COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- A University of Miami representative tried to get me to shut the door to the media room so the profanities flying around the adjacent Hurricanes locker room couldn't be heard by reporters following Saturday night's loss to Maryland.
The thing is you don't have to have good hearing to figure out this basketball team is frustrated. And you don't have to have 20/20 vision to see this team and this season is in trouble. All you have to do is look at the standings and the schedule and you see Frank Haith's team has once again backed itself into a corner at the midway point of ACC play.
Frank doesn't like to talk much to the media after losses. He said even less than usual Saturday. He was hoping his veteran team, the one picked to finish fourth in the preseason, would respond to their back-to-back overtime losses like a a team picked to finish fourth in the conference is supposed to.
But it was the same old troublesome song and dance with a new twist, the disappearance of Miami's post players. Dwayne Collins? Somebody might find him at the lost and found. He had five points and seven rebounds, and two field goals on five attempts in 21 minutes. The new Adrian Thomas who hits big threes? He had more fouls (5) than points (3) Saturday.
The problem for UM is two-fold. While they are better at the ACC half-way point this year (3-5) than they were last year (2-6), this conference is tougher than last year's. And, the schedule down the home stretch is also tougher than last year's.
Miami's next three are at home against Wake Forest, on the road at Duke and home for North Carolina. Go ahead and pick the former No. 1-ranked team you think this Canes team can beat. It's not easy is it? Neither are the final five games after that -- at Florida State, home for Boston College, at Virginia, at Georgia Tech and home against N.C. State.
Yes, Miami has a deeper, more experienced and a more talented basketball team than it did last year. Yes, the Canes have a better record at the halfway point. But they certainly don't have an easier path. And after tonight, I'm not sure they're going to make it back to the tournament.
I-95 IS OFFICIALLY NO LONGER A HIGHWAY!!!! FDOT JUST MADE IT CLEAR TO EVERYONE THAT TAKING US1 GOING NORTH-SOUTH AND VICE VERSA IN MIAMI DADE IS PROBABLY A CLEARER PATH TO TAKE, THANKS FOR SCREWING EVERYBODY OVER, FIRST A VERY EXPENSIVE SO CALLED EXPRESS LANES,AND NOW TRAFFIC LIGHTS??? NEXT THING YOU KNOW THERE WILL BE SIDEWALKS, STOP SIGNS, ETC. WHAT A JOKE MIAMI-DADE IS BECOMING!!!! THIS IS WHY IN ANOTHER 5 YEARS, BROWARD AND OTHER NORTHERN COUNTIES WILL BE MORE IDEAL AS MORE OF TOURIST DESTINATIONS!
Posted by: Miami-Dade is Garbage!!!! GIVE ME BACK MY TAX DOLLARS!!! | February 02, 2009 at 10:35 AM
mra - Who gives a crap about that?
Posted by: Mr. Whipple | February 02, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Marcus Hall staying in-state with the Buckeyes
Top offensive lineman Marcus Hall has committed to Ohio State over scholarship offers from Miami-FL, Tennessee, Michigan, LSU and Illinois, amongst others, Bucknuts.com's Bill Kurelic reports.
Hall said of the decision, "It's been a long recruiting process. I enjoyed it. I want to thank all the schools that recruited me. I have decided to go to Ohio State. I really like Ohio State a lot."
Posted by: DAU | February 02, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Post play has been sketchy; Collins is inconsistant, and Graham has been downright lousy. Ballhandling, especially against the press, has been horrendous. Even token pressure has caused turnovers. And how many times will somebody make a three-pointer, then the next time down the court the same guy jacks up another one totally out of the framework of the offense. Duke runs one play; drive and dish to a three point shooter. When Miami drives, its an offensive foul or an off-balance shot and a fast break the other way. Bottom line, a semi-talented team that doesn't get the most out of that talent.
Posted by: steveinatlanta | February 02, 2009 at 01:21 PM
Don't worry about that Bryce kid. I am a beast and will turn out slot better than him. Look at the competition I play against and look what I do to them
Posted by: Lamar Miller | February 02, 2009 at 01:58 PM
poise
Posted by: 1caneinatlanta | February 02, 2009 at 03:50 PM
Does anyone know whats going on with Harland Gunn or Ian Symonette? Both were highy touted O Linemen. I know Symonette has been injured. Will either of them be a factor on the O line in the future?
Posted by: UM2012 | February 02, 2009 at 04:36 PM
I hope Bryce Brown comes here...we need a backup for Lamar Miller and Jakari(?) Gore.
Posted by: Canesjunkie | February 02, 2009 at 04:39 PM
Eye on the UUUUUU!!!
Posted by: CaneRock | February 02, 2009 at 04:41 PM
Can someone help me with my geography?
Another Tampa-area recruit, former Miami Hurricanes quarterback Robert Marve, could also sign with South Florida because of the school's location. According to Robert Marve's father, Eugene, his son is strongly considering South Florida.
''They're on the short list,'' Eugene Marve said.
The list of Robert Marve's prospective schools also includes Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Purdue. Because of NCAA transfer rules, Marve will be forced to sit out next season if he signs with a school that competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
How far is OSU, OU, and Purdue to Florida? I know we were leaving this topic alone, but I just wanted to see if the A I got in geography wasn't just because I played on our football team in Highshool....
Posted by: DA U N Houston | February 02, 2009 at 05:15 PM
Hey Manny, care to report on how the visits went this weekend!?
Feed us!
Posted by: g8rh8r | February 02, 2009 at 05:18 PM
Word is Hall and Mitchell committed elsewher e(Ohio St & Kentucky). I want to know about Peter White, wasn't he supposed to announce before NSD? We need to flip Mitchell or get Richardson or we are really going to lack TE depth!
Posted by: Caneiac | February 02, 2009 at 06:04 PM
Looks like Shannon cant close. Its going to be a bad Wednesday. The staff bungling is costing big time.
Posted by: SOUP | February 02, 2009 at 06:04 PM
Shut up SOUP! What a loser gator fan U are.
Posted by: Mr. Whipple | February 02, 2009 at 06:11 PM
Haith never had and never will have control of this team. He is a good recruiter but not even as stated earlier a mediocre coach. There has been no growth in his players.
Rios was and still is a criminal. Haith knows about other events that Rios and other members of the team have participated in. Cracking open parking meters and stealing the money. Mugging an old guy in the grove. The Jimmy G. slip in the shower is BS, he hit someone in the face with his fist (more than once).
Unlike the fools who defend the U no matter what, or the idiots who like to say crap about our team, I love the U. I began watching our BB team in 1961 in the old Miami Beach Convention Center. I cried when we lost in the OB when we lost to the Gators in the 60's. I got my MBA from the U in 72.
Stop drinking the Cool Aid.
Posted by: Old Cane 72 | February 03, 2009 at 11:04 AM
lol...nice conspiracy theories, old man. Now, why don't you go have a heart attack?
Posted by: Canes | February 04, 2009 at 12:58 AM