All five starters reached double figures for the University of Miami basketball team Friday night at the Watsco Center, as Jim Larrañaga began his eighth season at the helm with the Hurricanes topping Lehigh, 83-62.
Sophomore guard Chris Lykes capped off the season opener with a career-high 22 points, converting on a career-high eight free-throws and tying a career high with four 3-pointers.
Stuffing the stat sheet senior guard Anthony Lawrence II picked up his third career double-double, notching 19 points and a team-high 12 rebounds, while blocking a trio of shots, dishing out a pair of assists and recording a team-high three steals.
Also chipping in on the offensive end, junior guard Dejan Vasiljevic finished the night with 16 points, sophomore forward Sam Waardenburg scored 11 and senior center Ebuka Izundu capped off the night with 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
Trailing 2-0 in the opening minute, Lawrence knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Canes a lead they would not look back on. Moments later, off of a block by Lawrence, sophomore guard Lykes found himself on the fast break before knocking down Miami's second three of the night.
Overall, the Canes went on a 16-3 run following the opening basket by the Mountain Hawks, to jump in front 16-5, with 16:09 to play in the half.
Leading 25-16, Lykes nearly ripped the roof off the building with a cross-over move that sent his defender to the floor. The Mitchellville, Md., native followed up the ankle-breaking move with a three to place the Canes up 12. Momentum continued to swing in favor of Miami as sophomore forward Sam Waardenburg finished back-to-back end ones to give Miami its largest lead of the half, 34-16.
Following the run, both teams got cold to close out the half, combining to shoot 2-of-26 from the field. Despite the offensive struggles, the Hurricanes continued to wreak havoc on the defensive front closing out the half with a combined six blocks, while also holding the Mountain Hawks to shoot 23.2-percent (7-of-30) from the field, as they took a 12-point, 38-26, lead into the break.
Shooting 1-of-3 from 3-point range in the opening frame, Vasiljevic came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, knocking down back-to-back threes and a pair of free-throws scoring eight of the Canes first 10 points of the period.
Following the offensive explosion, Lehigh began to claw its way back into the contest, cutting the Miami lead to as little as six points, 53-47, with 12:24 to play.
The Canes quickly returned to a double-digit lead after a sequence of events, beginning with a 3-pointer by Lykes with 10:48 to go. Moments later, Lawrence took advantage of a bad pass, which led to a pair of free-throws for Lykes on the opposite end, before Lykes returned the favor by sending Lawrence a beautiful up-court pass, as the senior finished the lay-up to secure his double-double performance.
Miami went on to take its largest lead of the game with 1:26 remaining, when Lawrence drained his fourth three of the night to give the Canes a 24-point advantage, 83-59.
Canespace over the years.
What a long, strange trip it's been...
Posted by: 58 Straight | November 09, 2018 at 11:23 PM
Re: the many infamous photos... okay, now you’re just bragging SOUP
Posted by: DallasTX Cane | November 09, 2018 at 11:33 PM
Great stuff Soup!
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | November 10, 2018 at 06:45 AM
Come on boys let’s get this thing turned around starting today.
Posted by: Go Canes!! | November 10, 2018 at 07:06 AM
Re: the many infamous photos... okay, now you’re just bragging SOUP
Posted by: DallasTX Cane | November 09, 2018 at 11:33 PM
Maybe just a tad? LOL
Posted by: 86Cane | November 10, 2018 at 07:33 AM
Canes 34 - Jackets 13
Posted by: 86Cane | November 10, 2018 at 07:34 AM
I miss those canespace shirts........
Posted by: raizecane | November 10, 2018 at 09:01 AM
How a Miami Hurricanes defensive line recruit became one of New York’s top running backs
BY DAVID WILSON
November 09, 2018 05:14 PM
The Miami Hurricanes’ Class of 2019 took some hits in the past week, but as multiple players defected from the recruiting class, Jason Blissett doubled down on his commitment.
A three-star defensive tackle in the 247Sports.com composite rankings, Blissett announced on Twitter on Thursday he would shut down his recruitment. The senior from Poly Prep Country Day in Brooklyn will sign his National Letter of Intent in December, although he won’t be able to early enroll.
From afar, Miami views Blissett as one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2019. The defensive lineman wrapped up his final high school season Saturday as Poly Prep fell to Rye (N.Y.) Country Day, 34-28, in the Metropolitan Independent Football League championship game. Blissett, for his part, was as good as ever, racking up nine tackles and even running for 90 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
Yes, Blissett isn’t just one of the top defensive linemen in New York. He’s also a highly productive running back, who finished his senior year with more than 400 yards and 11 touchdowns despite fewer than 50 carries. Blissett explains how this came to be — and how a kid from New York decided on the Hurricanes — in a question-and-answer session from Thursday.
Miami Herald: How’d your senior season go?
Blissett: “Personally, I felt like my senior season went well. I felt like a progressed a lot from my junior year, just overall, just being an asset on the field. However, it didn’t really go the way I planned. I really wanted to come home with a championship. Unfortunately, we fell short of that by six points. Just a great game that came down to the fourth quarter and just threw a pick in the red zone when it got close to the end of the game, but I’m proud of my team. I’m really happy as far as we’ve come, but I’m not satisfied with the outcome.”
MH: How’d you end up playing running back?
JB: “When I was younger, in my youth league, I played a little bit of running back and fullback, and when I came to my high school I told them about it and they kind of laughed at the idea. Throughout my three years, they’d always tease me, talking about how I think I’m a running back, but this year, my senior year, we unfortunately lost a lot of players and a lot of athletes that were supposed to be great on our team. So during some conditioning drills, they could see how fast and explosive I was, and they actually threw me out there in the backfield, lined me up at tight end and they just saw that I stood out. I was just one of the bigger, faster guys on the team, so it was like, Why not? And they just didn’t look back.
MH: How’d you end up playing football? It’s not as big up there as it is in Florida.
JB: “My dad actually played football at Temple and could’ve potentially went to the NFL, but he didn’t perform so well in the combine. He loves football, so he introduced me to it at 7 years old and I started off with a local organization and then I switched organizations around 9 and I’ve just been playing since I was 7. I actually took a year off to play basketball because there’s like weight restrictions in the league that I was playing in and it just wasn’t fitting for my lifestyle. I’m a big boy. I like to eat, so it just wasn’t fun for me to play football and have to do that.”
MH: How does a kid from New York wind up with Miami?
JB: “At the beginning of my recruitment, I wasn’t really too sure about going too far from home and things like that. I thought I was going to stay close to home and really represent New York close to home, but my coach ended up helping me get down to Florida, and really just broaden my horizons and just open my horizons to a new world. It seemed to me like the perfect fit and really I just love the decision I made. When I got down there, I just felt at home and really since then I haven’t looked back.”
MH: Is it weird to look back and think you picked the Hurricanes?
JB: “Yeah, it is actually very weird to me. If I would’ve said to my old self, ‘I’m going to be committed to Miami one day,’ I would’ve never believed it. It is really weird for to be committed to Miami and actually, no, I have no ties to Miami. That was my first time down there.”
MH: How did defensive line coach Jess Simpson first get in touch with you?
JB: “He came down to recruit me and my friend Adisa [Isaac], that goes to Canarsie High School in Brooklyn. He came my way because he knew I was one of the better athletes. This was after the Nike Opening and the Rivals thing, and stuff like that. And he knew I was one of the better defensive tackles in the northeastern region, so he came my way after seeing my film, and told me that he wanted me to come down and camp. He invited me down, I wasn’t really sure how I was going to get down there, but between me, and my dad and my coach, we made it happen, so I’m really happy I made it down there.”
MH: Was it important to you to find a school near a major city?
JB: “It felt very familiar and I was really happy that I had that feeling of it. I said a bunch of times that it kind of reminded me of New York, not exactly, but just the city feel and the people around the area. I just got that vibe. It still felt like home. It wasn’t hugely important, but it played a small role.”
MH: Do you have any superstitions on the field?
JB: “My coach actually pointed this out to me and I kind of stuck with it. I can’t wear anything under my pads, no shirt. Nothing. At most, I can wear sleeves, but I don’t play as well when I wear things under my pads.”
MH: You ended up changing numbers from 52 to No. 6 this year. Any reason for it?
JB: “Initially, I was supposed to be five, but they messed up the order and they made five a medium jersey and six a large jersey. They were both too small, but I figured a medium was way too tight, so I was like I might as well be six. I did want a single digit. I didn’t really care what the single digit was.
“The season before I wore 52 and I was very close to that number. ... My freshman through my junior year, I wore 52. It’s just associated with great, dominant defensive players. I felt like I was entitled to that number and really I just had big shoes to fill, and it just worked for me.”
MH: You’ve said a few times you want to be a federal agent if you don’t go the NFL. Why?
JB: “I actually have military history in my family. My aunt was actually in the Navy. My uncle is part of the NYPD and so is one of my aunts, so I grew up watching a lot of ‘Law & Order’ with my cousins and my grandparents. It just seemed so cool to me. It was just something that called out to me. I didn’t think I was going to be like a lawyer or a doctor. I knew I would be something that was exciting or that got my adrenaline pumping, and I figured that was it.”
Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article221433145.html#storylink=cpy
Posted by: Go Canes!! | November 10, 2018 at 09:41 AM
Im watching Eric Wolford's unit today vs Florida. Hes on my OL watch list.
Posted by: His Majesty The Dude on High | November 10, 2018 at 12:05 PM
So far so good, nice pockets and a noticeable push.
Posted by: His Majesty The Dude on High | November 10, 2018 at 12:06 PM
S. Carolina's OL owned FU on that opening drive. Jake Bentley had all the time in the world. 7/7 passing, 7-0 SC.
Posted by: His Majesty The Dude on High | November 10, 2018 at 12:10 PM
Yeah, SCe OL is coached well.
Posted by: His Majesty The Dude on High | November 10, 2018 at 12:23 PM
14-0 SCe, FU cant get a glove on Brantley. OL had a few big runs.
Posted by: His Majesty The Dude on High | November 10, 2018 at 12:24 PM
its amazing how these college teams score 14 points in the first q ....how do they do that?
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | November 10, 2018 at 01:04 PM
Nebraska's got 30 points already and there is 6 minutes left in the first half...lol
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | November 10, 2018 at 01:14 PM
with a freshman qb
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | November 10, 2018 at 01:17 PM
21-14 at the half. If SCe D can get some stops then FU will lose. SCe OL is handling the game.
Posted by: His Majesty The Dude on High | November 10, 2018 at 01:29 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoR9BoxVpz4&list=PLYtkcRpMOp8K2RIXbF2ijpaOu5kgkIl_Z
Pure Cane...Ed Reed
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | November 10, 2018 at 01:40 PM
Reed called the young teammates low life's..lol
They did not study film to mentally prepare for a game..
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | November 10, 2018 at 02:07 PM
turds are getting pushed up today.....good start to the sat
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | November 10, 2018 at 02:13 PM
FU is gonna win... 😧
Posted by: His Majesty The Dude on High | November 10, 2018 at 03:09 PM
Mark Richt not even in the SEC anymore, and he's still getting passed up by Florida coaches.......
Posted by: His Majesty The Dude on High | November 10, 2018 at 03:16 PM
Who cares about Florida......
Posted by: raizecane | November 10, 2018 at 03:37 PM
Who cares about Florida......
Posted by: raizecane | November 10, 2018 at 03:37 PM
Miami fans that understand recruiting and the impact that other schools successes have on our own.
Posted by: His Majesty The Dude on High | November 10, 2018 at 03:46 PM
Exactly Raize. I could give a damn about Florida.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | November 10, 2018 at 04:05 PM
miss those canespace shirts........
Posted by: raizecane | November 10, 2018 at 09:01 AM
Me too
The dude that redesigned the canespace shirts from pic one to pick two knows his stuff
Posted by: solarcane | November 10, 2018 at 04:32 PM
Line's down to one and a half but will it kickoff with UM as an underdog for the first time all year?
Probably . . .
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | November 10, 2018 at 04:41 PM
Lol we should be a 11 and 1/2 point underdog.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | November 10, 2018 at 04:43 PM
Being the underdog is so very sad.
Posted by: MLAlumni1970 | November 10, 2018 at 05:02 PM
ED REED was always a class act who loved and played so hard for the U.
Remember when he was hurt badly, and urged his teammates to go on to victory, many years ago. Just can't remember the game teams and date.
Posted by: MLAlumni1970 | November 10, 2018 at 05:06 PM
miss those canespace shirts........
Posted by: raizecane | November 10, 2018 at 09:01 AM
Me too til I saw a group of certain Canespacers scoff,jeer, taunt, deride, mock, ridicule, and tease a poor youngster when he wore the exact same Canespacers t-shirt as Soup,permanently damaging his psyche spawning the T-too movement.
Posted by: NativeCane | November 10, 2018 at 05:38 PM
Being the underdog is so very sad.
Posted by: MLAlumni1970 | November 10, 2018 at 05:02 PM
I know Mary Lou, FSU and UF sucks and we're not even good enough to talk trash!
Posted by: NativeCane | November 10, 2018 at 05:42 PM
"Posted by: MLAlumni1970 | November 10, 2018 at 05:06 PM"
http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=212860052
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | November 10, 2018 at 06:15 PM
Virginia Tech’s run defense is absolutely horrible! The Canes should have a team that they can run the ball on
Posted by: BigWindyCane | November 10, 2018 at 06:34 PM
It looks like PITT (yes, I mean PITT) is the clear favorite to win the Coastal Division this season.
Posted by: BigWindyCane | November 10, 2018 at 06:38 PM
Washington st putting it to Colorado...cane style...thinking about the time we had the Pirate in our back yard waiting for a call...times have changed
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | November 10, 2018 at 06:42 PM
any one have a link to a live stream?
Posted by: The Dude | November 10, 2018 at 07:01 PM
Good, I hope, I get to see the game out here in CA.
Come on Canes show us something.
Posted by: Harry Miller | November 10, 2018 at 07:06 PM
Jeezus boys, save some O for next week.
Posted by: His Majesty The Dude on High | November 10, 2018 at 07:11 PM
Is it possible that the Canes will score on their first drive?
Posted by: BigWindyCane | November 10, 2018 at 07:11 PM
its crazy that he took perry out...
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | November 10, 2018 at 07:11 PM
Who is calling plays?
Posted by: His Majesty The Dude on High | November 10, 2018 at 07:12 PM
I knew if Perry had a good oc that he would be the big guy
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | November 10, 2018 at 07:12 PM
wow we have life lol
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | November 10, 2018 at 07:13 PM
Wow! I think this is the first game against power 5 teams where the canes scored a TD on the first drive
Posted by: BigWindyCane | November 10, 2018 at 07:14 PM
That was without a doubt, our most coherent drive of 2018.
Posted by: His Majesty The Dude on High | November 10, 2018 at 07:15 PM
I like the play calls and play designs. If the Canes can continue to play like this with Perry, this could be something to build on
Posted by: BigWindyCane | November 10, 2018 at 07:16 PM
no reason that any team in the acc other than Clemson should compete with us...its obvious
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | November 10, 2018 at 07:17 PM
we wasted a lot of games
Posted by: mi@mic@ne | November 10, 2018 at 07:17 PM
I just saw a picture from Canespace on TV.
Posted by: His Majesty The Dude on High | November 10, 2018 at 07:26 PM