The Heat Is On

When New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott said: "Can't wait!", he must have been referring to the University of Miami men's 2013-14 basketball schedule.

It now seems that Scott must have known that the UM basketball team will play host to some of the nation’s top teams during the upcoming season.

After a record setting year in Coral Gables last season is it even remotely possible for Jim Larranaga and his band of merry warriors, many of whom will be completely new to the team, to manage a repeat?

The Atlantic Coast Conference announced that the Hurricaneswill host Duke, Syracuse, Pitt, Notre Dame and rival Florida State at the BankUnited Centeras part of an impressive ACC schedule. Dates have not been released at this time.

Miami beat perennial ACC power Duke at the BankUnited Center in 2012-13, dethroning No. 1 Duke, 90-63, before a sold-out crowd on Jan. 23. The Canes also beat in-state rival Florida State when the Seminoles traveled to Coral Gables in 2013. Coming off their impressive win over Duke, Miami knocked off the Noles, 71-47, on Jan. 27.

Miami will host ACC newcomers Syracuse, Pitt and Notre Dame in their first season in the league. The new addition of teams will help renew old rivalries from Miami’s time in the BIG EAST.

In addition to games against Duke, Syracuse, Pitt, Notre Dame and Florida State, the Canes will also host Virginia Tech, NC State, Wake Forest and Boston College in the 2013-14 season.

The Canes will travel to Florida State, Virginia Tech, Syracuse and NC State, as well as Georgia Tech, Clemson, North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland during the 2013-14 season.

This past season, Miami was 29-7 and reached the Sweet 16 in the 2013 NCAA tournament. The Canes secured victories over No. 1 Duke, No. 13 Michigan State, No. 19 NC State and North Carolina en route to their first ACC regular season championship. Miami also won the 2013 ACC tournament to secure the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.

Comments

[LB]

Two firsts?

[LB]

Looks like I've got two firsts in this season. Not bad for a sophomore.

[Terrance Sullivan]

That's a awesome home conference schedule. I plan on going to some of those games at the BUC.

[86Cane]

Kenyon...from the last blog and your comment on Sony's recruitment I have to say: Excellent comment, appreciate U.

[4-Real]

I see yall still playing that 4-Real is a troll bullcrap, erasing my posts & whatnot. I been posting on this blob longer than your STAFF members 86!!! Contrary to popular belief I'M THE R, THE E, A-L I AM, IF I WASN'T THEN WHY WOULD I SAY I AM???!!!

[orange 'n green in the vein]

/\/\/\/\

In the papers, the news, every day you are? I don't know it's just the way you are.

[CoCane]

I thought Demetrius Henry was supposed to announce which school he would go to between South Carolina & Miami? Anyone heard anything?

[86Cane]

Cue white-knighting for the guys from Temple in three, two, one . . .

Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | April 23, 2013 at 08:08 PM

The guys from Temple are White Knights.

[Old Skool]

Are we talking the Knights Templer?

[Tonycane]

All I can saw is that even if Sony commits to Georgia on Friday...nothing is locked in stone. He has signed nothing, not a letter of commitment or a Faustian pact. When Miami wins 10 games this year (or more), we'll be in great shape to flip him in December or January.

[Montreal-Cane]

When Miami wins 10 games this year (or more), we'll be in great shape to flip him in December or January.

Posted by: Tonycane | April 23, 2013 at 09:28 PM

Yes sir!

[CaneRock]

I thought Demetrius Henry was supposed to announce which school he would go to between South Carolina & Miami? Anyone heard anything?

Posted by: CoCane | April 23, 2013 at 08:48 PM

Last 2 tweets from His account:

Spoke to Demetrius Henry @ptp_meat. Says he should have his decision made by tonight. Announcement tomorrow. #UM #SouthCarolina
Demetrius Henry @ptp_meat

Pretty much ready for tomorrow9:19 PM - 23 Apr 2013

[CoCane]

Thanks CaneRock

[TBCane]

It seems like Brissett started off a trend that the current regime hasn't been able to turn around yet

.

This is just misinformation.

Brissett, came from a gator feeder school, with a gator head coach, was considered a strong gator lean for his entire recruitment period, with Miami only becoming a factor at the very end because of Golden. What's so pathetic about your comment is that your hero, Randy Shannon, never even gave him so much as a phone call.

That's just the absolute worst example I can think of to make your point. It actually reinforces the opposite point. But don't let the truth get in the way of your obsessive vendetta against the current coaching staff.

[CaneRock]

I mean seriously, does it matter if we get Sony M.?

Is it gonna matter that we didn't get Alex Collins?

Did it matter that we didn't get Patrick Petersen?

Did it matter that we didn't get Bryce Brown? He didn't do squat against us when we played KSU.

Alright, who else didn't we get that it didn't matter LMAO!

[86Cane]

It actually reinforces the opposite point. But don't let the truth get in the way of your obsessive vendetta against the current coaching staff.

Posted by: TBCane | April 23, 2013 at 11:01 PM

ABSOLUTELY.

[kenyon19ypr]

No problem 86. Just trying to keep everyone level-headed a solid nine months before NSD haha...

BTW- Doesn't an Allen Hurns numbered comment get a t-shirt? :)

[Sarasota 'cane]

That's just the absolute worst example I can think of to make your point. It actually reinforces the opposite point. But don't let the truth get in the way of your obsessive vendetta against the current coaching staff.

Posted by: TBCane | April 23, 2013 at 11:01 PM

Wow, the voice of reason! Another dagger flung into the back of the "cup is ALWAYS half empty" crowd!

Go 'canes!

[Felipe]

This is just misinformation.

Brissett, came from a gator feeder school, with a gator head coach, was considered a strong gator lean for his entire recruitment period, with Miami only becoming a factor at the very end because of Golden. What's so pathetic about your comment is that your hero, Randy Shannon, never even gave him so much as a phone call.

That's just the absolute worst example I can think of to make your point. It actually reinforces the opposite point. But don't let the truth get in the way of your obsessive vendetta against the current coaching staff.

Posted by: TBCane | April 23, 2013 at 11:01 PM

All of this.

He had an Erie recruit 50/50 between Miami and Ferentz ffs. Yeah wow we lost that battle, big shocker, but we would've had 0.0% chance without the effort Golden put in. Such unbelievable misinformation / distortion.

[CaneRock]

Far as I can remember, Golden went after 3 QBs (Rudock,Souza, and Brissett) after He couldn't land Bridgewater. And IMO, 2 of the 3 (Rudock and Brissett) were GARBAGE!

[CaneRock]

BTW, I liked the Souza kid, big mobile kid, with a real good arm. But in any event, I like where we're headed at the QB position.

[LB]

Sunny Odogwu!

[86Cane]

Off to the 305. Canes baseball and The Titanic Brewery is on tap for tonight.

"CAN'T WAIT!"

[UMike]

Ok...I am going to try this again and hopefully my point will come across lol..for what seems to be a new list of UMike haters, PLEASE read the entire post before you start to hammer away lol....

First let me start by saying I am NOT a Golden hater. In fact I have always praised Golden for his work and have always trusted their evaluation of players. You can go check the records, but I would hope there is any amount of bloggers who can back me up on that. I support the idea of not just throwing out offers to kids, I support and like the idea of camps and letting kids earn an offer, even if their a 2-star nobody according to Rivals. The only thing I have openly questioned about this staff and/or Golden is D'No. Again..if anyone knows me or has read my comments over the last couple years they can tell you I am far from a Golden hater.

Second, I do not think the sky is falling, nor do I think one recruit (no matter whom) can make or break a program with perhaps Cam Newton being the one exception. My "issue" is with the trend of top local players getting away. And just so you know SOUP, I never said we "lost" a player, simply "lost out" on a player lol...Going back to Patrick Peterson there has been a steady flow of top local recruits getting away. I am not talking about the TY Hilton's of the world, I know Miami cannot get ALL of the talented local kids, but we should not be missing out on so many top local talents. When I think of the players we missed out on I am thinking of Patrick Peterson, Amari Cooper, Alex Collins, Matthew Thomas, Denver Kirkland and MAYBE Sony Michel. Im sure there are others I missed, but those stick out. Of those I mentioned, none were from "feeder" schools to other programs, in fact the majority of them should be or have been Miami feeder schools. The players I mention here are not just some local kid, but elite prospects in our back yard. Matthew Thomas was a consensus 5-Star, ranked as high as 15th in the nation. Sony Michal is the 5th highest rated player in nation. Amari Cooper was the 5th best WR in the Nation. I'm sure you see my point. These guys are not just local kids we missed out on, but national recognized elite talent.

Of course some of those guys might be busts and the point would be mute. We have had our share of elite guys we missed out on or who left the program like Willie Williams of Bryce Brown. Obviously, Miami was fine without those two guys, but would you say Miami wouldn't have been a lot better if we had Patrick Peterson??? That kid was a game changer and would of been playing along side Brandon Harris. So while most of us agree that missing out on ONE guy will not make or break your program, HAVING one or two of those guys (lets say Peterson & Cooper) would of have a big impact on the Miami program and the amount of wins we had.

Lastly, we I said it would be impossible to get back to the top, I said it in regards to the $EC. Of course some pathetic troll took that one line and blasted it all over as if that was the only thing I said. WHAT I MEAN IS...With what the $EC has "to offer", mixed with the incredible media hype of the SEC, it is going to be hard to get back on top for Miami or any school outside the $EC, especially if we continuously lose elite prospects in out own back yard. SOUP, you asked what I think they should do...and I have no clue lol...I know we cant outbid them and I know we dont do package deals unless we actually want both players and I WANT Miami to do it the right way, but I just wonder if that will be enough has college football moves forward. Golden has made great strides with Artie Burns being a great example. This kid was committed to Alabama and had a coach that hated on Miami all year, but Golden got him to flip and stay home. The thing is, we need more of that. IF...IF..IF, we LOSE OUT on Sony Michel, if would just feel like such a big blow. Not because one player is the end of the world, or not because the staff sucks and not because the sky is falling...but because Miami recruited him since 8th grade, he is a known (and legit) Miami fan whose family wants him close to home. You add all that up and it still may not be enough to keep him from going to the $EC. Not even Alabama who is winning titles, but freakin UGA who never successfully recruits South Florida.

I know we all say "next man up", and that is fine. But we need to get over the whole "I only want kids that want to be Canes" nonsense, because there arent enough of them around any more lol.

AGAIN, sky not falling, not a Golden hater, no agenda, not worried about losing 1 kid...I just see what I think is a trend and a troublesome problem for the whole nation in regards to the $EC. Hopefully I was clear enough lol

[Ohio_Cane]

TexCane @ CanesInsight:

Miami has offered DT prospect Elisha Shawfrom Tucker, Georgia. Shaw is rated 97 and ranks as the #2 DT prospect in the nation by the 247Sports Composite. Elisha stands 6'-5" at 295 lbs. More to come.

[Ohio_Cane]

Rainier Perez ‏@MrRay22 17m

Just spoke to northeast high staff member here in auditorium. She said doors will open at 10am. Demetrius (Henry) will be announcing around 10:30

[CaneRock]

Barry Jackson:

### Kansas State point guard Angel Rodriguez’s transfer to UM drew closer to reality Tuesday. “Miami is where he wants to go and they are interested,” said Art Alvarez, his coach with the Miami Tropics. “It looks very promising.”

Rodriguez, second-team All Big 12 last season, could not play in 2013-14 - unless he gets a waiver on the NCAA transfer rule because of family hardship - but would have two seasons of eligibility left. He is transferring to be closer to his mother and two brothers, who live in Puerto Rico.

Alvarez, who expects Rodriguez will have to sit out next season, compares his game with NBA guard J.J. Barea’s.

UM received his release from K-State today.

Meanwhile, UM is one of several schools pursuing physical 6-9 forward Tarik Black, who is graduating from Memphis and is eligible to play for another college this coming season.

### Remember how UM quietly accepted it when the NCAA threatened to believe Nevin Shapiro’s claims if former players didn’t agree to be interviewed by the NCAA? Miami is now protesting that, and with good reason.

“The enforcement staff attempted to coerce former student athletes by sending them correspondence in November 2012 indicating that if they failed to cooperate, Shapiro’s jailhouse tales about them would be established as true,” UM wrote in a motion to the NCAA’s infractions committee. “Such intimidation is yet but another example of the enforcement staff’s desperate and unprofessional” actions.

We hear about a half dozen players spoke to the NCAA as a result of the threat, but their testimony wasn’t very damaging. Former safety Randy Phillips told people he spoke to the NCAA because he didn’t want to be barred from UM’s training room while rehabbing an injury and trying to get back to the NFL.

Former receiver Jason Geathers spoke to the NCAA “but had nothing to give them,” said his agent, Daniel Rose. “Jason said, ‘Larry Coker warned us about this guy.’” Ex-Canes linebacker Carl Walker also told people he spoke to the NCAA.

### Some of the NCAA’s mistakes in the UM case are laughable. In one 2012 e-mail to UM obtained by The Herald, since-fired investigator Abigail Grantstein wrote about trying to determine whether “Durand Scott’s and Reggie Mitchell’s eligibility have been jeopardized.” There is no Reggie Mitchell. It’s Reggie Johnson.

[CaneRock]

UMike, SOUP's right, we can't compete with the SEC with all those fringe benefits they supposedly give recruits, and their parents.
Frankly, I don't knock Petersen's parents for gettin' in on the action, I would've probably done the same thing. Hell, compared to Miami, $60-70,000 a year goes a LOOOOOOOOONG! way in Louisiana,Alabama, and Mississippi.

[LB]

I stipulate with most of your comments, UMike. I do think UM missed out on a lot of high-end talent for a number of reasons, Shannon being one of them.

I'll put this as bluntly as I can without breaching confidentiality.

If a person can be swayed by money/gifts/employment/etc., the $EC will win 95% of the time. Furthermore, they have the backing and blind eyes of the NCAA (at least this current administration) due to the fact that they produce titles, give ratings, and generate revenue... a vicious cycle. Many folks would be swayed. Growing up poor sucks, and all of a sudden a leprechaun with a pot of gold shows up in the form of the $outh Eastern Conference. It would be tough to say no, perhaps impossible. Everyone wants to get ahead, and I don't blame folks for doing it.

Stipends won't solve the problem, either. The $EC will just one up their competition. For many of you who stargaze (I'm not including you, UMike. You seem rational and cool), it will seem like the sky is falling. Hell, it may appear that UM has a ceiling.

Let me preface this last statement by stating that this is recruiting, and recruiting is utterly ridiculous. It's not football season, and it's reactionary at best until NSD.

There is only one course to beat this game. UM must change the culture, and the only way of doing so...

...is winning.

1. Win by taking control of a mediocre & historically horrible postseason conference by the throat. The 2013 schedule is at the bare minimum... 9 wins and an outright Coastal title. Anything less is failure.

2. Win a bowl game, and any bowl game shall do. This hasn't happened December 31st, 2006 vs. a suspect Nevada team. It's been more than 6 years. Enough.

3. Be ranked at the end of the postseason. Doing #1 and #2 will accomplish that.

4. Win the ACC title. Beat the Clemsons and the FSPoos. However, this is not as important as #1, #2, or #3.

The first three points are a given for the powers in football, especially in the ACC. It's got to happen. Now.

Sony Michel has absolutely nothing to do with the 2013 schedule and winning a bowl game. Nothing. I have nothing against him and would love to have him join RBU. I would love to see a high-end recruit help swing momentum for the future, but honestly...

...eff the future for this season. We haven't had a schedule this good and an offense this potent since 2004 (Berlin/Gore/Parrish/Olsen).

Win. Win hard, win ugly, win big. Just win. Protect Stephen Morris and win. Punish them with Duke Johnson and win. Invent a pass rush and win. Win by not dropping passes. Win by beating the teams you're supposed to beat.

Just win, and the rest will take care of itself.

[CaneRock]

Posted by: LB | April 24, 2013 at 10:23 AM

Good DAMN! post LB.
That post should be the next CS article, with the last sentence as the title.

[UMike]

LB..I agree 100%..winning is the best thing Golden and Miami can go to help keep more top recruits. You and CaneRock both made the same point I did (or at least one point), that it is hard and will be hard to compete with the SEC. Like you said, they seem to have the backing of the NCAA(see Came Newton situation) and ESPN etc lol...This season should help in a big way, especially with our schedule. I also think with our offense we can beat Florida at home which would be huge.

Maybe I worded it bad yesterday, or maybe yesterday was UMike appreciation day lol..but hopefully today makes more sense

[Ohio_Cane]

UM football signee Stacy Coley just arrived for Demetrius Henry's announcement

CANE

[Ohio_Cane]

^^ That was from ITU's twitter

[LB]

Thanks for the compliments. It's a long wait until opening day, no?

[UMike]

From Canesinsight..

Shai Mckenzie 2014 RB from Penn Could be Next UM RB Offer

A new RB is coming into the picture for UM.

UM has been quietly reaching out to 2014 RB Shai Mckenzie from Pennsylvania, in effort to hedge its bets at the RB position for the 2014 Class should the unthinkable happen with a miss on Sony and Cook. Well it looks like in the year with Yearby being UM's only committed RB the unthinkable is about to happen UM will miss on 2 of 3 hometown players with super star potential at a desperate position of need.

So Al Golden has put the troops to work an they have dug up a Diamond from Coal Country PA in the 6ft 220lb power running back McKenzie, who rushed for 2,700 yards and 42 touchdowns as a junior last fall. Mckenzie has several top tier offer so far from every power running tea from the Big 10, SEC, and ACC. An he is feeling the hometown pressure to attend PITT, but the offer he really wants most is yup you guessed it from UM. So he is sending UM more film and reaching out to the coaches more in attempt to move along the offer process.

Isn't that something you kids not from South Florida who covet and respect an offer from UM over offers from SEC & Big 10 Schools, wow what a concept. But back to Shai, this Pennsy wrecking ball of running back has power to break tackles and enough top end speed to take it the house on almost any play, and for good measure he even has a mean dead leg move that has broken a few defender ankles.

So if Canes Fans hearts are not ripped out on Friday and Sony does commit to UM, I would still look for Shai to get an offer an even commit to UM. Shai doesn't mind sharing the Roc and understands at the next level it is running back by committee which saves the RB's body. Again another novel thought, in a time when recruits are scampering to be the only ones taken in a class at a particular position. I can see why AG is covertly throwing UM's hat in the ring for this young man.

[UMike]

Henry to South Carolina

[CaneRock]

Damn, even Larrañaga can't win against the $EC...FIRE EM'! LMAO!

[86Cane]

NEW BLOG IS UP!