Eye on the U

UM women's tennis finishes Sweet 16 round at close to 1 a.m. EST -- but beats Northwestern to advance to NCAA quarterfinals

They did it again.

For the fifth consecutive season, the University of Miami women's tennis team has advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.

The sixth-ranked Hurricanes, playing at the tournament site in Urbana, Ill., beat Northwestern 4-3. They didn't complete play until close to 1 a.m. Eastern time Saturday (match began Friday night).

The Canes get to rest on Saturday, before meeting No. 3 Texas A&M at 5 p.m. EST on Sunday.

If UM beats Texas A&M in the Elite Eight round, it would play in the national semifinals on Monday. If UM, in turn, won that match, it would advance to the national title round on Tuesday.

The Hurricanes finished as the national runner-up in 2006, but have never won a national title. 

 On Friday, it was  junior Melissa Bolivar who clinched the victory at the No. 6 spot by winning her final two games. She beat Nida Hamilton 7-6 (6), 1-6, 6-4.

 Also winning for UM were Stephanie Wagner at the No. 1 spot and Kelsey Laurente at the No. 2 spot, as well as the crucial doubles victories by Albuquerque/Riobueno and Wagner/Brittany Dubins.

 "I didn't feel comfortable throughout the match,'' Bolivar said after the match, as reported by UM sports information. "I just fought through it. You have to win, even though you're not playing your best. That's a quality we have.''

SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN

 

Does UM's delay in announcing bowl decision bode well for the Hurricanes?

 I admit I was a bit surprised -- and disappointed -- when Al Golden didn't relay a decision about what the Miami administration will do regarding the Hurricanes' post-season future.

 Golden said he wants to keep playing, but that it's what any coach would want, and he wasn't taking into account any future implications. Whatever UM president Donna Shalala decides, Golden said he will support.

Waiting at all makes me think they might be waiting to see what happens in the game at Duke, and whether UM qualifies for the ACC Championship game, which would precede a Bowl. And if UM beats Duke and were to go to the ACC title game Dec. 1 in Charlotte, N.C., a victory would put the Canes in the Orange Bowl. Wow. Imagine that.

Of course, should UM get in the title game and get killed by FSU...

Maybe the administration wants to appease Al Golden, who is the right coach at the right time for this program. The Canes do not want to lose Golden, who seems very committed, but who also will likely be on the wish list for other programs.

Either way, what do you guys think? Should they go or should they stay?

I think they should self-impose, but I figure I win either way. Covering bowl games is really fun, and the players have such a good time, too. And I have to admit it would be really cool for the Canes to get into their first ACC title game.

Have a good night.

SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN

 

 

 

 

 

New Depth Chart Released by UM for Regular-Season Finale at Duke

Good afternoon.

Al Golden usually releases his weekly depth chart early Monday morning before practice, but we just received the newest one for the Duke game in Durham -- announced for 12:30 p.m. Nov. 24 on ACC Regional TV.

Freshman receiver Herb Waters, who had an exceptional performance yesterday with 130 receiving yards that included an 87-yard touchdown, is now a No. 1 wideout, ahead of injured receiver Allen Hurns (broken finger).

At left tackle, freshman Ereck Flowers is now a co-first-teamer at left tackle with Malcolm Bunche.

Denzel Perryman and Gionni Paul are co-starters at outside linebacker.

Freshman Rayshawn Jenkins, who led UM yesterday with seven tackles and an interception, is a co-starter at safety with A.J. Highsmith.

DEPTH CHART, courtesty UM

OFFENSE (PRO)

WR 86 HERB WATERS 6-2, 185, Fr.

 

1 Allen Hurns 6-3, 192, Jr.

87 Garrett Kidd 6-2, 186, RFr.

LT 79 MALCOLM BUNCHE

–OR– 6-7, 325, RSo.

74 ERECK FLOWERS 6-6, 314, Fr.

LG 70 JONATHAN FELICIANO 6-5, 314, RSo.

68 Jeremy Lewis 6-4, 316, RSr.

C 62 SHANE MCDERMOTT 6-4, 295, RSo.

75 Jared Wheeler 6-5, 314, RJr.

RG 65 BRANDON LINDER 6-6, 308, Jr.

63 Daniel Isidora 6-4, 320, Fr.

RT 77 SEANTREL HENDERSON 6-8, 340, Jr.

74 Ereck Flowers 6-6, 314, Fr.

TE 46 CLIVE WALFORD 6-4, 250, RSo.

82 Asante Cleveland 6-5, 263, Jr.

49 Dyron Dye 6-5, 255, RJr.

FB 33 MAURICE HAGENS 5-11, 240, Jr.

43 Sean Harvey 6-4, 262, RSo.

QB 17 STEPHEN MORRIS 6-2, 214, Jr.

11 Ryan Williams 6-5, 221, RSo.

RB 5 MIKE JAMES 5-11, 220, Sr.

8 Duke Johnson 5-9, 188, Fr.

25 Dallas Crawford 5-10, 192, RFr.

WR 4 PHILLIP DORSETT 5-10, 185, So.

83 Kendal Thompkins 5-10, 182, RSr.

SPECIALISTS

P 13 DALTON BOTTS 6-3, 205, Sr.

40 Jake Wieclaw 6-2, 193, RSr.

FG 40 JAKE WIECLAW 6-2, 193, RSr.

18 Matt Goudis 6-0, 170, RFr.

KO 40 JAKE WIECLAW 6-2, 193, RSr.

18 Matt Goudis 6-0, 170, RFr.

H 13 DALTON BOTTS 6-3, 205, Sr.

11 Ryan Williams 6-5, 221, RSo.

LS 61 PAUL KELLY 6-1, 262, RSr.

59 Jimmy Gaines 6-3, 230, Jr.

SS 61 PAUL KELLY 6-1, 262, RSr.

65 Brandon Linder 6-6, 308, Jr.

PR 4 PHILLIP DORSETT 5-10, 185, So.

8 Duke Johnson 5-9, 188, Fr.

KR 4 PHILLIP DORSETT 5-10, 185, So.

8 Duke Johnson 5-9, 188, Fr.

DEFENSE (4-3)

DE 71 ANTHONY CHICKILLO 6-4, 262, So.

99 Jelani Hamilton –

OR– 6-5, 271, Fr.

90 Ricardo Williams 6-5, 240, RFr.

DT 96 CURTIS PORTER 6-1, 305, RJr.

67 Corey King –

OR– 6-1, 295, RFr.

72 Earl Moore 6-1, 300, Fr.

DT 91 OLSEN PIERRE 6-4, 300, So.

93 Luther Robinson 6-3, 288, RJr.

DE 51 SHAYON GREEN 6-3, 260, RJr.

17 Tyriq McCord 6-3, 236, Fr.

94 Kelvin Cain 6-3, 245, Jr.

OLB 34 THURSTON ARMBRISTER 6-3, 222, So.

44 Eddie Johnson 6-1, 234, RFr.

MLB 59 JIMMY GAINES 6-3, 230, Jr.

56 Raphael Kirby 6-0, 218, Fr.

OLB 52 DENZEL PERRYMAN

–OR– 6-0, 229, So.

36 GIONNI PAUL 6-1, 230, So.

31 Tyrone Cornileus 6-2, 210, Jr.

CB 37 LADARIUS GUNTER 6-2, 198, Jr.

3 Tracy Howard 5-11, 185, Fr.

20 Thomas Finnie 5-10, 183, So.

S 29 RAYSHAWN JENKINS

–OR– 6-1, 203, Fr.

30 AJ HIGHSMITH 6-0, 202, RJr.

S 22 KACY RODGERS II 6-2, 210, Jr.

7 Vaughn Telemaque 6-2, 204, RSr.

2 Deon Bush 6-1, 190, Fr.

CB 21 BRANDON McGEE 6-0, 194, Sr.

39 Antonio Crawford 5-11, 188, Fr

We're still waiting for the teleconference with Al Golden at 4:30 today. Will be back after that.

SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN