If you’ve followed Miami basketball at all the past decade, you know that common theme of coming up short. Especially against the big boys. So many times the Canes have seeming had a formidable opponent on the ropes, yet found a way to come up short in the end. Especially on the road.
Miami led Duke by as many as sixteen points, only to fall behind with 2:49 in regulation. Still the Canes scrapped, as did the Blue Devils and in the end, after fatigue had both sides missing much-needed free throws, this one was decided in overtime.
Reggie Johnson was a one-man-wrecking-crew for the Canes, with a career-high 27 points and 12 rebounds. Big Reg withstood the taunts of the Cameron Crazies and put his team on his back, earning the upset win as well as ACC Player of the Week honors earlier today.
Kenny Kadji got his, as well. The forward ad 15 points and eight rebounds and was dominating in the paint. Miami said it followed Florida State’s blueprint in regards to how it attacked Duke and that approach gave the Canes a 42-28 halftime lead.
Duke, being Duke, fought back, as expected. A 16-2 second half run showed why the Blue Devils are a Final Four staple and one of the ACC’s elite programs. Still, Miami refused to back down and pushed it back to 69-68 in the final two minutes regulation before Duke went 1-and-1 from the free throw line and tied things up. UM had one last possession but was unable to get a final shot off.
In overtime, Miami struck first and Johnson continued dominating, scoring the Canes first six points of the extra period. A layup by Malcolm Grant had UM up 75-69 and Duke didn’t score it’s first overtime points until 2:01 remained.
The Blue Devils pulled to within one, but at 75-74, DeQuan Jones pushed it 77-74 with back-to-back free throws and thirteen seconds on the clock but Duke rushed and missed two separate three-point attempts, sending Johnson to the line one last time where the big man scored his final point and gave Miami the four-point cushion, sealing the win.
Miami has now won four in a row and five of six, with quality wins coming against Clemson, Georgia Tech, Boston College and Maryland, before this upset in Durham. Next up, a Thursday night home game hosting Virginia Tech and Sunday showdown in Tallahassee against Florida State.
Kudos to first-year head coach Jim Larranaga for having his kids ready. For the first time in forever, Miami, when hitting on all cylinders, looks good and the game plan feels right.
There will still be ups and downs along the way, but with eight regular season games remaining, the 14-7 Canes seem to be heating up and the right time – and a first-ever win at Cameron will go a long way with the selection committee when talking the final sixty-four and March Madness seeding.