University of Miami Men’s Basketball Clips 2011-12 Larranaga Talks ACC Tournament and Beyond ACC: Why Miami Is Most Dangerous Team in Tournament CaneSport what the other teams have done. It’s not just Bleacher Report Looking at the bracket, the Hurricanes would March 6, 2012 about Miami. It’s about 345 teams that have * Sports psychologist Bob Rotella talked to March 5, 2012 have a pretty easy road for the first couple Matt Shodell been whittled down.” the Canes yesterday about needing to have Joseph Zucker of games. “inner arrogance.” With the ACC Tournament upcoming and an “I think about it all the time, check the RPI. But Tournament time is upon us in college bas- In the first round, they face Georgia Tech. In opening game set for Thursday night against I don’t worry about it.” “Dr. Bob Rotella is a very close personal friend ketball. The ACC Tournament kicks off this their only meeting against the Yellow Jackets, Georgia Tech, coach Jim Larranaga said today of mine,” Larranaga said. “He watches all our Thursday as the eight lowest seeds face off they won, 64-49, at Alexander Memorial Coli- that the team’s mood is “outstanding. I think He adds that “Hopefully we’re going to play games on TV and has come to this area for the in order to advance to the quarterfinals. Duke seum. the guys are excited. They feel that they’ve our best basketball of the season this week- Doral Open. So I invited him and his wife here and North Carolina have dominated the con- accomplished a certain number of things dur- end.” for dinner. He was supposed to get here at 7, ference tournament recently, winning 14 of Then, in the second round, a matchup with ing the regular season but they have higher got here early at 6 and we were just finishing the last 15 titles between them. Florida State would loom. They split their two aspirations.” * Larranaga called this “as deep a team as up practice. It was kind of just spontaneous. games, but it’s hard not to say Miami has the I’ve ever coached. If everybody had been As the top two seeds this year, these rivals edge following a 78-62 home win over the Of how the Yellow Jackets are playing with healthy from the start of the season I can’t “What he does is basically tell a story - the are teams are most likely to win, but they Seminoles on February 26. Glen Rice Jr. suspended, Larranaga said, imagine how good we could have been.” message he left with the players is they aren’t the school that provides the most dan- “The major difference is how the ball moves should believe in themselves, that this is a fun ger. After that, it’s up in the air. Should they ad- from hand to hand, how freely it moves on of- * Reggie Johnson and Kenny Kadji are the time of year, that they should look forward to vance to the semifinals, the Hurricanes would fense. They have a number of guys shooting team’s resident “bracketologists.” the ACC Tournament and beyond.” Every year, in almost every conference tour- likely face Duke. extremely well. They are playing better team nament, there is that one team that with a run defense right now. “If Reggie and Kenny follow it, I think some of it in the tourney, can make it to the Big Dance. As stated earlier, in their only matchup of the can be very motivating but it has to motivate season, Miami bested the Blue Devils in over- “They are a much improved basketball team.” you in the right direction,” Larranaga said. “If The most dangerous teams have their backs time, 78-74. the information depresses you, you shouldn’t against the wall, with no other option other With an 18-11 overall record and 9-7 ACC re- read it.” than to win. Plus, if there’s anybody who knows about tak- cord, many feel the Canes will need to win at ing a team on an unexpected run deep into a least one game at the tournament for an out- * DeQuan Jones said Larranaga has given him In the ACC Tournament, that team would be tournament, it’s Hurricanes head coach Jim side chance at making the NCAA Tournament, more confidence in his jump shot. the Miami Hurricanes. Larranaga. with two wins meaning a likely spot. “His willingness to learn - in college bas- Joe Lunardi has Miami as one of his last four Famous for taking George Mason to the Final If UM beats the Yellow Jackets - and Miami is ketball it’s rare that a senior is receptive to teams out, so it’s imperative for the Hurri- Four, Larranaga has done a pretty good job favored to win - then the Canes would face new ideas,” Larranaga said. “Our approach is canes to win a few crucial games in order to with Miami, leading them to their first winning Florida State in its next game. always in the positive fashion - `this is what punch their ticket. It’s the only chance they record in-conference since joining the ACC. you can do well.’ We don’t try to embellish the have. Otherwise, they’re looking at the NIT. Asked if he thinks the NCAA will weigh the fact truth. If I thought his jumpshot stunk I’d try to Miami always seemed to be a talented team that UM was missing Reggie Johnson and De- find something else he’s good at. But it’s pic- They finished with an overall record of 18-11 under Frank Haith, but for some reason, the Quan Jones for several games this season, ture perfect, he has great technique. He’s got (9-7 ACC). Miami has their signature win over pieces never came together. Larranaga said, “What I know is the commit- a certain range that he’s very, very good at.” Duke at Cameron Indoor. tee takes everything into consideration - how Expect that this year, things will fall into place much they value that, I don’t know. (Do they Larranaga said Jones kept a positive outlook Although Miami finished with an RPI of 55, they the Hurricanes during the ACC Tournament, think that) `They went 5-4 without Reggie and even while suspended during an NCAA inves- really struggled in their biggest games. and they’ll be dancing for the first time since DeQuan - maybe they’d have been 7-2?’” tigation. 2008. According to CBS’ RPI, the Hurricanes fin- Does he think this team makes the NCA A Tour- “I thought it was very possible No. 1 he’d quit, ished with a 2-10 record against teams with nament if the Canes win at least the opener at 2 transfer, 3 stay but be a malcontent - he an RPI of 75 or higher. the ACC Tournament? didn’t exhibit any of those things,” Larranaga said. “In fact it was the opposite. He was It’s easy to say that Miami is really motivated “I don’t think you can answer that question upbeat, practiced hard when he was able to for a good showing in the ACC Tournament. intelligently,” Larranaga said. “I don’t know practice.” Jones has given Canes boost off the bench Hurricanes hoping to bolster case for NCAAs Sun Sentinel “I feel like this year is a direct reflection of is 80 or 90 possessions rather than 60 or 70. Miami Herald will take more to get invited to the NCAA Tour- March 2, 2012 my hard work finally surfacing,” Jones said. Because when he gets in the open court, he March 3, 2012 nament. And that knowledge is keeping them Steve Gorten “Also, just major gratitude given to my coach- can be pretty spectacular.” By Michelle Kaufman from looking past Boston College (9-20, 4-11) ing staff and to my teammates. The coaching CORAL GABLES – On Thursday night, DeQuan staff really believes in me, and really instilled Saturday’s game will hold more significance “There is a lot at stake right now,” Larranaga Jones and his parents had a long conversa- a lot in me. They’ve put me in a position to than just being Senior Day — a win over BC said. tion on the phone. They talked about the past be successful and my teammates have stayed could keep UM’s NCAA tourney hopes alive. four years, he says: “my accomplishments, on me, making sure I’m doing everything I’m He pointed out that a win could possibly earn my shortcomings.” supposed to.” UM a first-round bye in next week’s ACC On the eve of their final home game at the tournament. It could also mean a 9-7 league Jones’ career at Miami hasn’t gone as he had Jones, who started 30 games the previous University of Miami, a game they must win to record, which would be the school’s first hoped, or as many had expected. two seasons combined, has embraced his have a shot at an NCAA Tournament at-large winning record in conference play since join- role off the bench. There have been no griping bid, seniors DeQuan Jones and Malcolm Grant ing the league. The Canes are also looking to He came to South Florida from Stone Moun- from him, just as there wasn’t after he was had reporters laughing as they recalled the bounce back after a loss at North Carolina tain, Ga., as former coach Frank Haith’s high- suspended for the season in September by first day they met on campus four years ago.