Canes

"ACC Basketball begins for UM"

Jan 12, 2010

Some observations as the adventure ride that is ACC Basketball begins for the University of Miami:

-If Dwayne Collins plays like he did Saturday against Wake Forest, Miami has a chance every game in league. Collins was aggressive offensively and is playing better defensively, being an enforcer with 3 blocks

-He may not be averaging double digits, but don’t underestimate just how good of a basketball player freshman Durand Scott is. He is Miami’s best defensive player, the best perimeter guard Coach Haith has ever had and he has great court awareness and anticipation.

-Both Scott and Redshirt Sophomore Malcolm Grant give Miami two playmakers. Miami’s ball movement, passing and distribution is much better this year because of Grant and Scott.

-James Dews is playing like a 4th year senior. His shooting is much better than a year ago. His FG% and 3FG% are well above last year’s clips

-Reggie Johnson has been the most pleasant surprise of this season. At 6-10, and 295 pounds, he has the size and frame of a brick wall. His emergence has given Miami significant depth in the post

-Garrius Adams has a bright future. 6-6 wing. Can shoot and handle the ball. Coach Haith keeps getting his kind of pieces.

-The schedule. I can’t argue that it was a tough non-conference schedule. It wasn’t. It had some tests, but overall it was 300+ in the NCAA. But Coach Haith did what he felt was necessary for this team. This was a young team and team that lost its core-McClinton, Asbury, Graham and Hurdle. This wasn’t a team that could withstand UConn, Kentucky, & St. Johns.

-That being said, Miami beat South Carolina and Minnesota, and lost to BC on the road by one.

-Speaking of BC, I read Saturday that the loss to BC would be an albatross for Miami this season. Maybe one of the dumbest things I have ever read. How is a conference loss, an ACC loss, and a loss on the road a season wrecking loss? Explain that!

-Oh, and if that isn’t bad enough, what do you think Al Skinner (that would be the head coach at BC, just in case anyone was wondering) would think about reading that a loss to his team would be an albatross. That is an indictment for a program that has been to the Tournament like 8 of the last 10 years.

-And while I am at it, Miami just beat Wake Forest. They are now ranked 23rd in the AP poll. So, give coach some credit. He had his team ready