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.

Category 6 breaks down UM’s chances at Madness.

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.

Go Canes!!

Category 6 ACC Preview: Wake Forest (12-14) at Miami (15-9)

(Editor’s note: Special thanks to Martin Rickman with http://www.bloggersodear.com/ for working on this preview and advanced scouting on Wake Forest)

Miami returns to action Saturday (1PM EST Raycom) with a visit from the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The ‘Canes hope to return to their winning ways, following a 73-64 loss to North Carolina, in one of the most physical contests of the season. Wake Forest looks to build on a 59-50 win over Georgia Tech that snapped a six game ACC losing streak. With just 5 games remaining before the ACC tournament this is a game that is critical for Miami’s NCAA Tournament hopes. The Hurricanes will have to contain Travis McKie and CJ Harris, who combined account for nearly half of their team’s scoring.

Rion Brown's production could be key down the stretch.

Projected Starting Lineups:

Miami

C Reggie Johnson 6’10 290 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

Wake Forest

F Nikita Mescheriakov 6’8 200 SR

F Travis McKie 6’7 210 SO

G Tony Chennault 6’2 195 SO

G Chase Fischer 6’3 180 FR

G C.J. Harris 6’3 190 JR

Keys to the Game: Recover mentally, physically. The UNC game was brutal on multiple fronts. Durand Scott landed awkwardly with under a minute to go, and limped off the court. Reggie Johnson was bent up like a 290 pound pretzel on multiple occasions. Kenny Kadji probably made sure his wallet wasn’t missing following the muggings he took (not to mention an elbow to the face). Additionally the ‘Canes will have to overcome the disappointment of losing a home game in front of a packed house, in which none of the breaks went their way. Jim Larranaga’s motivational skills will be tested if UM is to avoid coming out flat.

Durand Scott fell awkwardly following this drive to the hoop.

Stay Intense for 40 minutes. In many of Wake’s losses, one big run has undone them. If Miami senses even the slightest let up, they need to capitalize. Trey McKinney-Jones needs to continue his hot shooting and Malcolm Grant needs to rediscover his for this to happen.

Best Match-up: Trey McKinney Jones/Rion Brown VS Travis McKie. McKie is a talented wing who has played well in all facets, despite Wake’s struggles. His consistent production (16.0 ppg 7.3 rpg) will be tough to stop. McKinney Jones played very well against UNC, and his offensive production will be needed down the stretch. Brown is a lock down defender and spot up shooter who has surprised of late with his explosive ability to play above the rim. If the combination of McKinney Jones and Brown can outplay McKie, Miami should win easily.

TMJ played strong against UNC.

Prediction: Wake Forest keeps it close early behind McKie and Harris, while Miami fights through the hangover of the UNC loss. Behind the spirited play of Kadji, McKinney Jones, and Brown UM will surge and make a big second half run. UM fans everywhere exhale, Canes cruise 70-54.

Here is our full Q&A with http://www.bloggersodear.com/

Please check out their site full our answers to their Q&A.

C6: If you could pick an all time Wake Forest team, who would be the starters? Who would be the go to player? Who would be the team captain?

BSD: Oh wow, you’re hitting me hard with this one. For an-all Wake team, let’s go with this:

PG: Chris Paul, SG: Randolph Childress, SF: Josh Howard, PF: Dickie Hemric, C: Tim Duncan

That team is almost unstoppable. Team captain is Paul/Duncan. They’ll split. CP3 will be the vocal leader and Duncan will lead on the court. Chill is the go-to player. Paul can drive and dish to him for open looks, while the offense can run through Duncan to get J-Ho on curls and get Dickie some nice midrange jumpers. Man, that team would be fun to watch.

C6: CJ Harris and Travis McKie are having very nice seasons. Has Wake Forest’s struggles simply been lack of support for their two stars?

BSD: It is partly that, and largely a lack of depth entirely. Outside of those two, Wake gets really nothing offensively out of the rest of the team. Freshman Chase Fischer has shown flashes at times, but if he goes cold, he tends to get down on himself a little bit. Tony Chennault gets into trouble by making bad decisions and driving too far in the lane with nowhere to go. Nikita Mescheriakov is a complete and unmitigated disaster with the basketball. Carson Desrosiers is playing out of position for the most part. Ty Walker is limited offensively. And…well, that’s about it.

C6: What are the strengths and weakness for the Demon Deacons this season? What does the future of the program look like? How do fans feel about Head Coach Jeff Bzdelik?

BSD: Wake is really good at free throws and pretty good at getting blocks on the defensive end. There are your strengths. Weaknesses are…well, everything else. C.J. Harris can hit open jumpers, Travis McKie is a talented all-around player and Ty Walker and Carson Desrosiers are good at altering shots around the rim defensively. Aside from that, the Deacs can’t rebound, can’t run an offense and can’t defend on the perimeter. The future is brighter though. Next year’s class features six players, all of whom have received some sort of positive publicity recently. Devin Thomas got a lot of tv time for his backboard-breaking dunk in the MidPenn tournament on Thursday night, Codi Miller-Mcintyre is a legit Top 100 player, Aaron Rountree is one of the best ambassadors for the Demon Deacons the team has seen in recent years and he hasn’t even stepped on the court, Arnaud Moto has a ton of athleticism and looks to be a lockdown defender already, while Tyler Cavanaugh and Andre Washington both offer some upside and depth for the team. With regards to Bzdelik, it’s hard to get into this in a short format. Fans are rightfully irked at the lack of improvement and the midseason slide. The team doesn’t seem to be getting better, it looks woefully bad running offensive sets and frequently players lose their assignments on the defensive end, and to add insult to injury, the coach is not endearing himself to anyone with his postgame comments of late. He was a questionable hire at best when he was brought in. Whether or not he can even bring the Deacs to even a .500 record and some semblance of respectability is still up for debate.

C6: Which players on Miami are match-up concerns for Wake? Who could potentially have a big game for Wake? What is your prediction for this Saturday’s game?

BSD: There are not very many matchup “problems” for the Hurricanes. The ‘Canes guards are far and above better than what Wake Forest has outside of C.J. Harris, and Miami has the size to bother Wake. Something clicked in Travis McKie against Georgia Tech in the second half, and I’d say he’s the biggest thing UM has to worry about as he can beat you from the perimeter and inside. I think this is a game that Miami should control from the get-go. Wake doesn’t play very well on the road, and gave really everything they had to win against GT in a game that set basketball back about two or three decades. I don’t see this one being close unless the ‘Canes come out flat. Let’s go with Miami 73, Wake 58.

C6: Which teams from the ACC do you see making the field of 68 in the NCAA Tournament?

BSD: I’ve been saying for awhile now that I think the ACC gets five in. Duke and UNC are locks. Florida State should be good to go (escaping Virginia Tech was a big deal though), and UVA will get in because the committee gives a lot of weight to injuries (and it’s clear the Cavaliers have been a different team since Sene got hurt). That leaves one more – and that will be between Miami and N.C. State. The Wolfpack missed a golden opportunity to get in with a bullet against Duke, and now I think whichever team finishes higher will get in, the other will be the one of the last four out.

Thanks again to Martin with http://www.bloggersodear.com/ for working with us on this preview.

Go ‘Canes!!!!!

Category6 Preview UMass (6-2) at Miami (4-2)

(Editor’s note: Special thanks to Joseph Roche and sonsofmass.blogspot.com for assisting in this preview and advanced scouting on UMass)

The Miami Hurricanes return to action on Saturday at the Bank United Center with a visit from the Massachusetts Minutemen (1pm EST on ESPNU). The Canes look to rebound from back to back losses against Mississippi and Purdue, while trying not to look ahead to huge upcoming battles against Memphis & West Virginia. In UMass Head Coach Derek Kellogg, Jim Larranaga will be facing a young coach he mentored on his staff at George Mason. Kellogg’s Minutemen like to push the pace, so the game should be fast and exciting. They also feature a deep bench and when on, typically score in the 80′s. UM’s defense, which has been a strength of the team so far, should face a pretty stiff challenge. In two games against the ACC this year UMass has had mixed results, destroying Boston College 82-46 before getting totally handcuffed against Florida State 73-53.

Projected Starting Lineups:

Miami

C Kenny Kadji               6’11 250 SO
F Erik Swoope              6’6 230 SO
G Garrius Adams          6’6 192 JR
G Durand Scott            6’4 198 JR
G Malcolm Grant          6’1 188  SN

UMass

C Sean Carter 6’9 225 SN

F Terrell Vinson 6’7 205 JR

F Javorn Farrell 6’5 180 JR

G Freddie Riley 6’5 175 JR

G Chaz Williams 5’9 175 SO

Key to the Game: Pace. Minutemen point guard Chaz Williams has been the key to their attack this season averaging 13.9 points and 6.6 assists this season. While UMass has received steady contributions from several players, no one else on the roster averages double figures. Among steadily improving freshman Shane Larkin and veterans Malcolm Grant and Durant Scott, the Cane guards will need to keep the 5’9 Brooklyn native under control. Larkin has been particularly pesky as a defender and is coming off a monster second half against Purdue. Look for him to come off the bench early and draw the assignment on Williams. If UMass turns the game into a track meet, Miami could be in for a long day. The ‘Canes will also need to take care of the ball, as the Minutemen rely on heavy pressing and trapping on defense. Miami has turned the ball over just 10.5 times per game this season.

Best Match-ups:Durand Scott/Malcolm Grant/Shane Larkin VS Chaz Williams/Freddie Riley. Once again the ‘Canes will face a team that leans on its’ backcourt heavily. For UMass Riley is a hot and cold scorer while Williams in the do it all little man. Scott has struggled at times this year, but his track record is better then the 12.5 points and 32.8% shooting he has averaged this year. Grant remains Miami’s best scorer, while Larkin is getting better every game and has been sensational of late. With UM now featuring a three-headed monster at guard and still short upfront, this is a match-up they’ll need to control to be successful on Saturday.

News/Notes: UM leads the all time series 2-0 with UM winning the last contest 77-76 in a thriller at the Mullins Center. Against Purdue, Jim Larranaga started 4 guards with forward Erik Swoope was the tallest starter on the floor at 6’6. It will be interesting to see if 6’11 Kenny Kadji gets back in the coaching staff’s good graces. UMass features great balance with 6 players averaging between 7 and 9 points per game.

Prediction: This game will really test Miami’s conditioning as UMass will push the pace early and often. But the ‘Canes calling card so far this season has been good solid defense, toughness, and effort so expect them to hang in. UM wing players Rion Brown and Garrius Adams have struggled shooting this year, but expect one if not both to break out and meet the challenge of UMass’s athletic and long roster. The Minutemen will come to play, but the Hurricanes will be too much at home. Miami 77 UMass 72.

Here is a full transcipt of our Q&A with Joseph Roche of sonsofmass.blogspot.com. Check out our Q&A with him here.

C6: What are the Minutemen’s strengths and weaknesses? Which players should Cane fans take note of?

JR: The biggest strength that this team has is that of the 10 guys who see regular playing time, 9 of them are all between 6’5 and 6’9 which makes them essentially interchangeable which allows Derek Kellogg to throw a ton of guys at you, while running an up-tempo offense and pressing the daylights out of you full court for the entire game. If you don’t have a solid ball handling point guard the UMass defense can be very difficult to deal with. Also they can be a great three point shooting team (just ask Utah) — but they’re streaky and when the 3′s aren’t falling this team can’t beat anyone. The biggest weakness they have, and something I think they share with Miami is they simply don’t have any dominant size, which kills them if the 3′s aren’t falling and they’re forced to slow down the pace and run a half court offense, they really struggle to get the ball into the paint.

The player to watch is Chaz Williams, the 5’9 (though he’s more like 5’6) point guard is the engine of the UMass offense. If he’s able to distribute the ball and score 12 – 16 points then UMass will be able to hang with Miami. The other guy to watch is Freddie Riley who is the best scorer on the team, and is capable of scoring a lot of points in a short amount of time, unfortunately he’s also capable of going ice cold so he drives UMass fans crazy.

C6: What is the overall shape of the UMass basketball program? How much interest do fans show in the team?

JR: The University essentially allowed the basketball program to die after the Calipari golden years, and the fall-out from Marcus Camby-gate with a string of terribly over-matched coaches who simply weren’t capable of recruiting top tier talent. That all changed when Travis Ford took over from Steve Lappas and the fans started to come back when the Minutemen made their run to the NIT finals. Since Ford has gone and Derek Kellogg has taken over the team has made a real effort to ingrain themselves in the local market, the last two years they simply weren’t that good and they ran a boring motion offense. This year they have turned some heads with their style of play but they have a LONG way to go before the people in this area are paying attention to the UMass basketball team the way they pay attention to the professional sports teams in the winter in these parts.

C6: Does UMass look like an NCAA team?

JR: Yes, FINALLY. Other than Chaz Williams, the UMass squad actually looks to be made up of athletes who actually look — athletic. I know that sounds strange but trust me this team used to be a mixed bag of 6’7 centers, 5’5 point guards and more 6’3 shooting guards than any team in the country. It has taken Derek Kellogg three years to finally bring in the type of player that he wants, the type of player that he had in Memphis, and while they’re not as talented as those teams, when you see UMass take the court you actually think you’re looking at a basketball squad, which is a nice change.

C6: Where do the Minutemen fall in the pecking order of Boston Sports fans?

JR: I’d say they’re somewhere above the Boston Cannons. In Boston the professional teams are the kings, there is no doubt. As far as college athletics go there isn’t much of a fan base. The BC football and basketball teams have small fanbases, and everyone knows the Harvard football team when they play Yale. UMass has a top of the line facility and is desperately trying to tap into the New England media market by joining the MAC in football, playing their games at Gillette Stadium and working to get the basketball team on more televised events (like the Battle 4 Atlantis). The team still has a long way to go and until they win some of these games against recognized conferences they’ll never gain a foothold in this area.

Thanks again to Joseph Roche and sonsofmass.blogspot.com.

GO CANES!

Category6 Recap: Purdue 76 Miami 65

Robbie Hummel lead the way with 17 points and Lewis Jackson added 15 as Purdue had all the answers for the ‘Canes in a 76-65 victory Tuesday night in West Lafayette. Shane Larkin was spectacular for Miami in the second half, scoring all 16 of his points including 4-4 from downtown, but Purdue answered everytime Miami rallied. Hummel hit the clutch jumpers while Jackson and reserve guards Terone Johnson (13 points 6-9 from the floor) & Anthony Johnson (8 points 4-7 from the floor) repeatedly took the ball to the rim. Malcolm Grant added 16 and Durand Scott 12 for UM.

Player of the Game: Shane Larkin. Larkin was locked and loaded last night. He nearly single handedly brought Miami back with slashing moves and dead eye shooting. No one player on Purdue stood out in what was a balanced attack. The combination of Johnson & Johnson surgically dismantled Miami’s defense in the second half though.

The Good: Miami never quits. Coach Jim Larranaga chose to start 6’5 Trey McKinney-Jones over 6’11 Kenny Kadji, making the ‘Canes ever smaller up front then usual. The strategy worked early as UM’s quickness seemed to bother Purdue. But eventually the Boilermakers took advantage of the undersized ‘Canes and built a 12 point half time lead. Miami fought back and cut the lead to 5 in the second half. Miami’s scrappy attitude will hopefully pay dividends in the long run. ESPN reported that Reggie Johnson could be back as soon as the second week in December.

The Bad: UM shot 8-28 from the floor in the first half. Purdue finished the game shooting 55% from the floor. UM once again took too many forced quick shots. Durand Scott made just 6-10 from the line.

The Ugly: Kenny Kadji played just 2 minutes. Miami sorely lacks inside presence on both ends of the court.

Offensive Player of the Game: Hummel. Miami contained the Purdue star pretty well most of the game, but some of his shots were indefensible.

Defensive Player of the Game: Kelsey Barlow (2 steals 1 block). No one really stood out on D for either team, but Barlow did a good job containing UM’s guards.

Offense: C- Until Miami can avoid the long scoring droughts that have plagued them in three consecutive games, they’ll have a tough time against better teams like Purdue. Garrius Adams and Rion Brown both strugged shooting (2-9 combined). The ‘Canes settle too often for long jumpers. Shane Larkin however continues to impress.

Defense: D The effort is there. But if Miami continues to play small they absolutely must keep thier guys in front of them.

What’s next: Miami returns to action Saturday at 1pm with a home game against UMass (5-2) . With Memphis and West Virginia looming on the horizon, this game could be critical.

Category 6 Breaks down the 2010-11 Miami Hurricanes

The Miami Hurricanes Basketball Program has long been overshadowed by the football squad. Dissapointing home crowds, some very tough losses, and just one NCAA appearance in seven years marked the Frank Haith era. Nonetheless Haith left UM when Missouri came calling, and the Canes caught perhaps the biggest break of the offseason. When Jim Larranaga was hired, this team took on a whole new feel. For the first time ever UM will have a coach with Final four experience. Haith did not leave the cupboard bare and Larranaga inherits an experienced squad. Injuries to big men Reggie Johnson and Julian Gamble provide an early challenge. Nonetheless if this team reaches its’ potential by season’s end I expect fans in South Florida to know more about basketball then the “Big Three”.

Projected Starting Lineup:

C – Kenny Kadji 6’11 255 Redshirt Sophmore *****
F – DeQuan Jones 6’7 218 Senior
F – Rion Brown 6’6 194 Sophmore
G – Malcolm Grant 6’2 188 Senior
G – Durant Scott 6’3 198 Junior

Key Reserves

G/F Garrius Adams       6’6 193 Junior
C   Raphael Akpejori    6’10 230 Sophmore
G   Trey McKinney-Jones 6’5 216 Junior
G   Shane Larkin        5’11 160 Sophmore
F   Erik Swoope         6’6 230 Sophmore
G   Bishop Daniels      6’3 180 Freshman
**** C Reggie Johnson 6’10 300 Junior (injured)

Star Watch:

There were times last year when Malcolm Grant was the best player on the floor for either team. Grant brings swagger & McClinton-esque range on threes to every game. I’d be very surprised if he isn’t a first team all ACC pick at the end of the year. In addition to improving on last season’s 15 plus points a game and maintaining 42 percent on three pointers, the 6’2 combo guard needs to be the leader of this team in his senior year, and take better care of the ball. But watch any team that makes a deep run in the NCAA’s and they have a guy like Grant, who is deadly from the line and has a penchant for making big shots in crunch time.

If Reggie Johnson comes back healthy and regains his form quickly, he deserves mention here as well. Reggie is already the best offensive rebounder in the ACC. at 6’10 300 pounds, Reggie has the size few in the country can match. Reggie has NBA hands and touch as well. The only question about the big guy is how well he heals and how his conditioning holds up when he gets back in January.

Break out player:

While DeQuan Jones may finally be in the system to utilize his athleticism and Garrius Adams has the versatility to be the guy here, my break out player for 2011-12 is Rion Brown. Whether in the starting lineup or coming off the bench, I expect to see Brown play major minutes. He is arguably the Canes’ best perimeter defender. By the end of the year I expect he’ll be thier second best outside shooter. At 6’5 Brown has good size. I expect he will fill out some in his upper body and end up getting to the line more frequently. Expect double figures from Rion Brown on most nights.

X-factor:

Durand Scott. In my opinion no one gets the basket in the ACC better then Scott. The problem is the 6’3 guard seems to rarely get the benefit of the doubt from the refs when he makes contact with bigger players. Scott often has the strength to finish plays on his own, and his 39 percent on threes last year was far improved from his freshman season. Miami needs Scott to take care of the ball and become a consistent 2nd scoring option until Reggie gets back. If Durand Scott brings his A game night in and night out, UM may have the best backcourt in the conference if not the country.

Biggest shoes to fill (literally):

Kenny Kadji. 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.

Outlook/Prediction:

The bad news:
Playing in the ACC is never easy, and the out of conference schedule is daunting. A four game stretch in late November and early December that includes bookend trips to Purdue and West Virginia, and home slates against UMass and Memphis, will be telling. Miami get preseason #1 UNC twice and their lone match-up with Duke is in on the road. Reggie Johnson is out until January.

The good news:
Despite the tough road ahead, I think the Canes have a chance to do something special. Jim Larranaga and his coaching staff bring final four experience and endless energy to the equation. The back court is talented and experienced. The wings players are versatile and athletic. Reggie Johnson should be back in time for the conference schedule. These factors usually lead to special seasons.

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.

Category 6 catches up with 2006 George Mason Stars Jai Lewis and Tony Skinn

In 2005-06 The George Mason Patriots, under current UM Head Coach Jim Larranaga, made perhaps the most memorable Cinderella run in NCAA tournament history. Behind the leadership of big man Jai Lewis and guard Tony Skinn, they defeated Michigan State (who had made the final four the year before), North Carolina, Wichita State, and #1 seed Conneticut. We got a chance to catch up with the stars of that team, Lewis and Skinn, and asked them the following:

C6: What qualities did the 2006 George Mason Final Four team have that a team needs to make a magical run? What is your favorite memory of that season?

Jai: The GMU final four team had a great family-like bond. We were a veteran team that had been together for a couple of years without losing a player. We also had trust in each other and didn’t worry about who scored the ball.

Tony: We all really believed we could beat anyone as the season progressed. When we finally got into the tournament we knew it was not going to be an easy for our opponents. My favorite memory was beating Conneticut in the elite 8 in DC, my hometown. I had so many friends and family there watching the game.

C6: For UM players and fans who are just getting to know Coach Larranaga, what should we expect personality-wise and basketball wise?

Jai: One thing you will get from Coach L on and off the court is that he will act and treat everyone in a first class manner.

Tony: Personality wise expect a firecracker. He will always light up the room no matter who is there. He is a great leader, mentor, and coach. Basketball wise, its no secret the guy knows his stuff. He has a great feel for picking guys who not only know how to play but how to win.

C6: What advice would you give to UM’s current players to prepare for Coach L’s system? What are the physical demands?

Jai: The only advice I would give UM players would be to always to have an open mind with some of his preparation strategies. Coach L has many different ways to have you fully prepared for the season mentally and physically.

Tony: I am not sure about any other programs because I only played for one, but Coach L works you hard to get better both mentally and physically. My first month as a player no one thought I could make it, but I ended up being successful because I bought into what he was trying to preach: being dedicated and having the will to win.

C6: Do you still keep in touch with Coach L? Are you surprised Coach L left George Mason for Miami?

Jai: Yes I still have communications with Coach L through email. I was surprised that he left Mason. He had a great support system at Mason. He has left a legacy at Mason that will tough for the next coach to fill.

Tony: To be honest playing overseas the last couple years I am a little bit out of the loop.

C6: What about Coach L led you to commit to George Mason?

Jai: I think Coach L honesty is what brought me to Mason. He was always upfront with me from the start and showed confidence in me that I would be a star at Mason.

Tony: I had 3 years of eligibility, it was close to home, and he clearly wanted me to be part of thier program.

C6: Please tell us a little bit about what is going on in your current career(s)? What is it like to play in another country?

Jai: I finished this past season off in Korea for the LG Sakers. I went to Korea just for the playoffs to help the team advance to the next round. I played a full season in japan for RERA Kamuy basketball club where I received player of the year honors. Its a great experience playing in different countries, because you get to see and do different things that are apart of a different cultures.

Tony: My career so far has been great. I’ve played in France for 3 years, Italy for 1, and just finished my 5th season in Germany. All of these leagues are 1st division so it has helped me become a much better player. Europe is a beautiful continent and I am just grateful I have the oppurtunity to travel the world and see different aspects of it.

C6: How would you compare fans in the United States to fans overseas?

Jai: The fans are great overseas. They have a lot of enthusiasm and spirit for the game.

Tony: Fans here and fans overseas are completely different. When I was in Italy it was tough because if the team didn’t play well your own fans would let you know about it. They are just so passionate about thier sports. It’s not like here where fans just watch and show controlled emotion. Overseas the hand gestures and everything come out when a ref makes a terrible call.

We an not thank Jai & Tony enough for taking the time to let us catch up with them. Hopefully the magic Coach Larranaga brought to George Mason will follow him to Miami. If it does UM might have a magical run similiar to what these two stars enjoyed in 2006.

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