Courtside blog: Boston College 76, UM 66 (F)

Checking in from the Conte Forum up here in Boston where the 21st-ranked Canes are set to take on a familiar nemesis, Boston College. The Eagles have won 12 consecutive games in this series. But this is one the Canes need to win if they're going to prove they're among the elite in the ACC.

This Eagles team isn't as good as past BC teams. They don't have the toughness and size they used to have with Jared Dudley, Sean Marshall and others. It's a guard driven team. This UM team is also improved, deeper and should win this matchup. I'll take you through the game with my thoughts. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts as the game progresses. It will be on live at 9 p.m. on FSN-Florida.

FIRST HALF...
- Miami will be wearing their road black uniforms. The starting lineup is the same as last time out: Jack McClinton, James Dews, Brian Asbury, Dwayne Collins and Anthony King. Collins had a huge outing the last time was at BC. If he has the same type of night he did last year, Miami is probably going to win.
- 17:01 left, BC 8, UM 2: Jack McClinton's jumper with 17:17 remaining ended an 8-0 run to start the game for the Eagles who are attacking Miami in the paint and are having a lot of success. This certainly wasn't the start the Canes wanted.
- 12:55 left, BC 14, UM 4: Uhhh. What is going on here? UM has another horrendous start. The Hurricanes start the game 1 of 14 from the field. Nothing is going right. This wasn't what they needed. Dwayne Collins finally ends the draught with a hook shot with 13:07 to play in half. Feels a lot like the Georgia Tech start. But is UM going to do what it did Saturday and comeback?
- 7:12 left, BC 20, UM 10: A horrendous start became more horrendous before James Dews finally ended a 2 for 20 start from the field for the Hurricanes with back-to-back three-pointers. Miami simply hasn't looked comfortable on offense lately. ACC coaches are doing a good job scouting this team and figuring out ways to disrupt Miami's flow. That's what happens when you play in a tough conference. By the way, ESPN's Andy Katz is here watching Miami. I'll see if I can talk to him and get his thoughts on this UM team at some point.
- 3:56 left, BC 28, UM 13: So far, its the same two guys -- Jimmy Graham and James Dews -- providing the only real lift for this team. Only this time, it looks like Miami isn't going to comeback.
- Halftime: BC 36, UM 22: The good news is Miami isn't out of it. The bad news is the Canes are going to need to play out of their minds in the second half to pull this off. The Canes shot 26 percent from the field in the first half (9 of 34) and was outrebounded 20-17. Not a winning formula against the Eagles.
- More thoughts... I think this game is further evidence of how bad UM needs a true point guard. It's obvious Eddie Rios isn't ready. What's happened to Miami's offense is that opponents have figured out how to stall it, force Jack McClinton and James Dews, who are not true point guards, to keep shuffling the ball back and forth to one another. We knew this would be a problem. I think we are finally seeing it. My other observation is Anthony King always seems to struggle against shot blockers. He can't create a shot other than a long-distance jumper. That's not going to fly in the ACC. Miami may have to spend more time using Collins and Graham because they are more athletic and can create their own shots.

SECOND HALF...
- 15:36 left, BC 43, UM 22: Well, it's safe to say we know how this one is going to end. Miami's shooting woes have now netted a 9 for 40 night (23% FG). Is this just a bad night? Or are the Eagles exposing the Canes? I think a little of both.
- 11:59 left, BC 48, UM 27: Miami is now 10 of 43 from the field.
- 8:33 left, BC 56, UM 40: The Canes have put on a bit of a flurry here with an 8-1 run. But it's likely too little too late.
- 5:59 left, BC 60, UM 50: Maybe I spoke too soon. The Canes are clawing back behind a three-point barrage. Jack McClinton's latest three-pointer has made it a 10-point game. The Hurricanes have been in a full-court press for almost five minutes now. They'll need to keep up this fast and furious pace to stay in it.

Comments

[Cane Since 1982]

Vegas: BC by 2

[solarcane]

aight Manny,
stay warm bro,get home safe

peace

[Cane Since 1982]

Manny,

Just out of curiosity do you read the comments after your articles or go bag into your blogs the following day?

[Robnyce]

Manny, if the 'Canes look good or bad, be sure to describe who what and why. What am I talkin' about -- you're Manny...I say BC wins a close game. Doesn't mean Miami is not good, just feels like an off-night. If McClinton or King play well, and they stop Tyris Rice, I change my mind. Even with a loss I stand by my 10-6 predection.

[Manny]

Q: Manny, just out of curiosity do you read the comments after your articles or go bag into your blogs the following day? Posted by: Cane Since 1982 | January 15, 2008 at 08:53 PM

A: When I have time I go back and read the comments.

[green]

http://media.www.thehurricaneonline.com/media/storage/paper479/news/2007/11/29/News/New-Events.Building.Okd-3122417.shtml
hey manny navarro, did the University of Miami break ground on the basketball practice facility?

[Cane Mutiny]

Manny, what's the crowd like there? Anything special, or about even with the BankUnited Center?

[Hurricane Moe]

Hi Manny

My usual Question. Any word on who will be the third scholli for the BB team this year?

[Manny]

Q: Manny, what's the crowd like there? Anything special, or about even with the BankUnited Center? Posted by: Cane Mutiny | January 15, 2008 at 09:05 PM

A: Not a packed house. About 70 percent full.

[CaneInLA]

Hey Manny,

Where's our offense and defense? Not liking what I'm seeing so far on FSN.

[Cane Since 1982]

ahm why is everything being shot so fast from outside?

[Canester]

Terrible start. Something needs to happen to jump start this team. They sound like they're still asleep.

Maybe the cold?

[Rashad]

Come on fellas wake up.

[CaneInLA]

Slick beard on Rios. Hopefully it translates to slick play. Oops. Spoke too soon. Airball.

[Canester]

This is pathetic. 20 - 4?!

Terrible. We look scared out there. Definitely not top 25 worthy at this point.

[Robnyce]

Manny,

Do we even have green away uniforms anymore? Or are we destined to look like the Baltimore Orioles for the rest of the season?

[Cane Since 1982]

lets see if they close this half like they did against GT. Hopefully we are just slow starters. It aint over yet.

[Canes904]

They need to get aggressive and play offense with more patience.

Come on Canes!!! REBOUND!

[Canes904]

go Jimmy!

[Cane Since 1982]

Manny,

Tell me something good about recruiting right now so i feel better.

[Manny]

Q: Manny, Tell me something good about recruiting right now so i feel better. Posted by: Cane Since 1982 | January 15, 2008 at 09:43 PM

A: The defensive players UM has in this next football class are special.

[Robnyce]

I can't see the game. But I see nothing on gametrack from Jack. Hey guys, is McClinton dead?

[Hurricane Moe]

Manny

Do we have a point guard in the pipe line???

[ryan]

wow that was embarassing. Cant even tell if UM basketball is any good because nobody decided to show up for the game.

Now to the important things.

Q. Hey manny what have you heard about Corey Luiget switching his commitment? Do you think the canes are going to offer Baker? keep up the good work your the best in the biz!

[RealCanesFan]

Manny,

Seems to me like king is not used in the paint the way he should be. Is it me or does he seem like a player that would dominate the paint if they would give him the ball.

The RealCanesFan

Go Canes!!!!!

[86Cane]

Manny...Good coverage of the game by you, bad first half of ball by the U.

Second half has gotta be great: GO CANES!

[busy_cane]

Watching the game at home on Fox Sports Net - Florida. Here are my thoughts.

First half comes to an end. It was forgetable. Unfortunately, when we open up the second half down by 14 points, we'll be reminded about how poorly we shot the ball.

The team doesn't look sluggish... they just have had difficulty finding an offensive rhythm, and that has translated into BC shooting the ball very well (> 50%).

Haith preaches that solid defense leads to offensive success. Miami's defensive pressure needs to keep the opponnent's shot % near 40 for the team to be successful. Otherwise, we don't have the offensive weapons to get into a running match.

I expect us to come out of the halftime and hit a few threes and get the deficit into single digits. If we relax, we are done.

In the second half, it has to be pressure, pressure, pressure.

GO CANES!

[86Cane]

Pound the ball inside, get some easy baskets, some fouls and close it to under 10 points. Then we have a game...

[RealCanesFan]

We are looking ugly tonight shooting the ball. Cant make shit inside or out!!!! They need to settle down and take quality shots.

[RealCanesFan]

Wow BC looks really good...Well I knew we would loose some games in ACC play. Hate to be negative but this one isn't looking good.

[86Cane]

Rios is still too raw to run the show and King needs to get it and shoot. When he holds the ball and tries to put on moves he gets blocked.

[86Cane]

OUCH! So much for half time speeches and/or adjustments. Man, what's up with Haith? Down 21 it's time to experiment with new sets and combos...

[PLAY THE FRESHMEN!!!]

As a former BB player and coach 2 for 20 (10%) says it all. A decent shooting % let's say 30% 6 for 20. It would have given us a single digit diff.

I think that teams have figured out to pressure Mac and all hell breaks loose.

Haith should use the remainder of game to work some def sets and off plays.

[RealCanesFan]

We just dug to big of a whole in the first half 9 for 34. No way you can shoot that % in the first haalf against ny aCC team and expect to win or even compete. Saw signs of this the other day against GT except they were bad enough for us to overcome it.

[RealCanesFan]

Sorry for the typos must be time for me to hit the sack...

Go Canes!!!!!

[PLAY THE FRESHMEN!!!]

Real;

No more green pills buddy.

LMAO

[Cane Mutiny]

What in the HELL is McClinton doing??

[Robnyce]

Why does Lance Hurdle take so many 3's? Where is Brian Asbury?

[RyanC]

the game is sad. Kindof a 'back to reality' game here...

[Cane Since 1982]

What If?

[CaneInLA]

Come on boys, keep it goin'. Make it look presentable.

[Canes904]

Ahhhhhh C A N E S. Canes!

[Cane Mutiny]

Could it be?? Only down by ten, guys...

[Russell]

Well they could make it interesting anyway

[86Cane]

Let's Go Canes!!!

C
A
N
E
S
CANES!!!

[Russell]

Didn't get to see the game but from reading posts and the commentators comments it seems the team is doing what Canes teams of the past did- play sloppy and lazy. Thankfully there are many ACC games left for them to prove themselves but to the voters, please do not rank this team until they beat some quality opponents. Keep the carrot on the stick in front of them because they seem to need it.
Keep up the good work Manny.

[Russell]

And hopefully sometime this decade they'll figure out to beat the BC basketball team

[busy_cane]

Encouraging that we made a run at the end and didn't give up. Travel to BC in January is tough for anyone from Miami, let alone a group of young men that have to play a basketball game.

This is a good team, that will be competitive against some very good competition.

[Greg]

I was there, we got smoked, it was never thay close. Manny you should have said hi, there was only 10 canes fan in a city full of them.

[The U]

Well , I hate that it's come to this point but it was almost inevitable. Although I hate having to rely on ESPN for the most up to date news on my favorite team, I'm learning that it is the one true source.

Manny, refuses to update his blog now that football season is over just like last year. Then when we finally get him online, he makes wise cracks at us like we're idiots for asking anything other than BB questions!

We hosted recruits this past weekend....
Not a word from manny.
ESPN is reporting that we DID in fact fire our WR coach............
Not a word from manny.
We ask him many questions when he's blogging from Boston.......
Manny answers 3.

So let me get this straight, Manny goes all the way to Boston and he can't find any time to check in with us true cane fans that are here (even during football off-season). That's pretty sad! FSU and Gator fans have a number of different beat-writers that always keep their fans in the loop.

Oh well, guess I'll just make ESPN my homepage again.