Your University of Miami men’s basketball team (14-1, 0-1) waltzed through the opening games of their non-conference schedule like they had spent the entire off-season watching Dancing With The Stars. Even the toughest of critics, Dancing’s judge Len Goodman, would have given them at least a 9 for their early season accomplishments.
Most recently, Miami took a nice long but leisurely trip out to the West coast to visit beautiful Malibu, California where even former Mayor Clint Eastwood couldn’t stand to watch as the Hurricanes proceeded to punish lowly Pepperdine by the score of 86-63.
Yeah, that was easy. This is when it gets hard.
The Hurricanes now move into the heart of their conference schedule as they prepare to host Wake Forest (11-2, 1-0) in their ACC home opener Saturday night at 6 PM at the Bank United Center in lovely, yet uncharacteristically chilly, Coral Gables.
Unlike their earlier game against the likes of intra-State doormat Stetson Mad Hatters, this nationally televised contest (ESPNU) against the Demon Deacons will likely show just how good this Hurricane team actually is and whether or not they can make any noise in the ACC this season.
There is no question that Miami started out the season hot and has been shooting lights out from beyond the arc. They have won 8 of their 15 games by more than 20 points and boast three excellent long range bombers in James Dews, Malcom Grant and Adrian Thomas. All three are in the top 10 in the ACC in 3 point shots made and in 3 point shooting percentage.
Wake leads the series against Miami with a 7-2 advantage and is riding a seven game winning streak into the game against the Hurricanes.
Miami fans will be watching as the Deacons provide a real test (UM lost their only other ACC game this season against Boston College) for Miami’s young, yet impressive, 2010 team.
Nice article
The basketball team takes a back seat to the football team, but those bb kids young are playing hard
We play well and beat WF it will give them a lot of confidence going into ACC play.
Go Canes!
Solar…yeah BB is definitely second fiddle to football at Miami.
Maybe we get some respect from the ACC this year?
I think if the Canes win a respectable number of early ACC games they will seem legit and more fans will tune in.
Basketball being squeezed between Cane football, and a usually very good Baseball team, is a tough sell.
So the question is this? Beat WF, then ranked? I probably shouldn’t ask that’s how I get myself crazy during the FB season – thinking ahead – can’t help it, though.
BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL
The Hurricanes have played strong basketball both offensively and defensively this season and rank among the nation’s top 25 in 11 of 17 statistical categories: win-loss percentage (5), scoring margin (7), field goal percent defense (10), scoring defense (11), field goal percentage (13), three-point field goals made (13), personal fouls per game (13), rebounding margin (18), three-point field goal percent defense (21), assists (22) and three-point field goal percentage (25).
HOME SWEET HOME
The Hurricanes have won 10 straight at home and 16 of its last 18 in Coral Gables — including an 8-0 mark this season. Miami is 22-18 at home in ACC play, including an 11-5 mark over the last two seasons.
U CAN’T TOUCH THIS
Miami’s eight wins of 20-or-more points this season ties for the most in program history — matching the 1928-29 team.
BULLSEYE
Miami’s 52.6 field goal percentage in Sunday’s win at Pepperdine marked the eighth time this season the Hurricanes have converted at least 50 percent of their field goals. That’s nearly as many as the nine times over the previous two seasons combined (2007-08 and 2008-09) that UM hit its mark so accurately.
Triple C…we beat Wake we are ranked!
I really don’t have a feel for this team at all, do you?
Triple C…no, I don’t. They are average offensively and if there 3 point shots don’t fall they are doomed. Defensively they look pretty solid and play with great energy.
Coaching is good but not great. Recruiting is getting better.
The team is YOUNG. Next year even YOUNGER. Time will tell…
Whatever happened to Darius Rice?
Balls out Canes, Balls to the wall.. After going through the net
Bottom line: tonight we get a better idea of the team’s strengths, weaknesses, and tourney chances. Win or lose.
86, just based on my limited info. I would have to agree with your post. From what I’ve seen, if they stay hot with the three, they play good enough D to probably stay with most teams. I think this team will have to overachieve to go far, but hey, it could happen!
Darius Rice never made it to the NBA. He was in the NBA developmental league and China:
http://www.nba.com/dleague/players/darius_rice.html
Cool basketball article. Always cheering for U’s basketball!