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Despite the Win, Miami Still Can’t Figure Out the Free-Throw Line

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Trinton Breeze

Trinton Breeze

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Miami beat Stanford 79–70 on Wednesday night. The win counts. That’s the good news. The bad news? The free-throw line is still a problem.

Miami did what they needed to do to get the W. Malik Reneau was a monster inside, finishing with 20 points, and Tre Donaldson got off to a hot start. The Canes looked like they were in control at times. That’s how you win games. But Miami made it harder than it needed to be. Missed free throws kept Stanford in the game. The Cardinals even took the lead at...

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Trinton Breeze said:
Miami beat Stanford 79–70 on Wednesday night. The win counts. That’s the good news. The bad news? The free-throw line is still a problem.

Miami did what they needed to do to get the W. Malik Reneau was a monster inside, finishing with 20 points, and Tre Donaldson got off to a hot start. The Canes looked like they were in control at times. That’s how you win games. But Miami made it harder than it needed to be. Missed free throws kept Stanford in the game. The Cardinals even took the lead at the end of the first half. In the second half, Miami couldn’t get the lead back until about the 10-minute mark.

Luckily the Cardinals didn't capitalize on Miami's missed free throws.

The Hurricanes were 19 of 31 (under 61%). That’s not good enough if you want to beat teams that don’t fold. We’ve seen this before—Florida, BYU—games that could have been wins turned into nail-biters because Miami can’t hit the stripe. Stanford didn’t fully make them pay, but a better team would have.

Still, Miami is winning games. That matters. The defense held up, Reneau and Donaldson came through, and the Hurricanes found a way to close it out. But until the free throws get fixed, nothing is ever easy. Every game is going to have a little tension.

Free points. One thing. Make them. This isn't just a one-game issue. Miami has had a tough time with free throws almost all season.
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We were looking better as a team there shooting FTs for awhile. Now regressing.

Duke has lived on their players getting fouled and making FTs for decades so I know Coach Lucas has to be aware of this and other shooting deficiencies.
 
It was a better crowd than I expected for such a late start. It was a hard game to watch for me. This team has a lot to work on. We knew we were lacking offensive weapons coming into this season, but that performance 20 games in was rough. I am being kind. The rebounding was bad enough, but the free-throw shooting is just not exceptable.
 
Cane30 said:
It was a better crowd than I expected for such a late start. It was a hard game to watch for me. This team has a lot to work on. We knew we were lacking offensive weapons coming into this season, but that performance 20 games in was rough. I am being kind. The rebounding was bad enough, but the free-throw shooting is just not exceptable.
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I've heard the excuses for 30 years. Game is too early, game is too late, too many other things to do in So Fla (even on a cool Weds nite), etc.

You either have fans or you don't. Did the students at least show up?
 
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Good win last night. Canes played really well for the first 5 minutes and last 5 minutes. And did just enough in the other 30 minutes.
Reneau is automatic around the basket. Henderson was aggressive all night. Now he needs to figure out how to use the free throw line floater because that shot is available with how well we finish lobs. Washington has such quick hands that you can almost expect some steals. Use h was very quiet with a nice lob finish at the end.

Henderson made some very impactful plays last night with his hustle and athleticism, but his shot was really, really off. Poor FT shooting, he airballed a 3 pointer. He never looked comfortable shooting last night.
 
ShadowSpring said:
Squad has got to make more shots or they are about to get exposed. Great way to grind out a win and finish strong last night
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What do you mean by exposed?

This is a deeply flawed team, and what Jai has done and 17 wins so far is nothing short of a miracle.

People need to realize this team has greatly overachieved their expectations, but its not a team built for a championship (this year).

But I am so impressed by Jai this year, im just enjoying the ride. But if they lose, I They probably just lost to a team better than them, I dont call that being exposed, personally.

I cant wait to see Jai work the portal next year.
 
hotshot said:
I've heard the excuses for 30 years. Game is too early, game is too late, too many other things to do in So Fla (even on a cool Weds nite), etc.

You either have fans or you don't. Did the students at least show up?
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I’d estimate 400 or so students were there
 
Da Jumbo Mutombo said:
What do you mean by exposed?

This is a deeply flawed team, and what Jai has done and 17 wins so far is nothing short of a miracle.

People need to realize this team has greatly overachieved their expectations, but its not a team built for a championship (this year).

But I am so impressed by Jai this year, im just enjoying the ride. But if they lose, I They probably just lost to a team better than them, I dont call that being exposed, personally.

I cant wait to see Jai work the portal next year.
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Well that is what I meant as well. Sure, of course I am going to fan like this team and coach have been together for 3 years when they constantly turn the ball over or miss free throws…but the fact truly is that all of them have done a **** of a job thus far trying to build fast continuity with a shallow bench.

Truly impressive, so much so I would love for them to get over the hump with the glaring FT and turnover issues, but even if they don’t…very **** strong season thus far for having to assemble a team like this under the gun.
 
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Fightinibis said:
Well that is what I meant as well. Sure, of course I am going to fan like this team and coach have been together for 3 years when they constantly turn the ball over or miss free throws…but the fact truly is that all of them have done a **** of a job thus far trying to build fast continuity with a shallow bench.

Truly impressive, so much so I would love for them to get over the hump with the glaring FT and turnover issues, but even if they don’t…very **** strong season thus far for having to assemble a team like this under the gun.
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I get it, they need to make free throws or eventually it will bite them and they will lose.

I think I just took issue with his word choice. "Exposed". That word insinuates this team is fraudulent and overated. But you cant be fraudulent/overated when the media's preseason expectations were bottom of the barrel ACC team.
 
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