University of Miami Men’s Basketball Clips 2013-14 2011-12 and 2012-13 highlights on last 35 pages Larrañaga’s implementation of zone defense paying off Palm Beach Post day each teaching UM coaches the finer UM coach Jim Larrañaga and his staff to Matt Porter points of a matchup zone. Armed with that teach them the zone defense did not have Jan. 17, 2014 knowledge, Larrañaga and his staff passed contact with UM players. That could be a it to their players. violation of NCAA rules. It’s not too often a 64-year-old basketball Miami is 4-1 since then. The Canes held coach in his 42nd season of teaching the Syracuse to 44 points on 36.2 percent game shows up with a new lesson plan. shooting in a five-point loss, then limited Last month, Jim Larrañaga did just that. North Carolina to 30.8 percent shooting in The Hurricanes coach knew something a 63-57 win. needed to change when he saw his team Next up is Florida State, which might have allowing “too many easy baskets.” So he an even better defense than Miami. Using called a couple coaching friends, did his lots of length and athleticism, the Semi- homework and installed a new defense noles (11-4, 2-1 ACC) rank ninth in points that has turned the rebuilding Canes into a per possession and have held all three of team the ACC is taking seriously. their ACC opponents to 33 percent shoot- After nearly taking down No. 2 Syracuse ing or worse. and upsetting North Carolina on the road They caught fire offensively in Sunday’s in its last two games, Miami (9-6, 1-2 85-61 win over Maryland, making 16 ACC) heads into Wednesday’s 9 p.m. game 3-pointers, 13 of which were closely con- against rival Florida State with the reputa- tested, and shooting 66 percent from deep. tion of having a tough defense. Hamilton, who led UM to its first Sweet “The zone they play is very challenging, Sixteen appearance in 2000 and has been especially if you don’t understand what at FSU since 2002, wasn’t surprised to they’re doing,” Florida State coach Leon- see the Hurricanes doing well. ard Hamilton said. “They are a team to be “They have a new team, but they have reckoned with, especially at home.” guys who were in practice last year, who Not long ago, those compliments weren’t understand the system,” Hamilton said. coming to UM. It looked like it would be a “It’s a matter of them developing a style long season when the Hurricanes, who lost where they can be competitive.” the top six scorers from last year’s ACC They’ll be more competitive if they can championship team, lost their most gifted score. The Canes rank a meager 254th na- scorer, true freshman Deandre Burnett, to tionally in offensive points per possession. a wrist injury in the preseason. FSU, meanwhile, is 160th. Knowing scoring would be a major issue, “We have confidence in our zone,” said Larrañaga sought to slow things down and UM senior Rion Brown, who leads UM in play stout defense. scoring (13.7) and is second in rebounding After Monday’s games, UM ranked 41st (6.5). “We know we can stop people. It’s nationally in points allowed per possession just a matter of us executing our offense.” and is one of the nation’s slowest-paced Looks like both teams will have a tough teams. The Canes rank 346th out of 351 time doing that in Wednesday’s game at Division I teams in offensive possessions BankUnited Center. per game. “It’s a rivalry game,” UM senior forward After Miami lost to Virginia Tech on Dec. Erik Swoope said. “It’s going to be physi- 8, Larrañaga decided his man-to-man de- cal. It always is. There’s going to be a lot fense wasn’t working. He called former of energy in the crowd. It’s going to be a Pittsburgh coach Ralph Willard, now re- grind-it-out game.” tired in Naples, and former Syracuse as- Editors Note: This story has been updated sistant Bernie Fine. Both men spent a to clarify that the coach who worked with Perseverance pays off with UM scholarship Palm Beach Post furniture. are amazing. Being a part of all the suc- Matt Porter After the year, Heller told his friends and cess the team has had is amazing. Being Jan. 13, 2014 family he was done with basketball and able to help any way I can is what it’s all would instead focus on school. Which was about.” It’s not about the stats. fine, because he had always had his heart How could it be? If Justin Heller fretted set on UM, his parents’ alma mater. over his career totals — two points in 18 “I’ve always been a diehard Hurricane minutes of action over three seasons — he fan,” he said. “Coming out of high school, would have turned in his Miami Hurricanes the only school I wanted to go to, with or uniform many months ago. without basketball, was Miami. It was the It’s about the moments, the little pieces only school I applied to.” of themselves people give, which make He was ready to go without hoops, Heller’s effort worthwhile. but Haith left for Missouri and Larrañaga Like the parade of calls, texts, tweets, brought a new approach. handshakes and hugs that came his way “The first thing he said to Justin was, ‘If last week after an unforgettable few min- you’re on the team, you’re on the team.’ utes he spent with his coach, Jim Larra- He treats everyone the same,” said Heller’s ñaga. father, Neal, of Boca Raton. “His actions The day before UM departed for its have always matched his words. Always.” Jan. 8 trip to North Carolina, the walk-on He was now allowed to dress and travel. guard was told Larrañaga wanted to see Every big shot, Heller celebrated from the him in his office. Topic of conversation: bench. Every big win, like last year’s ACC unknown. Stress level: elevated. championship and last week’s victory over “I was nervous,” said Heller, a senior North Carolina in the Dean Dome, belonged who walked onto the team after playing at just as much to him as the rest of the team. West Boca Raton High. His teammates last year erupted when he Behind the large, wooden desk that sits scored the only basket of his career, Dec. in his large, memorabilia-filled office, Lar- 14, 2012 against Charlotte. That game rañaga looked down at the papers on his also prompted a day-after call from Lar- desk in silence. Heller became increasingly rañaga to Heller’s father, something Dad aware of his heart’s pounding. won’t ever forget. Larrañaga began to speak about the con- “There’s certainly times as a walk-on tributions Heller made to the team: how he you wonder, ‘What the heck am I doing pushed his teammates in practice, kept a this for?’” Neal Heller said. “I could be re- positive attitude and, despite his meager laxing. I could be hanging out. But those stats, how he meant just as much to the moments …” Hurricanes as any player. An unforgettable moment came last This was not a change in tone from the Tuesday in Larrañaga’s office, when the coach. coach broke the news: UM had an extra After all, without Larrañaga, Justin Hell- scholarship for the spring, and was award- er, No. 12 for the Hurricanes, would have ing it to former walk-on guard Justin Hell- simply been Justin Heller, UM finance ma- er. jor and hoops fan. It was an honor. But scholarship or not, After walking on in 2011, Heller traveled Heller wouldn’t trade the last three years a tough road under former coach Frank for anything. Haith. He dressed for games sporadically “For me, it’s really about having a fami- and didn’t travel. He played zero minutes. ly,” he said. “It’s a family atmosphere. The He felt less like a player than a piece of friendships I make and continue to make Kelly knows role of underdog Miami Herald “I’ll never forget the first day I saw James overnight fix. It took a lot of people and Michelle Kaufman play,’’ said Stanczak. “It was his sopho- a lot of patience. Hillary Clinton said, ‘It Jan. 4, 2014 more year and we had open gym one takes a village’ to raise a child. Well, it morning and our JV coach called me and took a village with James Kelly. All hands Hoping to inspire his University of Miami said, ‘You’ve got to come see this kid. He on deck. His parents loved him very much, basketball team for Saturday’s daunting doesn’t know what the heck he’s doing, but didn’t have the resources or experience road game against No. 2 undefeated Syra- but he’s special.’ ’’ to know what to do with him. cuse, coach Jim Larrañaga took players and staff to see the movie, Nelson Man- Kelly was attending Roberto Clemente “It was a couple steps forward, a step dela: Long Walk to Freedom on New Year’s Student Development Center at the time, back, for a while, but we grinded through Eve afternoon. a small alternative school for students it together, and look at him now.’’ who need extra care.