the prettiest stroke on the team, Brown showed off explosive athleticism in 11-12. Expect his star to rise with the graduation of Malcolm Grant opening up minutes next season.

What needs to happen next year for Miami to dance??

1) Reggie Johnson needs to return to the form that made him a star as a sophomore. Johnson really only played to his potential 2 or 3 times all season. The injury and conditioning clearly hurt Big Reg.

2) Kenny Kadji needs to get stronger. Kadji is an incredibly skilled big man. But the ‘Canes gave up far too many offensive rebounds this year. Kadji can really elevate his game to the next level by getting stronger and becoming a force on the glass next year.

Kenny Kadji is a force.

3) Shane Larkin takes over the team. Larkin’s talent, hustle, and skills are undeniable. If he takes the reigns and becomes the all world point guard he is capable of becoming, Miami is a very dangerous squad.

4) Durand Scott has a big senior season. Scott plays all out all the time. Scott was solid this year averaging 12.9 ppg 5.4 rpg and 3.1 apg. But I can’t help but feel Scott left some plays on the floor during crunch time.

5) Rion Brown becomes a consistent force. Nuff said. His ability is obvious.

Rion Brown could be huge next year.

With that being said an entertaining season is concluded with the hopes that next year promises to be just as exciting, more successful, and less eventful off the court.

A Hurricane hits the selection committee…sort of

(Editor’s Note: This article was written by Charlie Strauzer who repped the ‘Canes big-time in Atlanta. Thanks to CS from Category 6 and Miami fans everywhere for sharing his experience.)

After submitting a 30 second video on the March Madness page on Facebook for the Super 10 Fan Selection Committee contest in February and having my friends vote for me I found out on Feb 22 that I had been chosen as 1 of 10 fans who got the chance to go through the same selection process as the actual NCAA committee. I was flown to Atlanta this weekend and spent the entire time sequestered in the TBS studios complex in a conference room armed with a laptop and iPad.

Our goal was to literally pick the entire bracket from choosing at large teams to seeding to bracketing regions to help give the world a glimpse into the exhaustive and painstaking process that goes on behind the scenes. The NCAA has gone out its way this year to make sure it was more transparent give the “black box” mystery surrounding the process in the past and this was one more way of doing that.

We were helped by former UC-Riverside athletic director and former coach of San Jose St., Stan Morrison, who had just retired from the real selection committee this year after a 5 year stint. Coach Morrison brought tremendous insight into the process and was a terrific source of knowledge, stories and anecdotes.

The idea was the brainchild of Ronnie Ramos, Managing Director, Digital Communications for the NCAA and a graduate of the University of Miami. Oddly enough Ronnie was the Miami Herald sports reporter who was charged with following ‘Canes Basketball during my time as the student manager for the team and didn’t realize he was involved until after I had won the contest (small world).

As the weekend wore on we analyzed and deliberated each team under consideration for our at large 37 slots. We finally came to comparing Miami vs. Iona for last team in and ultimately the committee – with strong lobbying by myself that Miami’s two big wins over Duke at Duke and FSU and 54 strength of overall schedule were better than Iona’s overall win record and 44 non-conference SOS. It was a tight vote: 6 to 4, that got the Canes into the fan bracket as some felt that the Iona PG was one of the best in the league and the Gaels could do well in the dance.

Ultimately it was that 44 non-conferences SOS for IONA vs. Miami’s 117 rank that did our Canes in as explained by committee chair Jeff Hathaway. In addition Iona had 5 wins against the RPI top 100 vs. 3 for the Canes and had an 18 RPI and 9-3 record vs. non-conference opponents vs. the Canes at 69 and a 9-4 record OOC.

So how did we do overall vs. the real committee? We got 66 of 68 right, only Miami and Drexel were in the Fan bracket vs. the real one. As Stan Morrison said “outstanding, remarkable quite frankly.”

He was impressed by the homework, the diligence and the ability to understand the rules and to peel the onion and get down to what a team is really about and how conversant the committee was about the mid-majors.

Here are awesome clips of the Atlanta experience.

Coach Larranaga: Simply The Right Man For The Job

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?

Who Can? LarCan!!!

Miami fans have much to cheer about, even with the loss to FSU on Saturday. Not only are the ‘Canes currently above .500 in the ACC, but the schedule looks favorable from here on out. With 4 of the remaining 6 games at the BUC, Miami has a real shot to finish with 10 wins and earn a trip to the “Big Dance.”

While that would be truly great feat (especially considering its Coach L’s first season and the underwhelming start to the season), what Miami fans should really feel good about is the future of the program. Though not a forgone conclusion, K2 and Big Reg have additional eligibility, we have the right coach to lead this program (Kudos to AD Eichorst for getting him an extension), and Shane Larkin is only going to get better.

Since Shane was originally committed to DePaul University little attention was paid to him by Miami fans coming out of High School. Upon arrival on UM’s campus, not much was known about the 6’1” point guard other than his pro sports pedigree (his father, Barry Larkin was an elite baseball player.) So, before we move forward, let me go backwards.

Coming out of Dr. Phillips (“DP”) High School, in Orlando, Larkin, was a two-time Class 6A first-team all-state player, the second-leading scorer in DP history (with 1,633 career points) and he holds Panthers records for steals in a season (114) and career (320). As a senior, he led DP to a 27-6 record and state runner-up finish with team-high averages in scoring (18.8 points), assists (6.4), rebounds (6.3) and steals (3.5).

Shane was the #3 Recruit in Florida and #93 Nationally. He was the #2 Point guard in Florida (behind that Rivers guy at Duke) and was ranked as the #16 PG in the country.

Here is a video of Larkin vs. Rivers in High School.

At our first sighting (Midnight Miami), it was easy to see that inherited talent on display. His quick hands, lighting fast speed, and incredible poise (as a true freshman nonetheless) was something to behold.

Since being put into the starting line-up, the ‘Canes are an impressive 5-1, beating Duke and having only FSU’s loss as a blemish (we couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn, no thanks to FSU’s tough D). This is no mere coincidence; Larkin is as talented a pure point guard as they come and is the glue that keeps this team together on the court. And while just a newbie to UM, he has quickly risen up the ranks of my favorite all-time UM hoops players.

However, this Michelangelo is not yet complete. There are several things (though mostly minor) that need to be refined in order for Larkin to become an elite player. Under Coach Larranaga’s tutelage, Larkin has a real chance to become a truly special player.

Tonight will be a tough match-up and a good test for Larkin as the ‘Canes are going up against one of the premier teams in both the ACC and Country in No. 5 ranked UNC. With practically 4 starting caliber NBA players on their team, UNC will be hard to contain. However, after toppling Duke at Cameron (I’m still riding high on that one), I believe the Hurricanes have enough to win this game.

Good Luck to the ‘Canes tonight.

Category 6 Preview: Virginia Tech (13-10) at Miami (14-7)

(Editor’s note: Special thanks to Chicagomaroon of www.gobblercountry.com/ for working on this preview with us and providing advanced scouting on Virginia Tech)

Coming off of one of the most exhilarating victories in school history at Duke, The Miami Hurricanes return to action Thursday (9pm EST TBA/ESPN3) against struggling Virginia Tech at the BUC. Reggie Johnson out muscled the Blue Devils all day long on his way to a career high 27 points and 12 boards on Sunday. Fellow big man Kenny Kadji chipped in with 15 and 8, as Duke had no answers for the ‘Canes inside players. In the Hokies, UM will face a perimeter oriented team that is better than its 2-6 conference mark. Virginia Tech has lost 5 of its 6 ACC battles by 4 points or less. Much like last year’s UM team they have struggled to close out close games, but have been ultra competitive. If Miami hopes to avoid a letdown they will need to keep guards Erick Green (15.7 ppg) and Dorenzo Hudson (11.4 ppg) under control.

Reggie Johnson played with passion on Sunday against Duke.

Projected Starting Lineups:

Miami

C Reggie Johnson 6’10 300 JR

F Kenny Kadji 6’11 260 SO

G Shane Larkin 5’11 160 FR

G Malcolm Grant 6’1 188 SR

G Durand Scott 6’4 198 JR

Virginia Tech

F Victor Davila 6’8 245 SR

F Dorian Finney-Smith 6’8 192 FR

F Jarell Eddie 6’7 209 SO

G Marquis Rankin 6’1 165 FR

G Erick Green 6’4 185 JR

Keys to the Game: Do not bask in the glory of conquering Duke. Nothing will get you beaten quicker in this league then not showing up to play. Virginia Tech may be struggling but if Hudson and Green go off, it can be a long night for Miami. Additionally Finney-Smith is a big time talent who has had a rough freshman year. It would not be inconceivable for him to have a big game. Ever since the loss to NC State, Jim Larranaga has had the full attention of the team, so we do not expect a letdown, but anything is possible on any given night in the ACC.

Keep getting the ball inside. The Hokies would like nothing more then to watch UM launch a series of ill-advised threes. And while the ‘Canes are capable of shooting the ball well, the most efficient way for them to win is via Kadji and Johnson. Like most of the conference, the Hokies do not have the size or skill upfront to match-up with the ‘Canes big men.

Trying to guard Big Reg can be a hazardous chore.

Best Match-up: Victor Davila VS Reggie Johnson. Big Reg has a definite size advantage here, but the 6’8 245 Davila too likes to bang inside. With Va Tech loaded with small forward types, it would appear as if he will draw the unenviable assignment of checking big # 42. We wish him luck.

Va Tech's Victor Davila finishes with power.

Prediction: When the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” US Olympic Hockey team defeated the Russians they had one game left for the gold. In that game they fell behind early 2-0 to Finland before fiery Coach Herb Brooks fired them up by saying “ if you [mess] up here, it will be with you for the rest of your life.”

Well for the sake of Miami Men’s basketball Virginia Tech is Finland. Like the Americans in Lake Placid, Miami will follow-up their biggest win ever with another win. The prize may not be a gold medal, but it will take them one step closer to the NCAA Tournament. The ‘Canes roll 74-68.

Here is our full Q&A with Chicagomaroon of Gobbler Country:

C6: Virginia Tech is similar to the Miami team of last year in that they’ve lost a lot of close games. What are the reasons that VT hasn’t been able to close out some of those games? Do you think VT is improving?

GC: Looking back at the 2010-11 Miami team, I realized there were a LOT of similarities. In fact at this point of the season their records are almost identical. Both teams were shown some love in the pre-season (I know Miami was picked 8th, but analysts from around the country mentioned them as a sleeper team), especially considering the ‘Canes finished 12th in 2009-10 and the Hokies lost their top-3 players from 2010-11. I equate that to getting love a year too early. The ‘Canes played their way into that recognition with their performance at the 2010 ACC Tournament and the Hokies got it because of their 2011 recruiting class. Now look at the ‘Canes THIS year. That’s where the Hokies want to be next year.

However, back to this year: There are several reasons they are losing the close games. They don’t take care of the ball throughout the game. They don’t box out on the defensive end. They are too reliant on the 3-point shot (often bad ones). They don’t have any flow on offense and they seem to be running isolation instead of sets. These are all things that can be attributed to why Tech has struggled to win close games. But the thing I think is reason numero uno is the holes they put themselves into early in games. We’ve only held leads at half in three games in 2012. We have started the game off slow in almost every game in recent memory except against Clemson. For instance we started 0-17 against BYU at home (not kidding). When you have that big of a hole to climb out of it’s hard to win against anyone. While I think the Hokies are improving, it’s hard to tell. Every time you think they turn the corner they revert to their old habits and do something that calls that into doubt. So I really don’t have a definite answer on that one yet. Get back to me in a few games.

C6:We know that Dorenzo Hudson and Erick Green can score in bunches, what other players should ‘Canes fans worry about and who has been disappointing this year?

GC: Two players the ‘Canes should be worried about are Jarell Eddie and Victor Davila. Eddie is among the leaders in the ACC in 3-point percentage. He can be invisible at times, but when he is getting shots he can get all kinds of en fuego. That said, his shot selection is an issue and he can also be the guy who goes 0-5 from deep (I think he had that line against Duke). As for Davila, I’m going to go ahead and tell you he’s the answer to both parts of this question. He has been a bit of a disappointment this year because as our most senior post player, we thought he would be a HUGE impact player on this team. However, he has once again been just a role player. His average isn’t really up and his rebounding is down despite being the only true post player on the floor when he’s out there. BUT, to his defense, he NEVER gets fed in the post. He’s only a back-to-the-basket type of player. He has no mid-range game. So if you don’t give him touches, he’s not going to get any points. The games in which he’s done well (BC, Maryland, Duke) he’s gotten touches. But in the games this year where he does not have 5 shot attempts, he hasn’t scored in double figures. He’s incredibly efficient down low with his hook shot, so if he’s on Tech should feed him.

C6: You mentioned that VT is weak inside. With Miami’s strength being inside play in mammoth-center Reggie Johnson and do-it-all PF Kenny Kadji, how do you see VT’s front court matching-up?

GC: This may come back to bite me but I think Tech may have the most success defending Kadji of any of the ACC schools. Tech employs two tweeners (oh who am I kidding? They’re 3′s not 4′s) at the PF position in Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarell Eddie. While they will bring Cadarian Raines and Barksdale off the bench, Raines is almost exclusively a center and Barksdale doesn’t average much more than 10 mins a game. So unless Kadji decides to go to the low block all game then he won’t be taking advantage of his biggest asset against Tech: his size. If I were Larranaga I would demand both players to post on every possession. If Kadji goes to the perimeter, he may find getting good shots a bit more difficult. As for Johnson, he’s going to get his against the Hokies and I’m really worried. I love his game.

C6:What do you think Miami has to do to make the NCAA tournament? Also, what are your expectations going forward for the Hokies? Many fans, including ‘Canes fans think that VT got jobbed by the NCAA selection committee over the last 3-4 years. One year when VT was 11-5 in the ACC and didn’t make it was particularly horrific. As a VT fan, how do you deal with such disappointment based on factors outside of actual basketball? Do you think Miami is headed for a similar Titanic-like disaster come Selection Sunday?

GC: I think the ‘Canes are looking good right now, but as you mentioned cracking the Selection Committee’s formula for the last few years has been difficult. I DO think the ‘Canes need 10 wins in conference. I could see them getting in with 9 if one of those wins was over UNC, but that would also probably require getting to the ACC semi’s. The RPI is good, but a lot of things can happen still. If the ‘Canes win 11 they should be feeling pretty good, but as you mentioned, Tech was 23-7 (10-6) in 2009-10 entering the ACC tournament and got left at the altar, so that tells you how they feel about the ACC. As for the continual letdowns of the NCAA Selection Committee I try not to worry about it too much. I actually laughed with my friends a year ago as we watched the show because we knew it was going to happen. What else can you do? We were a sure-fire tournament team in 2007-08 and 2009-10 and a fringe team in 08-09 and last year. I can accept that we weren’t tournament worthy a year ago, but I can’t stomach an argument for UAB or VCU’s inclusion a year ago (even with VCU’s run, the selection process is supposed to be what qualifies you to be there, not what you CAN do if you’re admitted and everyone doubts you) OVER the Hokies. As long as the majority of people know what the truth is and the media clamors for Selection Committee reform and rips them for not including teams that deserve to go I can’t ask for much more. In one way, experiencing those letdowns on multiple occasions makes it a little easier to cope with, but that pill is bitter no matter how many times you have to swallow it. I’m hoping you guys never have to go through that.

Prediction: 75-66 Miami

Thanks again to Chicagomaroon with Gobbler Country, Please check out our answers to his questions here:

http://www.gobblercountry.com/2012/2/6/2775811/virginia-tech-hokies-miami-hurricanes-basketball#storyjump

Go ‘Canes!

ACC Basketball: State of the ‘Canes Hoops

Before we go forward it is sometimes necessary to take a quick glance back. You know, like when you’re struggling to get over to the left lane on the 836 to head north on 95 (or whatever dreadful highway is in the city you reside) and you’ve got to look or it could be smash-up city. Before Johnson’s injury healed, before the suspension was revoked, and before anyone knew anything tangible about Kenny Kadji, Shane Larkin and Trey McKinney Jones, Category 6 was sticking its neck out and made some bold predictions. Let’s see how some of them stack up as we are now halfway through the ACC basketball slate. Miami sits at 14-7 (5-3).

“I expect Miami to lose a few of the early season out of conference games, but finish strong. 20-9 overall and 10-6 & third place in the ACC seems very reasonable with this squad. From there I’d expect about a #5 seed in the NCAA tournament and a sweet 16 run, maybe more if this team clicks.” – Jerry, Nov. 2^nd, 2011.

With Julian Gamble out for the season and until Big Reg gets back, Kadji is the man down low. Kadji sees himself as a Lamar Odom type with versatility to do it all. But early on the Canes need him to do the dirty work, set good screens, rebound, and block shots. Kadji may end up being one of the most talented guys on the roster, but with UM short handed up front, they need him to maximize all of his 6’11 frame. - Jerry, Nov. 2nd, 2012

Pretty spot on so far. It seems we’ve entered the domain of the “clicking point”. Miami has won 4 of its last 5 games and is on an absolute tear. After downing Duke at Cameron, Miami is poised to make some more noise as ACC play continues. Right now Miami is sitting pretty at 14-7 (5-3) with 8 games left. Kadji has been a revelation on both ends of the floor and as one of the emotional leaders on the ‘Canes.

Miami Hurricanes Rankings:

AP Poll

RPI

#37

SOS

#33

SOS Projected

#34

The chart above references RPI and SOS. The closer to #1 the better for a ticket to the dance.

RPI: The RPI (Rating Percentage Index) is a measure of strength of schedule and how a team does against that schedule. Created in 1981, the RPI is a tool used in selecting and seeding the 68 teams for the NCAA Men’s basketball Division I tournament. RPI data includes games against Division I schools only.

SOS: The SOS (Strength of Schedule) is similar to the RPI. The numbers are consistent from each computer model.

ACC standings/Season Miami Hurricanes splits:

	Team	W-L	Conf	Split	W-L	Pct
1	North Carolina	20-3	7-1	Home	9-2	0.818
1	Florida State	16-6	7-1	Away	4-5	0.444
3	Duke	19-4	6-2	Neutral	1-0	1.0
4	NC State	17-7	6-3	Conference	5-3	0.625
5	Virginia	18-4	5-3	Conf Home	2-1	0.667
5	Miami (FL)	14-7	5-3	Conf Away	3-2	0.6
7	Maryland	13-9	3-5	Conf Neutral	0-0	-
7	Clemson	11-11	3-5	Top 25	1-2	0.333
9	Virginia Tech	13-10	2-6	RPI 1-50	1-4	0.2
10	Wake Forest	11-12	2-7	RPI 51-100	2-3	0.4
10	Georgia Tech	9-14	2-7	RPI 101-150	3-0	1.0
10	Boston College	7-16	2-7	RPI 151-200	4-0	1.0
				RPI 200+	4-0	1.0

Tennessee Tech 16-9 (8-4), 2^nd place in the Ohio Valley Conference: Miami took the home opener with a 69-58 win over Tech. Trey McKinney Jones and Erik Swoope asserted themselves on both ends of the floor to give the undermanned ‘Canes their first victory of the season. 1-0

Rutgers 12-12 (4-7), 10^th place in the Big East Conference: At the time the 72-57 win looked more impressive statistically. Rutgers had been playing well while missing big-time freshman Kadeem Jack. Shane Larkin played in his first game and Kadji had his first solid game for the ‘Canes. K2 was 0-1 from 3-point range in that contest. I’m sure the sight of the ‘Canes only big man launching a three caused some worry for ‘Canes fans early . . . but we now know that Kadji has a great stroke from beyond the arc. Note: he was 4-5 from long-range against Duke. 2-0

North Florida 12-13 (6-6), 6^th place in the Atlantic Sun Conference: Miami’s 75-62 drubbing of the Ospreys looked more lopsided on paper than it actually was. The ‘Canes struggled in this game and let a huge 18-point 2^nd half lead dwindle to 6 before finally putting North Florida away. At this point the mantra was that the team would be different when Reggie Johnson returned from injury. At this point it was certain DeQuan Jones would miss the entire season. Now both points seem moot. 3-0

Florida Gulf Coast 12-11 (7-5), 4^th place in the Atlantic Sun Conference: Miami struggled with another inferior team. Still, the 60-50 win was the team’s 4^th in a row. Malcolm Grant was money from the line and his ability to get to the line late sealed the win for the ‘Canes. 4-0

@Mississippi 14-8 (4-4), 5^th place in the SEC: Miami lost this one 61-64 in overtime. Malcolm Grant had another big game and tried to keep the ‘Canes in it, but eventually the Hurricanes fell. Trey McKinney Jones also came up big. This is one of those games you look at now and can’t help but think the full complement of ‘Canes would have pulled out the win. The Category 6 mantra was to wait until Reggie Johnson was back before passing judgment on the team. 4-1

@Purdue (15-8) 5-5, 5^th place in the Big Ten: This is another game where Big Reggie could have made a big difference as Miami was brutalized inside by Purdue and fell 65-76. Kenny Kadji only played 2 ineffective minutes before Coach Larranaga pulled him from the game and he didn’t return. The reason I bring this up is that it seemed to be a turning point for Kadji who is playing like one of the best big men in the ACC – if not the country. One of the best things about this game for Category 6 was working with T-Mill over at www.hammerandrails.com. He’s a Boilermaker married to a ‘Cane, so he’s a ‘Cane fan as long as they’re not playing Purdue. 4-2

UMASS 17-6 (6-3), 2^nd place in the Atlantic 10: As it stands, the thrilling 83-75 win over UMASS served two purposes: 1) it remains Miami’s strongest out of conference win of the season; 2) it was the game where we saw a nice glimpse of the player Kenny Kadji was going to become over the next several weeks. Kadji had a massive block on one end that buried any hopes of a UMASS comeback and then K2 dunked on the other end with authority. 5-2

Memphis 16-7 (6-2), 3^rd place in Conference USA: This game was an unmitigated disaster as the ‘Canes were thumped 71-54. It reminded me of watching clips of the NBA jam video game. Will Barton put on a dunking clinic the way Oscar De La Hoya believed he put on a boxing clinic against Felix Trinidad all those years back. Again, we try to have fun with the losses, so check out the recap here 5-3

@West Virginia 16-8 (6-5), 8^th place in the Big East: This game fell apart in a hurry as the ‘Canes were “trucked” by Darryl Bryant in a 66-77 loss. ‘Canes fans were concerned about Coach Larranaga’s inaugural season turning into a montage of terrible and crawly nightmares. The post-game recap was really funny; read it here 5-4

Florida Atlantic 9-14 (5-5), 2^nd place in the Sun Belt Conference –East: This game marked the real “beginning” of the season as the ‘Canes took it 93-90 in OT. Miami had been beaten-up inside in all their losses but had reason to celebrate: Reggie Johnson was back from injury and played a strong 36 minutes. His return sparked the ‘Canes as the inside/outside game went into high gear. Kadji’s 21pts started a string of incredible games that is still rolling along. 6-4

Charlotte 11-11 (3-6), 10^th place in the Atlantic 10: Miami downed Charlotte 76-61 and continued to shoot the ball well with Johnson back in the lineup and his return also seemed to open things up for Kadji who finished with 18pts, 10reb, and 2blks. 7-4

Appalachian State 9-13 (5-7), 4^th place in the Southern Conference – North: Miami clobbered Appalachian State 84-54. It was the basketball equivalent of the worst, most horrifying scenes from the movie Deliverance. 8-4

UNCG 9-15 (7-5), 2^nd place in the Southern Conference – North: In a tough, high-scoring game Miami prevailed 99-89. Kadji went ballistic with 30pts, 12reb, and 2blks and it was enough to help counter the ridiculous effort by UNCG’s Trevis Simpson. 9-4

@Virginia 18-4 (5-3), 5^th place in the ACC: Miami lost a close one 51-52 and had a chance to win the game on the last possession of the contest. This was a devastating loss at the time because Miami was a more talented team. Still, Mike Scott was quite a beast and will be playing in the NBA next season. 9-5

@North Carolina 20-3 (7-1), 1^st place in the ACC: Miami was pummeled 56-73 by the Tar Heels. The ‘Canes were demolished on the boards. Category 6 snuck into the ACC Headquarters on a covert operation and burned the master copies of the game film. 9-6

Clemson 11-11 (3-5), 7^th place in the ACC: Miami downed Clemson 76-73 to secure their first ACC win of the season. The ‘Canes won a close one in one of the worst officiated games of all time. The recap is good for a laugh if you haven’t read it. Check it out here. 10-6

N.C. State 17-7 (6-3), 4^th place in the ACC: Miami shot 2-20 from beyond the arc in a 73-78 loss to N.C. State. This game may have been a turning point in the season. Coach Larranaga took off the kid’s gloves in the press conference and the team has rallied since. 10-7

@Georgia Tech 9-14 (2-7), 10^th place in the ACC: Miami steamrolled Georgia Tech 64-49. Kadji and Grant went nuts pacing the ‘Canes to . . . gasp . . . an easy road win in the ACC! 11-7

@ Boston College 7-16 (2-7), 10^th place in the ACC: Miami relied on a 2^nd half run to obliterate Boston College 74-54. 2^nd ACC road win in a row. 12-7

Maryland 13-9 (3-5), 7^th place in the ACC: Miami needed double OT to de-shell the Terps 90-86. In what one of the announcers called “one of the most exciting games in ACC history” Miami was without Kadji, who had sustained a concussion during practice earlier in the week. The game was filled with ups-and-downs and a ridiculous amount of foul disqualifications, technical fouls, and the ejection of Maryland’s coach. DeQuan Jones played center for the end of the 2^nd half and both overtimes. 13-7

@Duke 19-4 (6-2), 3^rd place in the ACC: Miami had its first signature win of the season – and one of the greatest wins in program history – by extinguishing the Blue Devils 78-74 in OT. It was a game that aged ‘Canes fans several years due to pure emotional force unraveling the telomeres that act as governors of the aging process. Sorry to wax scientific here; the game was metaphysical for the ‘Canes fam. 14-7

Game Statistics
Player	GP	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TPG	FG%	FT%	3P%
Durand Scott	21	34.9	13.1	5.0	3.5	1.0	0.2	1.8	.433	.809	.310
Malcolm Grant	19	31.9	12.7	2.5	1.8	0.8	0.0	1.6	.350	.763	.326
Kenny Kadji	20	27.0	12.6	5.8	0.7	0.6	1.8	1.8	.553	.635	.486
Reggie Johnson	12	27.3	11.8	7.0	1.4	0.8	1.2	1.6	.520	.708	.500
Shane Larkin	20	25.2	7.3	2.6	2.6	1.9	0.1	2.2	.374	.923	.371
Trey McKinney Jones	21	25.3	7.0	4.0	1.7	0.7	0.1	1.4	.438	.850	.343
DeQuan Jones	11	16.7	6.6	4.0	0.2	0.5	0.3	0.9	.509	.577	.400
Garrius Adams	10	21.3	5.7	3.3	1.1	0.8	0.1	1.2	.400	.563	.387
Rion Brown	19	17.3	5.5	2.0	0.5	0.4	0.1	0.8	.388	.786	.400
Erik Swoope	17	15.1	3.1	2.2	0.4	0.5	0.6	0.4	.512	.500	.000
Raphael Akpejiori	14	8.8	2.4	1.8	0.1	0.1	0.6	0.4	.545	.588	.000
Ryan Quigtar	4	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	.000	.000	.000
Justin Heller	3	0.7	0.0	0.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	.000	.000	.000
Totals	21	–	72	35	12	7	4	12	.441	.730	.359

So Here We Are:

Cardiac ‘Canes down Maryland in double OT thriller

The Cardiac ‘Canes compounded the day’s good football fortune into more momentum for the basketball team with a thrilling, gut-wrenching, and heart-palpitating 90-86 double OT win over the Maryland Terrapins. The emotion in the BUC was palpable as the ‘Canes rode a rollercoaster to a safe finish. The ride was brutally intense and there were dozens of moments where the game seemed to turn. The video below says it all. Watch it through!

Kenny Kadji was unavailable due to a concussion sustained during practice earlier this week. Word is that he will be ready for Saturday’s showdown at Cameron. Kadji has been the ‘Canes most dynamic player this season and his absence would require other ‘Canes to step up – and as Charlie Strauzer says – PLAY ANGRY.

Looking at stats is a usually a good way to judge performance. Durand Scott (24pts, 8reb, 7ast, 1blk) went ballistic and capped off his second straight outstanding effort. Scott was fearless attacking the boards, finding teammates, and drilling shots. After out-muscling the Maryland bigs on the offensive glass, Scott snatched the rebound and scored. On the way down the court he flexed his arms and signaled that he was prepared to carry the ‘Canes. This was true . . . until 2/3rds of the same officiating crew that brought you the Clemson insanity whistled him for a phantom foul early in the 1^st overtime, ending his night. You can read about 2/3rds of this crew here.

After Scott headed to the pine for good, the Terps took the momentum and grabbed the lead. At this point the ‘Canes seemed disjointed on offense. Reggie Johnson (13pts, 5reb, 1ast, 1stl, 1blk) and Rafael Akpejiori (4pts, 1reb) were already long fouled-out. The game . . . and possibly the season felt as though it was slipping away. Blowing a 16 point lead at home and not winning the game would have been devastating.

The right side of the 'Canes bench was getting pretty heavy . . .

Miami was on the ropes and Trey McKinney Jones (13pts, 5reb, 2ast) found himself with the ball way beyond the 3-point line. The shot clock was trickling away like so much sand falling through an hourglass. McKinney Jones squared up with the basket and launched a LONG three that found the bottom of the cup and helped the ‘Canes get into the 2^nd OT.

With 19 seconds left in double OT the 'Canes needed to close out the game.

Sometimes stats don’t tell the whole story. DeQuan Jones (5pts, 4reb, 2stl, 1blk) was 1-7 from the floor. But what the numbers don’t reveal is that he was called on to play center for the latter part of the 2^nd half and both overtimes. Jones did an admirable job against 7’1 C Alex Len (11pts, 7reb, 4blk) and Maryland’s other big men.

Shane Larkin (12pts, 7reb, 2ast, 3stl, 1blk) was his usual thieving self. His quick Floyd Mayweather-like hands created fast break opportunities and frustrated Terrapin ball-handlers. Larkin struggled from the field and committed some costly turnovers, but played excellent defense and came up huge at the end of the game. I said it since the first time I saw Larkin play. Watch this kid. He’s got HUGE upside and it’s going to be fun watching him refine his game under Coach Larranaga. Sure, in basketball you can’t teach height . . . you can’t teach quickness and agility either.

Malcolm Grant (14pts, 6reb, 3ast, 2stl) had an up-and-down game. He struggled from the field but contributed on the boards and along with Miami’s other guards, actually played Terrell Stoglin (33pts, 3reb, 1ast, 1stl) pretty tough. Sure, Stoglin burned the ‘Canes for 33pts, but he also needed 26 shots to get there. Stoglin was 6-20 from beyond the arc and converted all 9 of his free throws.

Offensive Player of the Game: Durand Scott. Scott has had many excellent games in his ‘Canes career, but this one might have been his finest or at least in the top 5.

Defensive Player of the Game: Team award. Stoglin’s arms must be tired after so many shot attempts. He missed a ton and a lot of it was good defense. Larkin clearly frustrated anyone he was guarding.

Player of the Game: Durand Scott was a total beast.

The Good: A lot of assists. A lot of effort. A lot of heart. 4-3 in the ACC. Momentum building going against Duke this Sunday.

The Bad: Not bad. Not bad at all.

The Ugly: The variety of technical fouls and other nonsense. Two of the Three Stooges refs, Brian Dorsey and Mike Eades were joined by a new stooge: James Luckie. The refs blew calls for both teams. Sure, I’m probably a bit biased (as a Maryland die-hard would be) but I felt Miami gets almost no calls when ‘Canes players drive to the hoop. Maryland was 26-35 from the line and Miami was 20-27. Scott drove to the hoop all night and only shot 2 FTs.

Next Game: The ‘Canes face a difficult test on the road @ Duke this Sunday at 3pm. Glad it won’t overlap the Super Bowl!

Maryland Terrapins
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
Ashton Pankey, F	22	1-5	0-0	0-1	4	7	0	0	0	1	3	2
James Padgett, F	22	4-6	0-0	1-2	1	5	0	1	0	2	0	9
Nick Faust, G	24	3-7	0-1	3-4	2	4	0	3	0	3	5	9
Terrell Stoglin, G	44	9-26	6-20	9-9	0	3	1	1	0	3	3	33
Sean Mosley, G	44	1-7	0-3	5-6	0	9	1	1	0	2	5	7
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
Berend Weijs, C	4	1-1	0-0	1-2	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	3
Mychal Parker, F	15	2-3	0-0	2-4	1	1	1	0	0	2	1	6
Pe’Shon Howard, G	43	2-6	0-4	2-3	0	3	8	2	0	5	3	6
Jonathan Thomas, G	1	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Alex Len, C	31	4-6	0-0	3-4	2	7	0	0	4	1	2	11
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
		27-67	6-28	26-35	11	40	11	8	5	19	22	86
		40.3%	21.4%	74.3%

Miami (FL) Hurricanes
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
DeQuan Jones, G-F	31	1-7	0-1	3-6	2	4	1	2	1	1	3	5
Reggie Johnson, C	25	6-13	1-1	0-0	2	5	1	1	1	3	5	13
Shane Larkin, G	41	3-11	0-2	6-6	2	7	2	3	1	2	1	12
Durand Scott, G	40	11-14	1-3	1-2	2	8	7	0	1	2	5	24
Malcolm Grant, G	39	3-13	3-12	5-6	0	6	3	2	0	4	1	14
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
Trey McKinney Jones, G	38	4-7	2-5	3-4	1	5	2	0	0	1	0	13
Raphael Akpejiori, F	10	2-2	0-0	0-1	1	1	0	0	0	0	5	4
Ryan Quigtar, G	1	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Rion Brown, G	20	1-4	1-3	2-2	1	3	1	0	0	1	1	5
Erik Swoope, F	5	0-2	0-1	0-0	1	2	0	0	0	0	2	0
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
		31-73	8-28	20-27	12	41	17	8	4	14	23	90
		42.5%	28.6%	74.1%

Technicals: 4 MIAMIFL ( – Team 1, R Johnson 1 ) MARYLAND ( – Team 1, B Weijs 1 )
Officials: Mike Eades, Brian Dorsey, James Luckie
Attendance: 4,611

CATEGORY 6

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