#65 R.P.I. Miami @ #229 R.P.I. Virginia Tech
The U started out the year 8-zip and has gone 11-11 ever since.
19 up and 11 down on the year, including an 6th place conference mark at a .53o or 9-8 
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.
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: done for the year, right-wrist ligament damage)
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!)
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)
- 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)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Loading ...
Illation, conclusion (s) and OPT digits:
The U just scuffled and pulled out a much needed 67-63 dub-a-u (win) up at Pitt on Wednesday night to keep their post-season chances firmly alive.
The U is also embroiled in nearly a 4-way dance for the 6th seed in Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament terms as I type.
***
And as said above, a 19 win Miami needs this win, maybe even 1 or 2 A.c.c. bracket wins, in order to be sure to secure some measure of post-season play. Or in other words an upsetting L @Virginia Tech would all less be a post-season kill shot right about now for da U.
When you drill a little deeper, you quickly see that at the core, although Miami is indeed a reasonable looking 6-4 on the year as the visitor, they are quite literally 3 shots away from being 9-1, and basically 5 shots away from being 10-zip! As this ‘Canes men’s hoops team may not be great, though it is surely closer than it looks to being downright sneaky good.
That plus 327th in defensive rebounding for Virginia Tech, which simply does not forecast well in terms of the new found P.T. (playing time) for big ole Mister Uceda down in the paint. If you will pardon the pun, that’s the key here… Miami simply must win, and Miami has the internal bad medicine match-up wise for Virginia Tech to make this an ugly grind it out contest; providing their perimeter shots are falling. If not, Virginia Tech will hang around and possibly steal this one at home, if the U is on from the edge, Miami will slowly yet surely pull away for about a double-digit win.
(75% confidence interval)
Virginia Tech=56, Miami U=64
“LETS GO!”
“Hokies!”
bourbonstreet**