Kirijax
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Ranking's a bit low but it's a start. Hopefully the team can climb up from here. Can't wait for the season to start.
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College basketball countdown: No. 40 Miami
Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports
It's rare that the biggest strength on a roster with just four returnees will be experience.
But that's the scenario for Miami (Fla.) coach Jim Larrañaga, who loses three starters, including his top two scorers, from last season's ACC title hangover team — the Hurricanes finished a pedestrian 17-16 overall and 7-11 in the ACC after seeing the roster depleted from the 2013 conference champs.
The reinforcements have come in the form of transfers. Veteran guards Angel Rodriguez (Kansas State) and Sheldon McClellan (Texas) are eligible this year and can help bring Miami back to relevancy. Both players are proven double-digit scorers. Then factor in the return of blossoming 5-111 sophomore Manu Lecomte (7.7 ppg), and it's easy to label the Hurricanes' backcourt as one of the best in the ACC.
"We have a lot of new faces," Larrañaga said. "We'll be very experienced and talented around the perimeter. The talent level is drastically improved from last year. The inexperience of these guys playing together is what concerns me."
While the frontcourt won't have the same maturity as the backcourt, Miami should be back in the national picture and competing in a deep ACC.
"It's one thing to have a good team. It's another to have a great program," said Larrañaga, who guided George Mason to the Final Four in 2006. "We want to position ourselves to be a consistent NCAA tournament and top 25 team each year. That's the company we want to be in."
2013-14 IN REVIEW: 17-16 overall, 7-11 (10th in ACC).
PATH TO THE DANCE: ACC at-large bid.
PROJECTED TOURNEY SEED: No. 10 seed.
NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE GRADE: C+.
Matchups against Green Bay, Illinois and Eastern Kentucky will boost RPI, but they're all at home. A road test at Florida on Nov. 17 will be huge. Games against Drexel and Akron or USC in the Gildan Charleston Classic aren't bad.
STAR WATCH: Rodriguez (11.4 ppg, 5.2 apg at K-State in 2012-13) is a true point guard who can create for teammates and score off the dribble. The 5-11 junior's energy and leadership already have been huge, Larrañaga said. "He's not afraid to bark out directions and motivate his teammates. His best attribute is his ability to generate confidence in his teammates."
McClellan (13.5 ppg at Texas in 2012-13) should complement Rodriguez perfectly. And vice versa. The 6-5 junior will benefit by having a point guard who can create for him and take the pressure off. He's a volume scorer when he needs to be, evidenced by a 27-point outing against Texas Tech two seasons ago.
X-FACTOR: The entire frontcourt. Cruz Uceda is one of the best junior college transfers in the country. The 6-10 forward should play a pivotal role in bolstering a frontcourt with many questions. Junior 7-footer Tonye Jekiri (4.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg) returns as a starter at center and 6-8 freshman Omar Sherman is expected to make an immediate impact, but Uceda's transition to the Division I level will be a major difference-maker. Niagara transfer Joe Thomas, a 6-7 forward, should provide a boost on the glass.
TEAM STRENGTH/WEAKNESS: The key will be chemistry. There are 10 players who haven't played a game for Miami so how quickly they come together will determine the success. Larrañaga runs an NBA-style offense with a lot of ball screens. Last season the Hurricanes weren't able to score efficiently (ranking 337th in scoring offense with 61.5 points a game) and dictate the game's tempo. This year they should be able to get back to the solid pace of 2012-13's roster. As mentioned, the frontcourt will be a major concern, and that's mostly on the defensive end.
TWEET THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES: While Miami Heat players often watched the Hurricanes' home games, Larrañaga was all about the fundamentals exuded by the defending NBA champions.
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