Canespace

Canes Advance, Face Gators Friday

Your Miami Hurricanes gained some confidence by beating Providence last night 78-66 at the Dunkin' Donuts arena.  The Canes will now advance to the second round of the Not Important Tournament (NIT) and face the dreaded Florida Gators Friday night in Gainesville at 7 PM (ESPNU).

Against the Friars, the Jack Attack was good for 25 points including seven tres, Dwayne Collins actually decided to show up to play (surprise!) and managed to record 12 rebounds while Lance "Over The" Hurdle was busy dropping in 12 points in the Canes victory.

McClinton broke his own school record for 3-pointers in a season (94 set in 2007-08) and now has 98 through 31 games. He holds the top-three spots in the Miami recordbook in single-season threes and also extended his school record for career treys to 283.

Though Miami never trailed, the game stayed tight in the second half, and both teams had trouble scoring as the game grew increasingly chippy down the stretch.

Brian "Haight" Asbury's jumper with 3:22 to go broke a stretch of 6:53 without a field goal by either team.  Providence got within four with just 3:08 to play, but McClinton, who made 7 of his 14 3-point shots, responded with two in a row to keep the game out of reach.

Inquiring Minds Want To Know

Jim Young, the Editor of the ACC Sports Journal, wants to know how Canes fans feel about the following issues. So tonight as you watch Miami take on Providence in round one of the NIT tournament (@ 7 PM on ESPN2) take the chance to sound off on some important questions regarding your Miami Hurricanes!  I will collect your comments and include them in my response to him later this week.  Here is his request sent via email earlier today:

Finally, here are those questions. Thanks again for doing this!

1) Looking back, do fans think the UM basketball team underachieved, or that the previous season's team just really overachieved?

2) What do fans look at as the main reason why the Canes basketball season has fallen short of expectations?

3) A lot of folks around the ACC looked at the small crowd that showed up for Jack McClinton's final home game as proof that Hurricanes fans just aren't in to baskeball. Is that fair?

4) Five years into the Frank Haith era, how do fans feel about him?  Do they think he's the long-term answer for the Miami hoops program?

5) Which side did fans come down on in the whole Robert Marve-Randy Shannon saga? Do they think the transfer restrictions were too hard on  Marve, or do they think Marve was guilty of being disloyal to the program while he was there?

6) How do Miami fans feel about the way the Bryce Brown situation was handled?  Do they think Miami should have hung in through the circus, or are they happy the Cane's eventually cut ties?

Jim Young, Editor
www.ACCSports.com
[email protected]

Happenings In Space

On Sunday night residents of Central Florida were treated to an incredible visual image: The Space Shuttle launching into the brilliant, clear and wild blue yonder at sunset. 

As the shuttle arched gracefully into the eastern sky and faded from view, the vapor trail it left behind was illuminated by the slowly fading sun as it disappeared beyond the western horizon.  The results were nothing short of spectacular as the Shuttle's smoke plume reflected several shades of yellow, pink and orange that contrasted against the indigo blue twilight backdrop.

So with another successful launch of the Space Shuttle last night we thought we would take a look ahead at events happening in and around The Space over the next couple of months.  For additional information and details email us at [email protected].  Here is what's happening in Space:

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Canespace will be hosting the following events over the next few weeks:

• March 27: Canes vs GT baseball at 7 PM.  Pre-game party at The Titanic from 5:30-6:30 PM.
• March 28: Spring Game at Lockhart Stadium.  Gates open at 8 AM, meet in the parking lot.
• April 4: Canes vs FSU baseball at 7 PM.  Pre-game party at The Titanic from 5:30-6:30 PM.

CANES TAKE 2 0F3 FROM BLUE DEVILS:  The Hurricane hardballerz won with in the most dramatic fashion on Sunday with walk off HR by Jason Haggerty to beat Duke and take the three game series over their ACC foe.  Haggerty broke a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the ninth with his second walk-off homer in the last 10 days to give the sixth-ranked University of Miami baseball team a 7-6 series-clinching win over Duke.  The win for Miami (14-3, 5-1 ACC) secured the team's 13th Atlantic Coast Conference series win in its last 14 chances dating back to 2007. It also marked the team's fourth-straight series win to open the 2009 season.  Join us later this month as we host two baseball events at the newly renovated and absolutely lovely Alex Rodriguez Field at Mark Light Stadium.

SUMMER PLAYER PROFILES: We will be running a Summer long series profiling some of the players who figure to have an impact on the 2009 season.  CanesgirlNC (Cooper, McCarthy, Brandon Harris), SolarCane (Collier, Bailey, Telemaque) and OcalaCane (Bosher) have agreed to write weekly features about some of their favorite players.  I will be covering Aldarius Johnson, Sean Spence and Jacory Harris.

CANES INVITED TO NIT:  Your Miami Hurricanes missed the "Big Dance" but were invited to the NIT (Not Important Tournament) to continue their season.   The fourth-seeded University of Miami will travel to fifth-seeded Providence for the first round of the National Invitation Tournament on Wednesday, March 18, at 7 p.m. at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, R.I.  ESPN2 will broadcast the game live.  If the Canes win they will then face the first-seeded Florida Gators if the Swamp Lizards can beat their first round opponent eigth-seeded Jacksonville.

CALLING ALL CANESPACERS: If you are an aspiring writer and have a favorite player or other feature that you would like to write up for The Space please let me know at [email protected].  We always encourage active participation by all here so take advantage of this opportunity to make a contribution to the blog.  NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.  I will edit and add photos and make U look like a blog star!

We're Not In Kansas Anymore

The #1 ranked high school player for 2009 who happens to be from Kansas, decided to spend his college years as a student (cough, cough) - athlete in the great State of Tennessee.

Good bye, good luck and for many Canes fans, good riddance!  We wish him the best of luck tormenting the Florida Gators and other SEC opponents over the next three years. 

But first, the "Material Boy" (as he became known around here) will have to earn playing time, see the field and carry the ball for the Volunteers or he will be hearing all 105,000 Tennessee fans chanting the phrase we all know and love:  "over-rated".

As for your Miami Hurricanes, they have plenty of talent at the position in current running backs Javaris James, Graig Cooper and Lee Chambers and talented freshman Mike James from Ridge High School and former Miami Killian Cougar Lamar Miller. 

Now if we can only get the offensive line to open some holes...

Cardiac Canes Keep Fans On Edge

Infamous Canespacer SolarCane has already dubbed this year's version of the Hurricane baseball team  the "Cardiac Canes".  And with the Canes consistently falling behind their opponents on a nightly basis before once again launching some sort of miraculous rally late in the game, the name fits.

On Friday night at The Light against ACC foe Duke the Cardiac Canes were at it once again. 

This time, with the scored tied at four with two on and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Scott Lawson hit a double to deep right-center, scoring Jonathan Wieslow from second base to give the sixth-ranked Hurricanes a 5-4 win in front of 2,608 fans Friday night at Alex Rodriguez Park.

Miami improved to 13-2 overall and 4-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play with its 11th win in its last 12 games. With the loss, Duke falls to 9-5 and 2-2 in league action.

Miami's bullpen had yet another strong performance as Taylor "Howling" Wulf (seen here) and Kyle "Ring My" Bellamy tossed a combined three scoreless innings.  

Wulf, who replaced starter Chris Hernandez after six innings, tossed two scoreless and struck out a career-high four before giving way to Canes closer Bellamy, who tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his second win of the year.

For the third straight game, UM's opponent scored in the top of the first, as the Blue Devils took the early 2-0 advantage.  The `Canes countered with a run of their own in the bottom of the first but Duke jumped out to a 4-1 lead with two more in the third.

Miami tied the game up with three in the fifth. The first two runs of the frame came across when Herrmann doubled to right, scoring Lawson and Jason Haggerty to bring UM within on. UM's Harold Martinez made it 4-4 with a single to left, scoring Herrmann from second.

Making his fourth start of the season, UM's Hernandez allowed two earned runs on six hits while walking one and striking out five in six innings of work.

As usual Canespace MVB Canesince1982 (seen at left with Cat 5 in Canespace Corner at The Light last year) will have the call LIVE here on the blog as the teams play the second game of the series tonight at 7 p.m.  Right-hander Davis Gutierrez (2-0, 0.50 ERA) will start for Miami while Duke will counter with right-hander Andrew Wolcott (2-0, 1.71 ERA). 

2009 Spring Scrimmage

Tonight at Traz Powell Stadium in North Miami your Miami Hurricanes took to the field in their first public scrimmage of the 2009 season.  Canespacers UMike, SlingBlade, Cat5, Aqua and 86Cane were on hand for all of the festivities.  Here is our initial report and photos.

The Canes players were accessible and were made available for an autograph session from 6:00 to 6:30 PM.  Here Canes MLB Aurthur Brown throws up the U with Canespacer Cat5 before the game.

As is usually the case early in Spring practice the defense dominated the offense for most of the scrimmage.  The Canes DL and LBs were solid against the run and the pass defense was effective as the offense was held scoreless through their first few drives.

The offense had it's moments though as RBs Javaris James and Graig Cooper broke off some large gains and WR Leonard Hankerson had several nice catches (and one tough drop) during the event. 

But don't be alarmed Canes fans, the Whipple effect was not in full effect during this light scrimmage and we don't expect it to be until Fall practice rolls around.  The Canes recievers did spread the field wide and deep and caught some nice passes from both Harris and Cook. 

The good news for Canes fans?  Not a single bubble screen was seen!  We will expect to see a little more offensive cohesion and firepower on March 28 when the Canes hold their annual Spring Game at Lockhart Stadium.   See U there!

         

 

The News According To Navarro

Since our launch in June of 2007, Canespace has made a lot of friends and formed many collaborative partnerships with various sources of information.  Our recent partnership with Canesport.com is the latest example of this site trying to continue to bring you all the news you can use. 

But no partnership has meant more to Canespace or been more productive to date as the one we established early on with Manny Navarro of The Miami Herald.  Manny is the ultimate professional who also just so happens to be a hard core Hurricane fan who bleeds orange and green.  Once again Manny took time out of his busy schedule to answer your questions.  Here is the news according to Navarro... 

Cat5 Cane asks: My Question, although possibly premature...Does Manny think Jacory is ready to be let loose and what is his assessment of him as compared to other past great UM QB's?  I think we all know the answer as to ability and having the coconuts, but what about the intangibles?

> I've said this from the day I first saw Jacory Harris start throwing footballs -- he's the second coming of Ken Dorsey. He's such a cerebral quarterback who knows exactly where to place to the ball and how to be a great leader. This spring you can see how much he's matured in one year. Physically, he finally doesn't look like a beanpole anymore. He's got meat on him. His arm is stronger too. He's not going to throw firecrackers all over the field, but he's not Chad Pennington either. What impressed the most in the first spring scrimmage was how patient and cool he was scrambling in and out of the pocket, the way he waited for his receivers to get open or make adjustments. And when he was pressured, he made the right decisions. He stepped up to avoid the rush or flushed himself out wide and didn't look rushed at all. He also hit just about everyone he threw to between the numbers. He looks like a different quarterback this spring. And I thought he already looked good last year. I think with the set of receivers he has, the new playbook, he's going to thrive. I think this Miami offense might end up being the best in a defensive minded ACC. If his offensive line stays healthy, I believe he'll lead the ACC in passing yards and touchdowns this coming season.

86Cane asks: What should we look for in the first public scrimmage this Thursday at Traz Powell Stadium?  What positions are the ones to watch?

> You should be watching all of them. Seriously, no jobs are going to be won and lost this spring. Randy Shannon doesn't work like that. He's going to need something to hold over the guys' heads this summer and fall. So, don't look for guys to be winning any battles. What I would like to watch (even though I won't be there because I'll be with the basketball team in Atlanta for the ACC Tournament) is how the offensive line, linebackers and defensive backs and backup quarterbacks are doing. Those are the real weaknesses of this team.

Taylor Cook is better than Cannon Smith. But that's not saying much. He needs to make tremendous strides in the next several months and look like a quarterback who if needed can at least get the ball in the hands of UM's talented receivers. Right now, he looks like Jacory did his senior year of high school. Cannon Smith looks like a JV quarterback.

The offensive line -- outside of Jason Fox, Orlando Franklin and A.J. Trump -- is loaded with question marks. I thought the defensive line outperformed them Saturday and got a lot of pressure on the quarterback in simple one-on-situations. Jermaine Johnson looked out of place. Brandon Washington looked slow. The other veterans weren't that much better. I want to see guys like Matt Pipho and Harland Gunn start moving guys off the line.

At linebacker, Sean Spence looks just as good, if not better than last year already. But I want to see some consistency from the guys around him. I want to Darryl Sharpton, Jordan Futch, Ramon Buchanon, Arthur Brown and Kylan Robinson actually win a one-on-one battle with a running back in the flat or off tackle. Lee Chambers and Mike James danced around them in the last scrimmage. We all remember what Georgia Tech did to Miami in November.

And in the secondary, I want to see who is going to emerge at cornerback. Chavez Grant has to show me he can do more than play nickel. DeMarcus Van Dyke needs to take that step up this spring. Brandon Harris has to show me he's not going to get dominated by Laron Byrd and Aldarius Johnson. I thought Vaughn Telemaque, Jojo Nicholas and Randy Phillips did a good job at safety on Saturday against the run and with a few big hits. But when are we going to see them deflecting passes away?

SolarCane asks: I have been impressed with Authur Brown and his maturity and perspective in answering reporters questions.  Will his move to MLB be the key to him seeing the field in 2009 and displaying the type of talent that made him the #1 high school LB recruit in 2008?

> Sadly, I think we all kind of know now Arthur was a little overrated coming out of high school. While some of his raw skills may be very good (and that hit Saturday on Lee Chambers was impressive) there are just too many times when this guy looks lost on the field. His reaction in pass coverage is extremely slow. Now we know why he was moved inside. He has to be a middle linebacker because there is no way he can defend the pass. While he did a good job making some plays last Saturday, he's got to wrap up more consistently. I think if we leave expectations aside, Brown could end up being a very good middle linebacker by the time he leaves Miami. But folks have to be patient with him. Right now, he's still very raw.

MattinNY asks:  Hey Manny, don't go to sleep on the Canes baseball team!  Even after losing a ton of major league talent after last year, the Canes just swept the Gators in Gainesville.  Are you going to give the team some much deserved coverage and how about an interview with Coach Morris sometime soon?

> Once basketball season and spring football ends, I'm going to have a lot more time for baseball. I actually was hoping to catch up with Coach Morris after the Gators sweep for a feature story I'm planning to right on left fielder Jonathan Weislow. Unfortunately, we played phone tag a couple times and weren't able to hook up for an interview. Be patient. We'll get to them soon. By the way, David Gutierrez gets my early vote for team MVP. He's been outstanding in his first few starts and a big reason UM is 10-2 right now.

Esteban and bg1906 ask: Mike James, Mike James, Mike James!  We have been following him since the first grade.  OK, we know that's not a question but this is:  What are his chances of seeing playing time this year?  

> Honestly, I think he's got a great shot. I know some people are going to think Graig Cooper and Javarris James are going to get the majority of the carries, but there's something very special about this kid. Physically, he's already built to take a pounding. Without question he's been the most exciting newcomer on the team so far. If Javarris James goes down again with an injury (I'm certainly not trying to jinx him), Mike James (seen here playing for Ridge HS in 2008) is the next best pound-for-pound between the tackles running back UM has. Randy Shannon won't be afraid to play him either.

Five Questions With Ferman

If you are going to pay for it, in our opinion, there is only one place to go: www.canesport.com.  Canesport has been at it longer, and does it better, than any other pay site covering the Canes.

This is our second feature with Hurricane insider Gary Ferman:

Cat5 Cane asks: My Question, although possibly premature...Does Ferman think Jacory is ready to be let loose and what is his assessment of him as compared to other past great UM QB's?  I think we all know the answer as to ability and having the coconuts, but what about the intangibles?

Well first of all it's amazing that three months removed from the bowl game Jacory is absolutely taking his game to another level. He has responded real well to the improved coaching of Mark Whipple. Let's not jump ahead and start comparing him to other Cane quarterbacks though. Let's let him do something first.

86Cane asks: What should we look for in the first public scrimmage this Thursday at Traz Powell Stadium?  What positions are the ones to watch?

Keep an eye on competition at backup QB, backup offensive line, and defensive line. Also enjoy your first glimpse at Mike James, who has made a quick impression on everyone.

SolarCane asks: I have been impressed with Authur Brown and his maturity and perspective in answering reporters questions.  Will his move to MLB be the key to him seeing the field in 2009 and displaying the type of talent that made him the #1 high school LB recruit in 2008?

We will see. Arthur still makes a lot of mistakes, as do all of the young linebackers. Once he learns what he is supposed to do, he obviously has great potential. I just as am not totally convinced that will happen this season.

MontrealCane and MattinNY ask:  Hey Ferman, don't go to sleep on the Canes baseball team!  Even after losing a ton of major league talent after last year, the Canes just swept the Gators in Gainesville.  Are you going to give the team some much deserved coverage and how about an interview with Coach Morris sometime soon?

Absolutely. We already are giving baseball coverage and that will only expand as the season goes forward.

Esteban and bg1906 ask: Mike James, Mike James, Mike James!  OK, that's not a question, but this is: What are MJ's chances of seeing playing time this year?   

I think they are very good. He has really impressed in spring practice and it makes no sense to use him AND Lamar Miller. So I think it's best man plays this year, the other redshirts.

Flying Around

This feature was written for Canespace by blogger SolarCane...

Ted Hendricks did it.  Chuck Foreman, Otis Anderson and Fred Marion did too.

Ray Lewis, Rohan Marley, Santana Moss and Randal Hill thrived on it. 

You don't convert 3rd and 43 unless you can flat out fly around.

Devin Hester flew around so often that he was once actually checked for wings at haltime by the referees.  During Super Bowl XLI Hester even took it upon himself to fly where no man had ever flown before by returning the opening kickoff for a TD.

What makes a player fly around anyway?  Why does one guy just seem to hang around while another completely flies around?

Surely flying around takes more than speed, a strong set of arms and a keen sense of aerodynamics (here Jeremy Shockey demonstrates the "Flying Around" position). I think it boils down to how much heart and motor one has.

Kellen Winslow II was fond of flying around, ask Cory Campbell sometime.

Sean Taylor flew around so hard he couldn't be bound by Earth.

Warren Sapp? He flew around, over, and through anyone that was dumb enough to get in his way.

Just to prove his case, Sapp soared across the dance floor in front of millions of fans to make certain we understood he will fly forever… It's a Canes thing baby!

Are you born with the ability to fly like say, Superman for instance? 

One Hurricane almost certainly was.

UM diver and U.S. Olympian Greg Louganis flew around with a precision and grace few have come close to duplicating. 

Was it Louganis’ Samoan-Swedish decent that enabled him to somehow defy gravity?  Actually it was a Cane’s thing.

During the 2001 season the Hurricanes had what seemed to be an entire team that was capable of, at any given moment, suddenly taking off and flying around. 

When these Canes took the field it was simply no contest.  Dorsey was their leader but it was his ruthless squad of mercenaries that flew around like no team had ever done before, or since.

Clinton Portis? Yeah he could fly around.  In the Rose Bowl Andre Johnson and Jeremy Shockey flew around and shot down the Corhuskers to help the Canes capture their fifth National Championship.

So we come to this season.   Who will it be that Randy proclaims flew around and excited him?

Sean Spence is a safe bet. Travis Benjamin?  He flies around at such speeds they simply call him "The Blur"!

Will this be the year the running backs thunder through the holes and fly around?  We have heard early rumors about true freshman RB Mike James "flying around" in practice. 

Could the receivers, led by Thearon Collier, turn into a lightning strike squadron if they only learn to fly?  Reports out of Greentree Field are that WR Tommy Streeter is out there flying around somewhere.

In the immortal words of REO Speedwagon:

“Ive had enough of the falseness, of a worn out relation,
Enough of the jealousy, and the intoleration,
I make you laugh, and you make me cry,
I believe its time for me to fly”

Me?  I’'ll just be flying around the blog as usual.  Catch me if you can!

Canes Win Rare Double Header

Your Miami Hurricanes pulled of the ultra rare two-sport double header yesterday by beating NC State in basketball 72-64 and then in baseball by the score of 4-0.

On the hardwood, Jack "McClutch" McClinton overcame a slow start to score 24 points Saturday, and the Miami Hurricanes held North Carolina State without a field goal for more than 12 minutes in the second half and won 72-64.

The Jack Attack missed his first seven shots before sinking a 3-pointer early in the second half. He finished 3-for-15 from the field but was 16-for-16 from the line -- the best performance from the line in school history.

Seniors Lance Hurdle and Brian Asbury, also making their final home appearance as Hurricanes along with McClinton and Jimmy Graham, finished with 13 points apiece. Graham Cracker added a game-high three blocks, three steals, six points and six rebounds.

The Hurricanes (18-11, 7-9 Atlantic Coast Conference) helped their hopes of making the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row. North Carolina State (16-13, 6-10) is likely out of the mix unless it makes a big splash in the league tournament.

On the Diamond, today Miami goes for the sweep of the Wolfpack in game three of their weekend series.  The Canes have won the first two games behind the strong pitching of Chris Hernandez, David Guiterrez and Kyle Bellamy.

The story Saturday night at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field was Junior right-hander David Gutierrez who turned in his second straight scoreless start and the Hurricanes' pitching staff held NC State to just three hits. 

His stellar performance enabled the eighth-ranked University of Miami baseball team to win the game over the Wolfpack, 4-0.

Gutierrez (2-0), who was named Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week on Monday after tossing seven scoreless innings in a 2-1 win at No. 12 Florida last weekend, allowed just three hits while extending his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 13 straight. Gutierrez struck out four and walked five, but timely pitching and solid defense kept the Wolfpack off the board all night.

Freshman Daniel Miranda relieved Gutierrez in the seventh and tossed two scoreless before junior Taylor "Howling" Wulf came on the ninth to finish the game.  The victory ensures Miami's (9-2, 2-0 ACC) third series win of the season and its fourth ACC season-opening series win in UM's five seasons in the league.

With today's baseball game just getting started, the first pitch is now!  Canesince1982 (seen here at The Titanic at one of the now infamous Canespace pre-game celebrations) U have the call...