Are U Feeling Hoopy?

If you are like long-time Canespacers RaizeCane (seen below with friends) who is finally out in the open about his on-going affair with Captain Morgan or more like Canezilla who never met a bottle of Vodka that he didn't like (especially while tailgating) then feeling "hoopy" is an all too common if not chronic or even permanent condition.

 
But, if you are like most sports fans out there and have been focusing on college football then you probably find yourself all caught up in the middle of coaching debates, quarterback controversies, the heated ACC conference race and the national polls and rankings for the 2010 BCS championship. 

As a result, you might not have noticed that the college basketball season has tipped off once again.  That's right, the roundball is now bouncing its way back into the minds of college sports fans and back onto television screens all across the Country.  In fact Miami has already played two exhibition games and one regular season game which they won over Jacksonville (more on that later).

 
In 2010 your Miami Hurricanes return to the hardwood with high expectations under head coach Frank Haith who is now in his seventh year at UM.  "Faith in Haith" appears to be steadily growing over the last few years as Miami's basketball product has consistently been improving. 

And considering that the Hurricanes play in the ACC, the toughest college basketball conference in the Nation, that is saying quite a bit about the UM men's basketball program.  Last year Miami made a nice run through the ACC tourney before falling to eventual National Champion Duke in the finals.

 
Last Friday against the Dolphins Miami's starting backcourt of Grant (23) and Scott (20 points) scored 43 of the Hurricanes 89 points on 15-of-26 shooting in the 89-77 season-opening win over Jacksonville.

Grant (seen below) set career highs in points (23), steals (3) and field goals made (7), while tying his high in three-point field goals made (4). With his fourth 20-point performance as a Hurricane, Scott has now scored in double figures in nine of his last 10 games.  Miami spread the wealth around and before it was over five Hurricanes had scored in double figures in the season opener against Jacksonville.  

 
Tonight the University of Miami basketball will experience some "Midnight Madness" as they hit the road for the first time during the 2010-11 season to kick off ESPN's third annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon.  The Hurricanes will face #19 Memphis at the FedEx Forum (@ 11:59 PM) on ESPN.

The starting lineup for Miami features a backcourt of Durand Scott and Malcome Grant, forwards DeQuan Jones and Adrian Thomas and Center Reggie Johnson.  Memphis will counter with a squad that features no true Center but three guards in Joe Jackson, Charles Carmouche and Antonio Barton, and forwards Will Coleman and D.J. Stephens.

 
Haith (seen above @ Stetson last year) has led Miami to 22-straight non-conference regular-season wins, dating back to 2008, when UM knocked off perennial power Kentucky in Lexington. The Hurricanes have won nine-straight regular-season games versus non-conference opponents away from home, including four on their opponents' home court.   

The FedEx Forum can be an intimidating place to play, yet the Hurricanes have won several road games under Haith in hostile environments, including the program's first victories at North Carolina (The Dean Dome) and at Kentucky (Rupp Arena).  Miami should be able to handle the crowd noise with the dynamic and dependable Scott at the controls of Miami's potent offense.

PREDICTION: Miami by 5 points.

Comments

[SOUP]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Durand Scott, Malcolm Grant and Reggie Johnson combined for 50 of Miami's 68 points, but it wasn't enough as Miami fell to No. 19 Memphis, 72-68, to kick off ESPN's third annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon in front of 17,873 at FedExForum.

The Hurricanes (1-1) received their expected scoring from guards Scott (20) -- who posted his second-straight 20-point performance and fifth of his career -- and Grant (18). But they also got stellar play from Johnson, who finished with a double-double of 12 points and a career-high tying 12 rebounds despite battling foul trouble all night.

The Hurricanes took a 63-59 lead with 3:55 to play on a free throw and 3-pointer by Grant.

The teams were tied at 66 with a minute left. Will Coleman blocked Scott's layup attempt with just under a minute left, a play that led to a foul that sent Carmouche to the line, where he hit both free throws to give Memphis took the lead for good. The Tigers hit 6 of 8 free throws in the final minute to hang on for the victory.

READ MORE HERE:

http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/111610aac.html

[raizecane]

Tough loss for our hoops team this morning....

[raizecane]

Is everyone still sleeping????

[Ungar]

Is everyone still sleeping????

Posted by: raizecane | November 16, 2010 at 08:36 AM

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz wuh?

[SOUP]

Is everyone still sleeping????

Posted by: raizecane | November 16, 2010 at 08:36 AM

Sleeping or working.

[SOUP]

Nothing like a good basketball feature to kill the blog now is there?

[raizecane]

Sleeping or working.

Posted by: SOUP | November 16, 2010 at 08:46 AM

Maybe sleeping at work, lol

[solarcane]

" Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple's shift to relying heavily on the run has set up Morris to succeed.

How would Harris fare with the changed play-calling? In Harris' two starts before Virginia, when UM run 86 times and he threw 66 passes, he completed 57.5 percent for 441 yards, 4 TD and 0 INT."

Deep inside we all know if we had run the ball all year we would have won the Coastal and Jacory would have had his best year ever.
And had Morris started the entire season with the running game he would have had a monster year.

I still think if Whipple hadn't been so stubborn at the disaster at UNC last year, and started turning the backs loose right then, we would be in awesome shape right now.

[DallasTX Cane]

Posted by: Sebastian57 | November 15, 2010 at 06:31 PM

Thats great work U do Sebastian57. If positive thinking helps, I'll send some your way!

[DallasTX Cane]

"started turning the backs loose right then, we would be in awesome shape right now."

I admire a blogger that knows the correct use of the word "loose"...

[DallasTX Cane]

Deep inside we all know if we had run the ball all year we would have won the Coastal and Jacory would have had his best year ever.
And had Morris started the entire season with the running game he would have had a monster year.

I still think if Whipple hadn't been so stubborn at the disaster at UNC last year, and started turning the backs loose right then, we would be in awesome shape right now.

Posted by: solarcane | November 16, 2010 at 09:25 AM

perhaps. It could also be that a re-worked OL needed 4-5 games to get in synch and learn to play as a coordinated unit. Recall all the complaints, some by me, about the OL play the 1st 2-3 games this year? Neither Randy nor Whip could have known that SH was going to be capable of stepping in and not only playing significant minutes as a freshman, but becoming a starter. There's more coordination required of the OL than any other part of a football team. Integrating a bunch of new guys into a cohesive, badd-azz unit takes time.

we're always looking for a single smoking gun reason for why things happen a certain way. thats not the way life or football works.

I imagine Whip & RS, based on last season & the thumb injury healing, had a lot of faith in Jacory going into the season. We all did. Perhaps they should have realized sooner that this was going to be a bad season for J12? I can buy that criticism.

Just saying that the OL play has been the engine that allows Whip to emphasize the run. Yes we have great RBs, but even the best RB isn't going anywhere without a good OL.

[solarcane]

DTX,
I was thinking along the lines of confidence and domination.
It seems like the O line is starting to have confidence in each other, and really enjoying their new found reputation.
Maybe if they were charged with run blocking and less bocking on long passing plays earlier, all the way back to last year, they would be terrorizing the ACC right now.Just a thought.

I think the confidence and emotion on the team is pure Morris mojo.
I also think a lot of Steven's success is he due to the fact only has to manage the game just like Kenny D did.

Having running backs keeping you ahead of the chains on first and second down instead of third and 10 all day makes life easier for any qb.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000117339359]

I usually dont agree with alot of the things postd Namely Because ... Fair Weather Fans Make Fair Weather Comments and Everybody Swears by being a coach jus not hired yet...that being said...
the ONLY thing said tht makes since out of all tht babbling U guys do about who should be in this spot and who should be fired is Run the Ball More...Other Than Shut Up..U are Wrong and U will Cheer Even IF we Don't Do Things your way...ppl calln for J12 demise but at the same time the kid was MONSTEROUSLY SLAMMD TO THE GROUND...4Get that he works hard and is givn a gameplan that Joe Montana himself wouldn't wanna run pass pass pass pass pass pass pass run pass pass...C'Mon Son...All I ask is that the poor man's coaches shut up this is a great blog and U guy's opinions really make this feel so Seminole...smh...
CANES ova HERE and I Ride with My Coach...
RCCF
12% 4EVA (and if U dont feel the same why are U a CANE)

[DallasTX Cane]

Everything U said is true solar. I think the key word is maybe. Meaning its just as easy to say that the confidence and domination are a function of gaining experience and unit cohesion, especially given that we have a young OL that started the year without much experience. When did SH take over the starting RT position? And, he's a true freshman.

So, maybe U are right. But, its no given that just because the OL is playing very well right now and getting better each game that it was playing on that level to start the season. Seeing as it took a couple of games (3 right?) for the current line-up to even come into being, I'm not convinced that anything the coaches could have done would have turned either OSU or FSU into Ws. OSU maybe (there's that word again) if J12 hits two wide open WRs and we score TDs. Maybe. Nothing would have prevented FSU - that was a simple butt-whipping where we were outplayed played physically, emotionally, etc. VA could have been won. That one is on RS/Whip.

Either way tho, its all good now. The future really does look bright with a freshman QB, young RBs, freshman SH and young OL.

[Ungar]

Speaking of 12% forever, what % in that poll to start the year had us with 3 losses?

I bet those people hate that they were right.

[herbieibis]

This conference stinks, in football. A bunch of average teams and we've fallen into that pit.There's just no big time teams, like the SEC has.The talent is here, especially on offense. Our O-line is going to be something special the next couple of years and our RB's will be off the chart.Our defense worries me because they play good 2 plays and give up a big play.We really are going to need some help on that side of the ball in the future, especially at LB.
We owe Tech and I hope we come to play. It seems like every time we play them everything goes wrong that could go wrong.

[Canez1]

Six hit your boy up.

pmenga38@hotmail.com

It's been a long time bro.

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[raizecane]

CANEZ1 - is that your email address ^^^?

[j.w.]

Speaking of 12% forever, what % in that poll to start the year had us with 3 losses?

I bet those people hate that they were right.

Posted by: Ungar | November 16, 2010 at 11:16 AM
Can't speak for everyone, but I do hate that Ungar. I hate the fact that I may have over-estimated even more.

[raizecane]

When i looked at our schedule, I predicted 3 losses (OSU, FSU and VT). I didn't see the Virginia loss and hope that after Saturday, my 10 - 3 prediction holds true.

[CGNC]

In the beginning of the season I thought we would win one more regular season game than last year. I really thought we would be 8-2 at this point. Oh well.........

[solarcane]

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj201/solarcane/Offensivewizard.jpg

[Six]

Frank Beamer on the Canes special teams:

"I can tell you this team we’re getting ready to play, they’re really good in special teams. You look at their athletic ability and then you look at their schemes and so forth, this is a good crowd we’re getting ready to play special teams-wise."

I know allll the fans of Pannunzio on here completely agree with Coach Beamer

Ha

[DallasTX Cane]

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj201/solarcane/Offensivewizard.jpg

Posted by: solarcane | November 16, 2010 at 01:04 PM

Very good. LOL

[Ungar]

I was picturing that we MIGHT have a loss to OSU, since it was on the road.

But that we had the rest in hand.

FSU at home after we had beaten them on the road? No problem.
UVA that still deserved some extra beatdown for that 48-0 game? No problem.

Was I overconfident? No. I was just sold the Brooklyn Bridge.

[Ungar]

solar, if that guy can bend light, I am SURE he could draw up a gameplan that would work better than what we saw earlier this year.

Too much reliance on the talent of the recievers, not enough reliance on the talent of the runners.

I am SURE noone wants to go to the other end of the spectrum, like GT, but we DO need to make teams gameplan for our running game.

[Ungar]

Six, if the Miami Hurricanes outplay the VT special teams, I will _______.

Well, it won't matter because it won't happen.

[Ungar]

DTX, how many looses did you predict for this year?

[herbieibis]

Aaron Lynch to FSU. These guys all of the sudden have become these kids dream destination. We've been sitting on 7 recruits for 2 months and 1 by 1 I see our chances dwindle of getting a couple high octane players here. I think we are recruting 2 O-lineman, 2 TE's, We have 3 kids left that we are recruting for LB that haven't verballed and maybe 3 DB's left. What the F gives?

[Old Skool]

Six

I'm surprised Coach Beamer didn't compare them to the best special teams he's ever faced.

How preparing for Devin Hester was much easier compared to the returners the Canes have now.

How Jan Stenarud, Garo Yepremian and Adam Vinatieri couldn't hold a candle to Matt Bosher.

How if he had special teams as good as Miami's, he would be undefeated .

The guy can shovel it with the best of them.

[DallasTX Cane]

I predicted 10-2. I thought OSU was a loss and figured we'd drop an ACC game along the way, but didn't try and say which one. I thought we'd win the division and play for the conf champ.

All-in-all, after all the crazy crap thats happened this season, the VA let down is what killed us. Win one easily winnable game and we'd be right where most of us figured...playing VT in Nov for the division...show down time. Who knows?...maybe we win then lightning strikes twice for VA?!? Crazier things have happened.

[solarcane]

KICKOFF RETURNS G No. Yards TD Avg.
1. Virginia Tech 10 35 825 2 23.6
2. Clemson 10 31 724 1 23.4
3. Virginia 10 45 974 2 21.6
4. Duke 10 55 1174 0 21.3
5. Georgia Tech 10 39 827 0 21.2
6. North Carolina 10 33 699 0 21.2
7. Wake Forest 10 59 1234 0 20.9
8. NC State 10 33 636 0 19.3
9. Florida State 10 41 778 0 19.0
10. Miami 10 30 561 1 18.7
11. Boston College 10 46 812 0 17.7
12. Maryland 10 37 650 0 17.6

PUNT RETURN AVG G No. Yards TD Avg.
1. Maryland 10 30 578 2 19.3
2. Virginia Tech 10 18 246 1 13.7
3. Clemson 10 25 303 0 12.1
4. North Carolina 10 10 101 0 10.1
5. Florida State 10 29 265 1 9.1
6. Wake Forest 10 12 101 0 8.4
7. Duke 10 20 151 0 7.6
8. Virginia 10 18 132 0 7.3
9. Georgia Tech 10 18 116 0 6.4
10. NC State 10 18 115 2 6.4
11. Miami 10 23 127 1 5.5
12. Boston College 10 20 102 0 5.1

[Six]

Canez1 - email sent

[solarcane]

KICKOFF COVERAGE G No. Yards Avg. Return TB Net Avg.
1. Florida State 10 61 4076 66.8 491 34 47.6
2. Virginia Tech 10 70 4717 67.4 1027 24 45.9
3. Georgia Tech 10 54 3428 63.5 902 4 45.3
4. Duke 10 51 3315 65.0 813 10 45.1
5. Virginia 10 54 3508 65.0 799 15 44.6
6. Clemson 10 51 3316 65.0 1011 2 44.4
7. Miami 10 56 3535 63.1 970 11 41.9
8. Boston College 10 45 2731 60.7 792 3 41.8
9. NC State 10 66 4183 63.4 1354 4 41.7
10. North Carolina 10 52 3291 63.3 1070 3 41.6
11. Maryland 10 60 3630 60.5 1105 2 41.4
12. Wake Forest 10 48 2943 61.3 921 4 40.5

FIELD GOALS G Made-Att Pct.
1. Duke 10 18-19 .947
2. Virginia Tech 10 17-18 .944
3. Wake Forest 10 9-10 .900
4. Georgia Tech 10 12-14 .857
5. North Carolina 10 11-13 .846
6. Boston College 10 16-19 .842
7. Maryland 10 9-11 .818
8. NC State 10 15-19 .789
9. Florida State 10 13-17 .765
10. Miami 10 9-12 .750
11. Virginia 10 9-14 .643
12. Clemson 10 9-18 .500

PAT KICKING G Made-Att Pct.
1. Maryland 10 41-41 1.000
Florida State 10 40-40 1.000
Virginia 10 35-35 1.000
North Carolina 10 31-31 1.000
Duke 10 28-28 1.000
Wake Forest 10 26-26 1.000
7. NC State 10 40-41 .976
8. Virginia Tech 10 39-40 .975
9. Clemson 10 30-31 .968
10. Georgia Tech 10 29-30 .967
11. Boston College 10 20-21 .952
12. Miami 10 31-36 .861

[solarcane]

I think we broke VT's last 8 game winning streak back in 05 when VT was rolling right along.

[Six]

Old Skool - Beamer and Daffy Duck Holtz when he was coaching, definitely have their Liebherr 320 Ton Dump Trucks filled with it

Every week when Holtz was coaching, you'd think he was coaching Prairie View A&M and they were going up against the 2001 Canes

He'd do a better hype job for the other team than anyone on this earth

Maybe Beamer's DVR or game film is stuck on the 2 returns in the Ohio State game and that's it

It's like he's a Japanese soldier found on some deserted island in the pacific, who thinks WW2 is still going on

[CGNC]

I know allll the fans of Pannunzio on here completely agree with Coach Beamer

Ha

Posted by: Six | November 16, 2010 at 01:19 PM

Oh yesss..........

[solarcane]

I was looking at VTs stats
They have won at least 10 games every season they have been in the ACC.

We have never won 10 games in the ACC.

[Six]

CGNC - did you check out any of those online games ... miniclip.com has a bunch - good time waster at work if you need a break and can't leave your desk

I'm like a crack addict with a few of them, and other people know when I'm playing them at work b/c I either yell something good or something bad depending on what happened

[j.w.]

herbie, recruiting this year is going to really disappoint you. Not saying all the signees are not good players, but we're not beating out any of the other local powers for top name recruits.

[herbieibis]

If the Defnse comes to play & the special teams don't have any hiccups and Morris manages the game we should handle Va. Tech. We can't let Tyrod roam all over the field. We have to flush and dust this Bum.
It looks like we sink or swim with Morris because I believe Jaboney is officially out.

[Ungar]

I was looking at VTs stats
They have won at least 10 games every season they have been in the ACC.

We have never won 10 games in the ACC.

Posted by: solarcane | November 16, 2010 at 02:05 PM

Yes we did! 5 ACC wins last year plus 5 ACC wins this year!

Oh wait, you mean in the same year? "Nevermind."

[DallasTX Cane]

For Miami to be # 10 and 11 in kick returns is wack

[DallasTX Cane]

Oh yesss..........

Posted by: CGNC | November 16, 2010 at 02:01 PM

Oh my...

What up CG?

[solarcane]

Oh wait, you mean in the same year? "Nevermind."

ungar,
I'm talking about 10 total wins counting everybody we play in the entire season.
Even counting the FAMUs, Charleston Southerens,Central Floridas,Dukes, Virginias we have never won 10 games in a season in the ACC.

Pretty lean times since we jumped from the Big Easy

[solarcane]

DTX the special team stats really suck

No one tackles, no consistency from the returners.

Even as much as I like Bosher
him costing us 14 points so far on missed field goals and extra points seems unreal to me.

[Canestruck]

Posted by: solarcane | November 16, 2010 at 03:47 PM

Tyrone Cornelius is a stud on special teams this year. Makes at least 1 tackle a game

[solarcane]

canestruck,
I like how hard Cornelius hits .
But I don't see anybody really excelling out there.

39 Tyrone Cornelius: 8 games 3 tackles 2 assists 5 total

(Bosher has 2)

Think how many times (plays) we kick per game on special teams. That is how many opportunities a player has to make a tackle.

C-mac as a sophomore, Sam Shields, those guys went down and made tackle after tackle.
These current guys not so much.
But no disrespect to TC or Nelms they hustle

[CGNC]

six - no I haven't but am bored right now so maybe today

DTC - LOL I was responding to Six's post about Beamer raving about our special teams.

Six, we don't know - was Beamer winking and throwing back a few when he said that? LOL

[Ungar]

ungar,
I'm talking about 10 total wins counting everybody we play in the entire season.

Posted by: solarcane | November 16, 2010 at 03:29 PM

Oh, I know, I was just doing an Emily Litella.

However, that stat is kind of misleading, makes it look like the ACC has stopped us from getting ten wins. Even if we had stayed in the Big East, the teams we had that were in decline and are now rebuilding would MAYBE have won 10 games in one year.

It isn't that the ACC is that much better than the Big East, it is just that we got worse just as we changed conferences.

Or look at it this way, if we had jumped in 1999, do you think that it stops us from going 37-2 the next three years?