University of Miami Men's Basketball Clips 2014-15
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University of Miami Men’s Basketball Clips 2014-15 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 highlights on last 35 pages Can NIT-bound Canes follow path of Larranaga’s greatest teams? Palm Beach Post “In our case, we sat on the bubble for several Matt Porter “Obviously we’re very disappointed we didn’t weeks hoping to improve our status, and we make it, and very surprised and shocked by weren’t able to prove it quite enough to get March 17, 2015 some of the teams that made it before us,” the invitation,” he said. “In my mind it was we McClellan said. “It is kinda hard, but we have could have beaten Carolina, Louisville, Notre Jim Larranaga has been a college assistant to find the motivation. Dame in the last two weeks. You do that you and head coach for 43 seasons, so he has been change our status. We need to prepare today, down this path several times before. “You just have to look yourself in the mirror tomorrow, play tomorrow night.” and ask yourself, ‘Are you a competitor?’” His Hurricanes (21-12, 10-8 ACC) missed out * Larranaga said the “most surprising” part on an NCAA tournament berth and instead “What’s done is done. We can’t go back and of the NCAA tournament was the inclusion earned a No. 2 seed in the NIT. Next year, they make the NCAA tournament,” Reed added. of UCLA – “their road record was abysmal” will return every key player and add another “We have to play hard, and I want to win.” – and said it was “shocking” the committee (6-9 wing Kamari Murphy) via transfer. put Dayton, the 68th seed of 68, in the play-in If the Hurricanes beat North Carolina Central round at home. The Flyers went 16-0 at home If they can shake their current disappointment (27-5, 16-0 MEAC), they would host the this year. over not making the dance, maybe they can winner of third-seeded Illinois (19-13) and do what Virginia did some 35 years ago. sixth-seeded Alabama (18-14). * Yes, Larranaga found out about the Larranaga was an assistant as the Ralph Hurricanes missing the cut when millions of Sampson-led Cavaliers won the NIT in 1980, The No. 1 seed in UM’s NIT quadrant is others did: at 6:21 p.m. Sunday, when CBS then made the Final Four the following year. Richmond (19-13), which plays St. Francis of Sports host Greg Gumbel let slip that North Brooklyn (23-11) in the first round. The winner Florida was “the only team from the state of If they can avoid sulking, maybe they can be gets either fourth-seeded UConn (20-14), the Florida” in the NCAA tournament. It is the first like George Mason a decade back. Larranaga defending NCAA champion, or fifth-seeded field since 1997 that does not include one of coached the Patriots, who lacked size and Arizona State (17-15). Miami, Florida or Florida State. experience and consistency, to a sixth-place finish in their conference, just like Miami this Blog: Larranaga’s son, assistant reportedly in “I think it was one of those years were we all year. The next season, that same group made George Mason mix had great hopes,” Larranaga said. “You would an improbable trip to the Final Four. think at least one of those three would make * The Hurricanes thought they had a the tournament.” At the very least, they could retrace the tournament-worthy schedule, but wound up footsteps of Miami’s 2011-12 team, which with the 191st-best non-conference slate. * Larranaga said Rodriguez (sprained wrist) had an up-and-down year, then returned all but They believed early-season win over eighth- is “getting better” but is not 100 percent and one key player and made a thrilling run to the ranked Florida would be a key resume piece. that guard James Palmer was “a little under Sweet 16. UF finished with an RPI of 72. Illinois, ranked the weather” the last time the team met. 24th when the Hurricanes won in Coral Gables, Larranaga has seen the blueprint many times finished 73. Wins over Charlotte (211) and * Miami doesn’t expect a lot of crowd support before. But before they can build a history College of Charleston (298) wound up much for an NIT game – of course, it would welcome similar to some of his greatest teams, they worse than projected. a surprise, and will give away St. Patrick’s need to learn how to conduct business in Day-themed t-shirts to the first 400 students. the here and now. They’ll start their NIT run They believed Green Bay would finish between Lack of crowd support has been a discussion Tuesday by hosting North Carolina Central (7 50 and 75 in RPI – it did (54), but the Canes topic all year with the Hurricanes, who p.m., ESPN2). didn’t expect to lose that game. They certainly actually finished with a better record on the didn’t expect to lose to Eastern Kentucky road/neutral sites (11-6) than at home (10-6). Blog: An extended scouting report on North (156). Losses to weaker ACC teams Wake Only two teams in the RPI top 100 finished Carolina Central Forest (150 in RPI) and Georgia Tech (153) with more home losses than the Hurricanes: also hurt Miami’s final RPI (65). Mississippi (60th, 9-7) and California (95th, “There’s only 100 teams still playing,” 11-7). Larranaga said. “I’d like to keep playing, * Reed and McClellan said they didn’t know and I’d like to think my team wants to keep much about North Carolina Central. Larranaga McClellan didn’t know how to explain it. “To playing. One of the things is, we have so many noted the Eagles have a “very highly regarded be honest, I don’t know,” he said. “We just play underclassmen that will be back next year, defense” and are experienced. See this post better on the road. Obviously, there are better that if we could do very well in the NIT, it for a full scouting report. crowds. I wouldn’t say the [away] crowd gives would be a great foundation for next season.” us energy, maybe we want to prove something “They won their league. They were 16-0, to the crowd, I guess. I don’t know. That’s Sunday afternoon before the bracket was undefeated, two minutes away from being in one of the things we have to work on, starting released, Larranaga met with four players the NCAA tournament. They weren’t waiting right now, for next year. relied on the most – co-captains Angel on the bubble, they were waiting to complete a Rodriguez and Sheldon McClellan, fellow perfect season in-conference,” Larranaga said. “No matter how many people are in the stands, junior Tonye Jekiri and sophomore Davon Reed “I’m sure they’re disappointed they’re not in we have to bring our own energy and our own – to talk about the importance of leadership. the NCAA tournament. support of one another to have a chance to He met with Rodriguez again late Sunday to win the game.” reinforce the talk. UM brushes off NCAA snub, focuses on winning in NIT Sun Sentinel “I told those guys, they’re the ones that Reed said it doesn’t change his mindset Victoria Hernandez set the tone in practice, in preparation, going into the game. Miami was undefeated March 16, 2015 their mental approach,” he said. “If they’re and ranked eight games into the season. upbeat, if they’re excited, the other guys Miami Hurricanes head coach Jim will do it.” “Teams have been gunning for us all year,” Larrañaga had to watch the Selection he said. “It’s nothing new. We can either Show on CBS just like everyone else to McClellan and Reed both seem to have learn from our mistakes or you can do the find out his team did not make the NCAA embraced the message. same thing.” Tournament. “I think you just gotta look yourself in The Hurricanes have other motivation, “Greg Gumbel told us,” he said, noting the the mirror and ask yourself are you a including working to build momentum for anchor’s slip stating North Florida was competitor or not?” McClellan said. a strong run next season. the only team from the state of Florida to make the Big Dance with more portions of Reed added, “We just gotta play hard. I “One of the things is we have so many the bracket still left to be revealed. wanna win.” underclassmen that will be back next year, that if we can do very well in the NIT, it’d It was evident on Monday that the Miami did better on the road than at home be a great foundation for next season,” Hurricanes were less than pleased about during the regular season. McClellan said Larrañaga said. being a No. 2 seed in the National Invitation the energy from the crowd might be the Tournament. However, they will look to answer to this anomaly. Larrañaga, with make the most out of this postseason 48 hours of preparation time, wasn’t too opportunity when they host North Carolina worried about fan attendance for the home Central Tuesday. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. and contest. the game will air on ESPN2. “I’m gonna be pretty busy just getting the “Obviously, we’re very disappointed team ready,” he said.