#65 R.P.I. Miami @ #229 R.P.I. Virginia Tech

(NOTE to reader…………..here is a C&P of the Miami guys capsule style; as how much have they changed individually in 6 days time? The CLOSER has been redone however)

~9:30pm ESPN2 tip-off
Vegas number: VT+10

The U started out the year 8-zip and has gone 12-11 ever since.

20 up and 11 down on the year, including an 6th place conference mark at a .556 or 10-8 inside the heavily competitive A.c.c.

A better than average hoops squad; that is fighting for some version of post-season life as I type. Pretty G heavy squad less one lone starting big, and he who lives by the 3-point sword dies by the 3-ponit sword … at least on some nights.

And I wanna mention that again; Miami can ill afford
an L here; in terms of their post-season hopes.

As most everyone has them as last 4 in.
Or first 4 out!

Miami primer:

• 35th in Assist:Turnover ration (+1.3)
• 45th in 3-point makes per game (7.9 made 3’s)
• 41st in FT percentage (73.2%)
• Nothing worse than 228th (steals) | i.e. a very level/balanced looking team
• 1 injury officially reported: (2nd leading score (12.3pp) G, Angle Rodriguez, OUT, wrist, God Bless!)
• 1 whispered injury as well (see: below)

The U Backcourt: (returning starters=2 of 4)
Angel Rodriguez: 5’10” 180 lb. r-junior K.State transfer One. All-Big-12 second team prior to Miami so this kid can play. Career low 80’s free-throw shooter who is getting you 12.7 ppg with a team leading 4.4 dimes (apg) on a mere 32% overall. Does lead Miami in steals at 1.9 spg and does enjoy something of a reputation as a defensive stopper accordingly. Effort based, high-octane, calorie burning player with who will play right in your face. Just what any coach loves to see in that regard. Flew a bit under the scholastic radar no thanks to a high school senior year knee injury; not quite so V.H.T. (very highly touted) as one might expect per the same. Major and fearless penetration type Pt.G with a stunning 121 FTA’s already this year; (75.2% FT percentage). (UPDATE: now listed a QUESTIONABLE for the A.c.c. tournament, wiht right-wrist ligament damage; this after having been listed as OUT for the year, for our game last week)

Sheldon McClellan: 6’5” 2o5 lb. r-junior year off-G from H’town (Houston) Texas. Team M.v.p. with the lead in scoring (15.1 ppg), second best in rebounding (4.6), 2 assists, 1 steal on 50.6% overall and 81.1% from the charity stripe does not suck. 38% on 3’s does give Sheldon some credible 3-point range from this Texas Longhorn transfer Two. Outburst type scorer both in high school (57 once) and in college (37 once). 47th ranked baller in high school from ESPN.com. Family plays basketball all over the world, so both the X and Y chromosomes are N, B, A, (or overseas) willing. (UPDATE: late sources say McClellan has the bane of all (real) mankind, an undisclosed: “groin injury”, Yikes! Godspeed, there! Though he did, well, ball, last time out vs. us)

Davon Reed: 6/6 2o8 lb. New Jersey off-G in his third year. Pure, sharpshooting, straight, sniper of a shooting-G from range. And his range is the gym, if Davon is in it, he is open. Just ask his 48% mark from 3-point land and his nearly mutual mark of 53% overall. This guy can flat out shoot the rock and you almost have to wonder how he only nets 7.9 ppg; or maybe if he should just shoot, more? (and how often to you have to coach today’s baller to do that?) 3.2 rebounds and a steal with 1.5 apg round things out; and nicely. As this is a heady high basketball I.Q. baller who has also won several community performance awards and seems to embrace an old-school version of civics. Great on Davon the person. Was listed as a Swing outta high school (78th overall by ESPN.com), seems to be more of an over-match as a pure Two however in college. Dean’s Lister with a 3.5 G.p.a. How can you not love a kid like this?

James Palmer: 6-5 2oo lb. freshman S/G. Something of a modest surprise signee, even for a smooth looking confident shooter. As Jay Pee just did not have the most epic scholastic numbers I’ve ever studied (barely 15/game). 3.6 ppg on 41% and 32% from the floor and from range respectively is “ok”, and not much else. Had a likewise “ok” offer-sheet outta high school –does need FT work (58.8%), does need some time/some work/some NC2A reps. Is supposed to be something of a rangy baller or spot-up-shooter according to his ESPN.com scouting report. Can’t honestly tell you I’m seeing that on tape … at least not yet.

Cane Frontcourt: (starters back=none of one)
Tonye Jekir: 7′ 244 lb. right looking true-C Nigerian native at the Five. Not an oz. of wasted mass on this kid as he is real close to being a man’s man out there. Nice aggressive attitude on O, and protective vibe on D.  Can play with his back to the basket or step out for a 10-12′ shot; runs the floor effortlessly, like a gazelle and has an red-line very high R.P.M. motor. Great footwork as a former soccer star. 12th ranked C according to Scout.com, chose Miami over Virginia Tech. Nets you a serviceable 8.7 ppg with a towering and A.c.c. leading 10.5 boards and 1.6 swats (4th in the A.c.c.) Prolly is an export or overseas talent on his Windex and defensive efforting alone. Did just destroy us with 15, 15 and 2 (swats)!

Hurricane Bench: (~2 ballers)

1. Manu Lecomte: 5’11” 17o lb. sophomore Pt.G. Brussels, Belgium imported Pure Point-G, who is a pass first, set ’em up, Qb the offense good. Deep range for a true Pt.G., will take and make in the clutch. Has extensive Euro experience at the age of 21. Third in scoring at 8.4 ppg; on a nifty 44.4% from downtown. (has a nice all-’round game to boot)
2. Deandre Burnett: 6-2 195 lb. r-freshman Lead.G. Slick looking baller with a history of off-hand wrist injuries which have held him back a bit. Pure blowtorch scorer in high school, 38 ppg; great for third in the nation. 8 ppg so far shaking off that bum wrist on 37% overall. Check back in a few, this kid is a very intriguing looking prospect, at least offensively.
3. Ivan Cruz Uceda: 6’10” 230 lb. Jr. year import baller all the way from Madrid Spain. Ivan was not even playing last time we tabbed Miami, however he was starting on Wednesday night outta injury driven line-up juggling necessity. So I’ll list him here as he is only playing bench minutes even though now inserted into in the tip-off line-up. A Harcum College transfer (Philly suburban 2-year school), who was 55th according to ESPN.com outta Spanish high school. Averaged 15 and 10 at Harcum and lead them to their first ever Final-4 in NJCAA history! Skilful yet a big wide-body Euro, does have 3-point range (45% at Harcum); netting you 4 ppg and 3 rebounds in spot minutes thus far. May not yet be doing what everyone expected/hoped; does seem to have a higher ceiling than his So.Beach numbers suggest.
4. Ja’Quan Newton: 6’2” 185 lb. rookie year Philly Point-G. 58th according to ESPN.com nationally. 12th ranked Point in the nation per the same. Made the triple-A state championship wining shot up in the Keystone state, that does not suck. 3.6 ppg on 43% shooting overall, does need some collegiate range finding work or distance on his J however. Almost more of a lead-G at the point, can score, can lead the floor. Needs time and seasoning.

Virginia Tech's odds to win A.c.c. game#2 are really all about what???

• Staying O&M hot on O! This can happen during any next-day format.
• Miami's health issues. If A.Rodriguez can not go, VT's odds go way up.
• None of the above b.street. Just ask the 45 points Miami won by this year!

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Illation, conclusion (s) and OPT digits:
Well, there is no denying this one men. I soooooooo, did not expect to enjoy the total privilege of being granted the clemency of authoring a Virginia Tech men’s basketball A.c.c. Tournament second-round preview. Not, at, all!

And yet here we are … as once again we see that sports does good things to ego, and even better things for humility.

***

Raise your hand if you called the epic 81-80 Virginia Tech opening round upset?
Me neither.

As such is the difference between prospect and retrospect; …all over again.

---

That O&M congratulatory admission firmly in place, what are our R.A.T.T. prospects on an 27 hour turnaround Atlantic Coast 1-n-done, win in order to advance format?

Well, in all candor, Miami just beat the brakes off of us, twice, by 22.5 ppg on average; if you are keeping score at home. That’s not good sports-fans.

Nevertheless, our season closing and omnipresent handy-dandy friend the so-called Forum Guide by way of Graham Houston fame … merely posits a 1.5 point victory favor of the Miami Hurricanes in this one.

So in theory, take thy pick. A close ‘Cane win or a blow-out thumping for the third time this season for the U.

That said, there is an old sporting adage regarding conference play that counsels that is is hard to beat a given team all 3 times. What with scouting and video room tendency based film-study at a 2015 all-time high.

As I said above in the opener; you’d just have to think that Virginia Tech is gonna take Miami’s NC2A admission based A-game punch right on the O&M kisser Wednesday night. As da U can not even remotely afford an L in this one, and some might even warn that the Hurricanes want for at least 2 more wins; and preferably three, in order to ensure their post-season invite to March Madness.

The takeaway...

The takeaway here is this … 2 words: Angel Rodriguez. IF Angel Rodriquez has to sit again; Virgina Tech’s odds to steal one take a significant step-up. Angel is Miami’s second-leading scorer and #1 assist man on a team that has not exactly been known to be an offensive juggernaut in historic terms under coach Jim Larrañaga down in So.Beach. Sources close to the U’s Monday practice down at the A.c.c. tournament hosting Greensboro Coliseum, hinted that Rodriguez’s shooting or right-wrist was feeling: and I quote… “much better.”

If that is the case, it’s pretty dang tough to not pick the O&M clock to strike midnight and to likewise favor Miami to win in this one –after they have basically razzed Virginia Tech for 80 minutes thus far this season. Miami still has a significant advantage inside per Jekri and Uceda; and Miami is defending noticeably better of late, 7.1% better overall and 7.6% better from range in the last five games.

Still yet, I surely did not expect to be writing this preview in the first place. Which shows you just how little Cinderella and I know.

“When he plays hard, he’s really good, and when he doesn’t play hard, he’s just a 6-4 guard that doesn’t play hard.”  -VT  coach Buzz Williams on Hudson-

So, one Greensboro source said they think Angel sits, and one said they think Angel may give it a go. And this just in, mud is rumored to be muddy indeed.

Not much to go on there; so I’ll just go with the match-ups themselves and the ‘Cane ticketing to the big Dance need to win. As Miami defends the 3 pretty dang decently; what with their rangy perimeter 4-G line-up. 36.4% allowed from deep is not that inviting of an upset pick. Plus, where are our long-range shooting legs on such a quick turnaround, …particularly come the second-half?

That, and Miami had to beat us by 24 and then by 21 (at home), for a reason.

(84% confidence interval)
Virginia Tech=63, Miami U=77

“LETS GO!”

“Hokies!”

 bourbonstreet**