It is always great to be a Miami Hurricane.
But today, if it is possible, it seems it may be just a little better than great.
When, even in your wildest dreams, did you think you would be able to say this out loud: "The University of Miami won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship in basketball!"
That's right, forget Tobacco Road, it is time for the ACC to get used to a South Beach diet of strong defense, excellent coaching and a well executed offense. All of this courtesy of a team wearing orange and green that will not quit and simply would not be denied.
In a conference of blue-blood teams like Duke and North Carolina, your Miami Hurricanes went into Greensboro, NC and walked out with their heads held high and as winners of their first ever ACC title in basketball.
The ninth-ranked Hurricanes now have the program's first Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championship to go with its first regular-season title.
Miami's Shane Larkin scored a career-high 28 points, eight coming in the final 2:30 minutes, to help No. 9 Miami pull away late to beat North Carolina 87-77 in Sunday's final. Trey McKinney Jones added a career-high 20 points for the top-seeded Hurricanes (27-6), including the go-ahead 3-pointer from the left corner with 6:27 left that started Miami's final push to secure the program's first ACC tournament title.
In a terrific back-and-forth game filled with big shots, the Hurricanes finally slowed P.J. Hairston and the third-seeded Tar Heels (24-10) enough to secure what amounted to a road win in front of UNC's home-state crowd.
Larkin was chosen the tournament's MVP after finishing as the runner-up for league player of the year to Virginia Tech's Erick Green. But Larkin was at his best when the Hurricanes needed him in a tight game to complete their surprise run from being picked fifth in the preseason poll to ACC champion.
Miami shot 51 percent and made 12 of 22 3-pointers, six coming from McKinney Jones and four from Larkin. Miami used its size advantage against North Carolina's four-guard lineup to take a 36-28 rebounding advantage that led to 13 second-chance points.
Larkin drove by Dexter Strickland for a layup and a 76-71 lead, then McKinney Jones struck again with a 3 from the left corner off a feed from Rion Brown that made it 79-71 with 1:36 left - the Hurricanes' biggest lead to that point. Larkin also went 6-for-6 at the foul line in the final minute to keep Miami
in control.
It was an emotional moment for Miami seniors Durand Scott, Reggie Johnson and Julian Gamble - who were all part of the team that was a last-place seed in the 2010 tournament that made the program's first run to the semifinals.
As the confetti fell from the rafters of the Greensboro Coliseum after the game, Scott leapt into the arms of Gamble, then shared a hug with Johnson.
The question now is how the win will affect Miami's NCAA tournament seeding and whether the Hurricanes have done enough to earn a No. 1 seed?
1ST BABY !!!
Posted by: SEBAS13 | March 17, 2013 at 04:39 PM
Oh, and IT'S A GIRL! Second girl Cane on the way!
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | March 17, 2013 at 03:37 PM
CONGRATS!
Posted by: 86Cane | March 17, 2013 at 04:43 PM
Third!
(... win over the Tar Heels!)
Posted by: VfB_Cane | March 17, 2013 at 04:45 PM
86 thanks man for having the best Canes blog ever. U da man bruh.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | March 17, 2013 at 04:56 PM
Miami is 1st ACC team other than Duke or UNC to win ACC reg season & tourney in same year since 1974.
Posted by: 86Cane | March 17, 2013 at 04:57 PM
So happy for our Canes bball team.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | March 17, 2013 at 04:57 PM
86 thanks man for having the best Canes blog ever. U da man bruh.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | March 17, 2013 at 04:56 PM
If U really mean that, and I think U are a man of your word, then do this: Stay off that other blog with all of the "cupcakes" and "icing". I'm jus sayin...
Posted by: 86Cane | March 17, 2013 at 04:59 PM
Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pje6tDEJWmw&feature=youtu.be
Posted by: 86Cane | March 17, 2013 at 05:02 PM
Congrats, Ohio... I have 3 chicas...
Posted by: MIA Chi 'Cane '98 | March 17, 2013 at 05:13 PM
"We are the champions, my friends."
Posted by: 2002nemo | March 17, 2013 at 05:13 PM
top 10 again!! just can't keep up with 86.
Congrats to the U, great season and a well earned championship.
Now, off to the big dance!!
Posted by: Account Deleted | March 17, 2013 at 05:14 PM
Okay 86.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | March 17, 2013 at 05:21 PM
Road to Atlanta is in full effect for our Canes.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | March 17, 2013 at 05:24 PM
I just hope Golden is watching this team and how much heart they have...the ACC is much tougher in b-ball than in football. The Canes football team needs to step it up a notch next year period!!! Go Canes!!!!
Posted by: JRamos | March 17, 2013 at 05:25 PM
Meanwhile at Duke...and at Indiana...and at North Carolina...and at Kentucky....
Emergency recruiting alarms blared. Blast doors shut with alarming speed. College basketball coaching staffs scrambled as the word spread via Internet, hotlines, and word of mouth.
Coach K sat in his chair, a look of disbelief on his face as he watched the celebration taking place on television. The images of confetti falling, the ACC championship won by the one team that could never be allowed to win it.
"It has happened," he said in a whisper. "The sleeping giant has awakened."
Posted by: TonyCane | March 17, 2013 at 05:29 PM
What a great day! 86, I know today is the reason why you took the initiative to start this site in the first place. in 07 so it's awesome. to finally have a day like today to celebrate on here with all the bloggers who make this into the greatness it is!
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | March 17, 2013 at 05:34 PM
OGV well said man.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | March 17, 2013 at 05:37 PM
I'm typing on my phone Terrance so that's why the bad punctuation but I know you're enjoying the he'll out of all the upset UM/ND football/basketball Miami "fans" being rear end sore today my man!
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | March 17, 2013 at 06:09 PM
Hell and NC not he'll and the Itrash, like I said, phone typing!
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | March 17, 2013 at 06:11 PM
Miami is 1st ACC team other than Duke or UNC to win ACC reg season & tourney in same year since 1974.
Posted by: 86Cane | March 17, 2013 at 04:57 PM
And now Miami is the first team to do that and NOT be a 1-seed ...
Posted by: VfB_Cane | March 17, 2013 at 06:25 PM
Canes a 2 seed. First game vs 15 seed Pacific
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | March 17, 2013 at 06:31 PM
Friday ^^^
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | March 17, 2013 at 06:32 PM
When Larkin looks to score we are dangerous. I feel sorry for Reggie but coach L was correct parking his butt on the bench.
Posted by: Canesteeler | March 17, 2013 at 06:36 PM
Got to service the brand names NCAA, from selection to enforcement. Tools.
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | March 17, 2013 at 06:36 PM
Mike Bobinski (NCAA Selection Committee) about deciding the 1s: "We talked about it Thursday night, Friday nicht, Saturday night right until this morning."
Too bad the Canes didn't get to play the championship game before lunchtime.
Posted by: VfB_Cane | March 17, 2013 at 06:47 PM
Team reaction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACSw9R6KzJ8
Posted by: VfB_Cane | March 17, 2013 at 07:01 PM
OGV I am loving it and I am typing from my phone as well so I know my spelling can be awful at times. I love our position in the tournament. Our Canes just need to keep doing the Damn thing and it's should be all good maybe just maybe our Canes can not only get to D.C. but then on to Atlanta and hopefully cutting down the nets on April 8th around 10:45pm.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | March 17, 2013 at 07:05 PM
Road to Atlanta is in full effect for our Canes.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | March 17, 2013 at 05:24 PM
There IT is right there.
Posted by: 86Cane | March 17, 2013 at 07:39 PM
OGV...with all of the turmoil and struggles U and I have been through together, with all of the traveling and watching UM sports in many locations and in many sports...
THIS IS AS SWEET AS IT GETS!
Posted by: 86Cane | March 17, 2013 at 07:42 PM
Yahooooooooooooo!!
We got some Canes over here!!
Posted by: Jack | March 17, 2013 at 07:42 PM
UM scoring: Larkin...Scott...Jones.
The Bermuda triangle?
Posted by: 86Cane | March 17, 2013 at 07:43 PM
I've woken up at 1am every morning for the last three days to watch the games and should be dragging at work today. But I am so proud and excited about the season this team has given us! My feet haven't touche the ground yet. Someday, I'm going to the Schwartz Center and taking a pic with the ACC trophy and then I'm going to the BUC and stand under our championship banner!
Posted by: KiriJax | March 17, 2013 at 08:13 PM
Kiri...and when U do that, U must wear Canespace!
Posted by: 86Cane | March 17, 2013 at 08:33 PM
ACC Tourney Champs.............CHECK
Next stop the BIG DANCE BABY!!
52 Days or so left...
Posted by: DeployedDiehardCane | March 17, 2013 at 08:38 PM
86Cane,
I'll swing by and pick up one on my way to the BUC!!!
On a side note, the men's tennis team got their first ACC win of the season, beating Georgia Tech 4-3. This was a must win if they are going to get to the NCAA tourney this year. Record is now 10-5. They're already two wins ahead of last year's total!
Posted by: KiriJax | March 17, 2013 at 08:46 PM
The Canes lost one game too many, or they'd be a #1 seed. A high #2 seed is the best they could've gotten with all of the teams in front of them going down along with quite the nice run through the ACC the last few days.
Regarding today's game vs. UNC, I was quite pleased with the level of play. There were mistakes, but way fewer than vs. NCState. They still would have lost given Hairston and the rest of the UNC 3 point shooting, just like Kelly with Duke a few weeks ago, if not for the fact that they were just as hot from behind the arc. Both teams had to be thinking WTF do we gotta do to pull away from this team. The d really wasn't bad on either side, but the passing was good, the 3s were falling, even when they really shouldn't have been, and we had a high-scoring output from the U for the first time in a while. The inside game wasn't bad, with big bodies eating up the rebounds (as they should vs. the UNC small lineup). It would still be nice to see big Reg actually go up strong and make a few baskets, as there are going to be some teams with far more of an inside presence if the U is to make a run.
Key question to me is how the F does FU get a #3 seed out of this after being #13 ranked and getting their butts handed to them by Ole Miss in the SEC championship?! That's all the time FU deserves here for discussion though.
The U opens vs. U of the Pacific on 3/22. Don't overlook them, but the games truly start getting harder right after, with the Ill vs. Colorado winner being in game 2. The likely (as if upsets don't happen in the tnmt.) opponent in game 3 (if) would be the Butler vs. Marquette winner, so the A game is going to have be played truly from here out. No more GTech or WFU type games are going to work. The other half of the East bracket has IU at #1, with the only game that looks potentially scary for them being in their second round matchup vs. good old NC State. Otherwise, the U would have to win game 4 likely vs. IU to get to the Final 4, taking on the KU (south) bracket from there.
Duke, on the other hand, lands as the last #2 seed in the Midwest bracket, paired with overall top seed Louisville (boy, did they take it to Syracuse in the second half..anyone here remember the last time a top 20 team blew a 13 point halftime lead to lose by 17?). Amazing how the midwest bracket lands them in Philly to open things. Guess I have a geography problem..while the east landing Canes are in Texas. Duke gets the nice draw for second round game vs. the Creighton-Cinci. winner. Their path looks a bit easier to me, but I wouldn't want to have to deal with Louisville right now. Of course, Duke would only worry about it if making it to the Elite 8, so who cares.
Enough mental masturbation for the night. Great day to be a Cane basketball fan. C'mon in, recruits, and let's keep on building! Congrats Coach L. and the team, for winning the most important game in the team's history. The key character issue in the last two games is that they didn't fold when UNC was pounding the 3s or vs. NC State when making mistakes and letting them close within 6 a few times.
Posted by: JCane | March 17, 2013 at 09:00 PM
Soup,
This is the first "banner" we have hung in any sport since we all met on on the Sun Sentinel blog all those years ago! Congrat's to all who have hung in during the good and the bad!
Go 'canes!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | March 17, 2013 at 09:05 PM
We are now a basketball school!!
Posted by: Brevardcane | March 17, 2013 at 09:05 PM
I like the Canes changes to make the Final Four. Any team that wins the ACC regular season and tournament deserves much respect. Coach L and company really stepped up, and Larkin is the difference maker for this team.
Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | March 17, 2013 at 09:07 PM
We are now a basketball school!!
Posted by: Brevardcane | March 17, 2013 at 09:05 PM
Today we are dypshyt but come Sep 7 you'll realize that we are once again a football power as well! So sorry that the Floriduh Gaytors couldn't win arguably the weakest conference of all the major conferences!
Go 'canes!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | March 17, 2013 at 09:14 PM
Numbers don't lie. Only Kansas has a better resume. They showed it on ESPN. We had the resume over Indianar Zaga and Louisville Better record against top 50 opponents higher bpi and a clean sweep of the ACC. When one of the biggest haters of the U on the planet are shaking their heads then you now that NCCA is the #1 but hey you can't hold a good thing down. That's why I always have always will be a CANE til I die.
Posted by: antcane | March 17, 2013 at 09:36 PM
Sota...no it is actually the second banner for our crew. UM baseball won the ACC tourney back in 2008.
Posted by: 86Cane | March 17, 2013 at 09:42 PM
Oh yeah we got some canes OVA HERE!!!
Posted by: antcaneakaanthonyjmanis | March 17, 2013 at 09:43 PM
Congratulations to the team ...the converted on the threes when it counted. That's what makes champions. I looks like we are gonna be a good tournament team. And also hitting the 10 out of ten free throws at the end. Ive got a lot of confidence in this team. Is all they do is just win baby! Its a cane thang.
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | March 17, 2013 at 09:44 PM
The boys really stepped up today and took unc's best shot to da mouf and shook it off!!!!
Posted by: WWIN | March 17, 2013 at 09:45 PM
Sota...here U go:
http://canespace.typepad.com/canespace/2008/05/canes-are-the-2.html
http://canespace.typepad.com/canespace/2008/05/loving-every-mi.html
Posted by: 86Cane | March 17, 2013 at 09:49 PM
Just hours after winning the 2013 ACC Tournament championship, the Miami Hurricanes are tied with the Indiana Hoosiers at No. 4 in the USA TODAY final regular-season Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Miami (27-6) jumped six spots from No. 10 after completing a sweep of the ACC regular-season and tournament titles. The Canes are the No. 2 seed in the East Region of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship and will face No. 15 seed Pacific on Friday in Austin, Texas. Miami’s 2 seed is tied for the lowest seed in program history; the Canes were a 2 seed in the East Region of the 1999 NCAA Championship.
Miami and Indiana finished with 639 total points each, and both were 64 points behind No. 3 Kansas.
The USA TODAY Sports Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Posted by: 86Cane | March 17, 2013 at 09:51 PM
Nice correction Soup! We'll be correcting the football conference next December!
Go 'canes!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | March 17, 2013 at 09:55 PM
Nothing like going into what basically was there home court and silencing espn and that croud. That's what Canes do. No surprise there.
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | March 17, 2013 at 09:56 PM
ACC / UM 2008 baseball title:
http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/052508aac.html
http://www.hurricanesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=658425&SPID=103774&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=28700&ATCLID=205551393
Posted by: 86Cane | March 17, 2013 at 09:58 PM