Miami Stands Up To Big Ten Challenge

Freshman Deandre Burnett scored a season-high 19 points and No. 15 Miami won a matchup of unbeaten teams Tuesday night, beating Illinois 70-61 in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

Burnett had played in only three games previously, but he became the fourth player to lead the young Hurricanes in scoring this season. The 6-foot-2 guard added eight rebounds in 24 minutes.

Miami, which has never previously been ranked so high so early in a season, improved to 8-0. The Illini fell to 6-1 with their earliest loss in the past four years.

Illinois came into the game averaging 90 points, but shot only 33 percent, including 7 for 30 from 3-point range. Rayvonte Rice led the Illini with 22 points and 12 rebounds, and Malcolm Hill added 13 points, but the rest of the team shot 23 percent.

Manu Lecomte had 15 points and Sheldon McClellan added 14 for Miami. Angel Rodriguez had nine points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals.

The Hurricanes won despite shooting only 38 percent, including 9 for 30 from 3-point range. But they went 17 for 21 at the free-throw line, while Illinois went 8 for 12.

Miami was up 37-24 at halftime for its largest lead, but Illinois scored the first 10 points of the second half. The Illini cut the deficit to 48-46 but could get no closer.

Three-pointers by Omar Sherman - his only basket - and Rodriguez helped the Hurricanes regain their cushion. They sealed the win by sinking five of six free throws in the final minutes, and in the closing seconds the crowd of 6,086 chanted, ''A-C-C! A-C-C!''

Game Notes:

* The Hurricanes held the Fighting Illini to a season-low 61 points. 

* Each team split 88 rebounds evenly, and totaled 44 rebounds. 

* Miami held Illinois to season-low 7-of-30 from beyond the arc (23.3 percentage). 

Team Notes:

* Miami is 4-0 when dishing out more than 15 assists. 

* The Canes are 8-0 when posting less than 15 turnovers. 

* Miami has shot at least 43.9 percent from the field in every game. 

* Other than the 27.3 percent at Charlotte and 39.1 percent against Howard and 30.0 against Illinois, the Canes have hit 43.8 percent or better from the 3-point line in every game. Miami’s best was 60.9

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Recap: Illinois 62, Baylor 54

Comments

[thirstybuzzardcane]

First?

[thirstybuzzardcane]

Second?

[thirstybuzzardcane]

Wahooooo! Third?

[Ohio_Cane]

Alonzo Highsmith ‏@alonzohighsmith 13h13 hours ago

1st ever grassroots football fundraiser for the univ Miami sports program by the athletes. I think we can raise 25 million :)

Alonzo Highsmith ‏@alonzohighsmith 13h13 hours ago

Doesn't look like the school is going to do anything of significance for the sports program so we will do it ourselves !

Alonzo Highsmith ‏@alonzohighsmith 13h13 hours ago

We built the school into a national brand and received basically nothing in return so we will build it ourselves !

Alonzo Highsmith ‏@alonzohighsmith 12h12 hours ago

Just had a guy message me and willing to donate 5,000 bucks when we set up the Build the U private fund!

Alonzo Highsmith ‏@alonzohighsmith 12h12 hours ago

Former Miami athletes will be on the board of directors and already several have volunteered :)

Alonzo Highsmith ‏@alonzohighsmith 27m27 minutes ago

All you gotta do is use Baylor & TCU as models and both private schools I think.

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | December 03, 2014 at 09:34 AM

[Ohio_Cane]

Alonzo Highsmith ‏@alonzohighsmith 11h11 hours ago

Remember this grassroots effort isn't about coaches hiring or firing but only about giving our athletes the best!

Alonzo Highsmith ‏@alonzohighsmith 2h2 hours ago

Well Miami fans we have 15,000 dollars in potential donations when the trust fund is properly set up! "We will Build the U"

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | December 03, 2014 at 09:32 AM

[UMike]

Glad to see the bball team doing well.

[86Cane]

OK, it is now officially "Basketball Wednesday" here at Canespace. Let us celebrate and talk about the UM men's basketball team ALL day!

Or we can talk UM women's tennis if U prefer?

Cue TSully in 3, 2, 1...

[1mg of Epi]

The difference is when that happens my allegiance to my team does not fluctuate based on wins and losses, my frustration level does.

Posted by: Go Canes | December 03, 2014 at 09:54 AM

As Rome burns you fiddle.

[UMike]

Anyone know where I can buy a UM Volleyball? Im trying to convert my new gf's daughters!!!! And besides, it will help Miami win again...

[CaneRock]

What a phuckin' flip flopper. Not too long ago, the same person blaming the fans today, said that it didn't matter if we went to games or not...said that the TV money, & conference revenue sharing, would take care of lack of attendance.

But now since Captain .500 is doing Captain .500 things, it's the fans fault

LMAO!

Unbelievable.

[dj moonbat]

The difference is when that happens my allegiance to my team does not fluctuate based on wins and losses, my frustration level does.

Posted by: Go Canes | December 03, 2014 at 09:54 AM

I get it. My relationship with 'Canes football is a little different.

When I was a teenager, I loved 'Canes football and Van Halen. Van Halen stopped making good records, and I stopped listening. If they had made good records again, I would have bought them and gotten excited about doing so. But they didn't.

I believe the 'Canes are at a turning point. They've made some mistakes over the last decade, but I don't believe the administration has been deciding to suck ON PURPOSE. I think -- I fear -- that they are about to decide that keeping Al Golden, being mediocre, and cashing the ACC checks is the wave of the future. I can't bring myself to get excited about that future.

[Go Canes]

Posted by: 1mg of Epi | December 03, 2014 at 10:02 AM

My fiddling has nothing to do with the state of this program.

[1mg of Epi]

I dunno Go Canes.... Market forces will eventually determine what happens. If enough people like you keep buying tickets, why would they ever change? On the other hand if enough people like me stop buying tickets, maybe they will. Maybe.

They're making money now. If that stops maybe they'll take action.

[thirstybuzzardcane]

Don't know if I'm a day late and a dollar short, but here you go.

Posted by: trianglecane | December 03, 2014 at 09:00 AM
-----------------------------------------

According to Go Canes, your a dollar short!!!

[CaneRock]

And somebody said that UM kept Captain .500 to keep us from the getting the DP...I disagree. PSU is the gold standard for why the NC-Double-A-Holes will never apply the DP again. Let's face it, we just have some DUM@$$! people up top.

[Go Canes]

Posted by: CaneRock | December 03, 2014 at 10:04 AM

If you'll notice I stated before the phenomenon of the recent TV deal. Ir did you miss that part?

Why do you think for the 25 years plus before it our facilities were dog crap while every other big time program was doing massive upgrades to their stadiums, building top of the line facilities and paying their coaches millions.

The problems this program has have been building for decades.

We are just now trying to catch up.

[thirstybuzzardcane]

This would be a huge get for Auburn! Hurry up Golden lets offer Muschamp......Pay him a mil a year!

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/will-muschamp-reportedly-offered-auburn-defensive-coordinator-job-145738023.html

[1mg of Epi]

We are just now trying to catch up.
Posted by: Go Canes | December 03, 2014 at 10:20 AM

They are absolutely NOT trying to catch up.

[Ohio_Cane]

If Auburn gets Muschamp and T-Rob, watch out...

[UMike]

I dont give shyt about our facilities, stadium or lack of funds... truth is we are losing on the field to teams with less talent than us. That has ZERO to do with money or fan support.

[SinisterCane]

Posted by: UMike | December 03, 2014 at 10:46 AM

But if you listen to Flake James, the program is not a light switch that you can just turn on and we're rebuilding. I didn't know we needed to rebuild to beat UVA GT and Duke

[SinisterCane]

Who has the authority to fire Flake James?

[SinisterCane]

Golden's defensed ended the year the way it started by being gashed for over 200 yds. rushing to a 1 dimensional team

[UMike]

Golden's defensed ended the year the way it started by being gashed for over 200 yds. rushing to a 1 dimensional team

Posted by: SinisterCane | December 03, 2014 at 11:01 AM

Dam fans!!

[86Cane]

OK, people enough with the nonsense.

Talk about Hurricane sports.

Do not talk about or attack each other.

Thank U!

The Management

[UMike]

86 Im just talking about the fans!! lol

[AfriCane]

Tonye Jekiri, odogwu, ufumbo, the freshman wide receiver from NJ, the 5-star DE-ude wee trying to recruit.
What do they all have in common? They are all Nigerians.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I will be taking donations by using your credit informations to get CCs.
Not the state of Miami. It's the state of Nigeria Biichies!!!

[Ohio_Cane]

Please be Golden: http://nebraska.247sports.com/Bolt/Decision-made-33505320

[dj moonbat]

Please be Golden: http://nebraska.247sports.com/Bolt/Decision-made-33505320

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | December 03, 2014 at 11:23 AM

Not a chance in hell. 'Husker fans seem like real sweethearts compared to most, but Eichorst would be a dead man walking if he hired Golden.

[Terrance Sullivan]

So Proud of our Miami Hurricanes basketball team. They ballin baby! Soup hopefully the Lady Canes Tennis Team will be at home hosting a tennis team on the weekend of March 13-15 because that same weekend our Men's Baseball team will be hosting NC State that has a potential Canespace Four Flay written all over it. Go Canes!

[thirstybuzzardcane]

The future looks very bright for UM basketball! Could coach L be lured away from Miami? I sure hope not. He seems like a guy that will be in it for the long hull and I think he really likes it in outh Florida! We should be really, really good next year.....definitely a top 10 team, maybe even top 5.

[CaneRock]

Not the state of Miami. It's the state of Nigeria Biichies!!!

Posted by: NigerianCane | December 03, 2014 at 11:19 AM

LMAO!

#LEGGO?!...no, LAGOS!

[thirstybuzzardcane]

Anyone agree with me that Lecomte is better than Rodriguez? Lecomte has impressed me the most so far this season,he seems to be a lot quicker that Rodriguez. Rodriguez seemed a little slow last night.

[thirstybuzzardcane]

I know Jakiri doesn't want to get in foul trouble but he needs to be more aggressive around the rim, especially defensively! There are many times where he doesn't go for the block shot but should. Hopefully when Udeno comes back, he'll be more aggressive.

[CaneRock]

So UM not too long ago, just started using the internet to accept donations?

"To reduce friction and facilitate the giving process for donors, Miami Athletics moved away from using their current ticketing system to accept donations and worked with Pursuant Sports to develop a payment form integrated with the University’s Advancement Computer Systems."

http://www.pursuant.com/our-work/university-miami-athletics-acquires-250-new-donors/

[Ohio_Cane]

Here's something to give U guys some hope:

IF they were going to go after Cristobal as HC, they wouldn't announce it until after Bama's season is over, IMO. Therefore, Golden won't be fired until after Bama's season to keep recruiting momentum and no downtime in between firing and hiring.

[CaneRock]

Cristobal? Shiiiiiid...I'd rather keep Golden LMAO!

#BUTCHORBUST!

[Ohio_Cane]

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2014/12/mario_cristobal.php

[trianglecane]

IDK... Cristo made fiu goodish.

[The Dude]

We talking about fans? Not the game, not the game where we lose to inferior opponents, not the game. We talking about fans.

[j.w.]

The silly season is in full swing. The AD says the board didn't meet, but some say it did. The paper prints donors aren't happy but will defer to the administration, then again some say the board has the final word. Golden is here forever, but he could be gone by last night. The board continues to evaluate, but they aren't going to do anything. $5mill to buy out the staff, unless it's really $8mill or $10mill. At this point I don't know what to believe.

[Terrance Sullivan]

LMAO FIU was 2-10 in 2012 with Mario Cristobal as head coach his last year there. These Cristobal lovers are funny hahaha.

[CaneRock]

If/when we do get a new HC, I don't think He has to be a UM guy either. Larranaga is from The Bronx, did ya'll see His pre-game speech last night...He made me want to get out there, and cross WWIM @$$ UP! WWIM?

[UMike]

yea I dont understand the obsession with "Miami guys" as coach

[TheeMackJones]

When has Hurricane football had a " Miami guy " for head coach!

The absolutes are that he be a ' legitimate ' head coaching material. Which Carpetbagger NO. 1 isn't.

And that this ' outsider ' head coach DOESN'T mess up the style of South Florida prep ballers. SEE defensive style and philosophy, for instance.

[dj moonbat]

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2014/12/mario_cristobal.php

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | December 03, 2014 at 12:26 PM

It's a pretty cogent case. Cristobal wouldn't be my dream coach, but I can see how it could work. I think it's very unlikely he would finish year four with a record worse than 28-21, and he would probably run a real defense, so that's improvement right there.

[TheeMackJones]

Bottom line is this: It's now a FAIT ACCOMPLI that Thee CARPETBAGGERS will be hanging around Coral Gables another season.

In other words, that AD has given Miami, Florida Hurricane football the DEATH PENALTY with the uttering of a couple of sentences!

And seeing that there will be MAJOR losses on the defensive side of the LOS. In addition to losing the Major Troika on offense. Cane fandom are probably looking at a " 7-5 " season in '15.

Also, U can include the tangibles of 2015 opponents returning the MAJORITY of their starters and the VAST MAJORITY of head coaches next season CHECK MATING Thee Carpetbagger's.

[UMike]

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/video-uab-football-team-learns-program-shut/

Tough to watch

[TheeMackJones]

It's a pretty cogent case. Cristobal wouldn't be my dream coach, but I can see how it could work. I think it's very unlikely he would finish year four with a record worse than 28-21, and he would probably run a real defense, so that's improvement right there.

Posted by: dj moonbat | December 03, 2014 at 12:53 PM

And I vividly recall the MAJORITY of Hurricane football bloggers ( M-H, ioftheKane and Canespace, for example. ) opining that CARPETBAGGER No.1 would be a VAST improvement over that Onion Head. Still SMH.

Yet in year number four Miami finishes . 500 in a very, very WEAK Coastal division and Carpetbagger NO. 2s defensive unit has NINE starters whom are juniors or seniors. Go figure.

[dj moonbat]

And seeing that there will be MAJOR losses on the defensive side of the LOS. In addition to losing the Major Troika on offense. Cane fandom are probably looking at a " 7-5 " season in '15.

Posted by: TheeMackJones | December 03, 2014 at 12:53 PM

You're saying the record IMPROVES? I guess anything's possible.