The Jack McClinton era is officially over at the University of Miami and the search for a replacement starts next season. The Canes underachieved their way to a NIT bid, after starting 2008 with a high preseason ranking and loads of optimism.
After falling in the second round of last year’s NCAA tourney, Miami set its sights on taking things further in 2009, thanks to a senior-heavy, veteran squad. Instead, a second round NIT beatdown at the hands of its most bitter rival.
I’ve ranted and raved enough about this team the past few weeks and don’t want to dedicate too much time to a 74-6o thumping by Florida. It’s the NIT, the season is over and there’s nothing more to say. This game was a microcosm of the entire disappointing season.
Another slow start, Miami found itself down 20-2 and out of it before its first time out, at the 11:36 mark. McClinton was 3-of-9 from beyond the arc and 5-of-12 in field goals made, en route to a disappointing 13-point performance.
Dwayne Collins poured in a respectable 21 and was the only other Cane in double digits. Lance Hurdle and Brian Asbury were good for five a piece, while Cyrus McGowan was scoreless. Miami mustered up 20 points from its bench, but again another all around poor shooting performance. The Canes missed their first ten shots of the night.
After a solid win at Providence earlier this week, Miami simply no showed against Florida – something that’s completely inexcusable. Bad enough this took place in the second round of the post season (with a veteran team), but how can you not get up for a game against the Gators?
Frank Haith and staff need to right this ship and have the entire off-season to do so.
One final farewell to Jack McClinton. You deserved better this year and your time spent as The U was special for everyone who watched. So disappointing to see the ACC’s best all time three-point shooter go out like this… especially on a night where his former Siena teammates were celebrating a double overtime win against Ohio State in the NCAA tourney.
Best of luck at the next level #33.
It was hard to watch this game last night. Being in that basketball arena that smells like a bathroom at a public pool. I think Miami was down 20-2 at one point. It looked like they have never seen a full court press before and the shots they took just weren’t sinking. They had a nice run in the 2nd half but again, shots were just clanking.
Pathetic showing by our Canes last night. Surprised you weren’t harder on them, Three-Oh-Five. This season was an abomination. Great preseason hype, a veteran team and as we’re seeing in the tourney, it was really just another year where Duke and North Carolina were the only worthwhile teams in conference. The Canes should’ve easily won 5-6 more games this year and should be in the big dance. There’s no excuse for this piss poor performance.
Crazy thing about sports, a couple more breaks go your way and it’s a completely different season. The Canes have no one to blame but themselves. Canes were in it till the end versus Duke, UNC, and Va Tech but just couldn’t pull out the W during the regular season. Throw in the Ohio State game where the Canes were comfortably ahead before Jack McClinton got ejected and you start to see just how many breaks went against the Canes this year. Not to mention the Georgia Tech game late in the year where the Canes absolutely tanked against this year’s ACC bottom-feeder.
Fact is, Canes b-ball isn’t used to playing with high expectations and it’s obvious now all the accolades and preseason hype the Canes got this year was detrimental to the team’s psyche. Last year, there was none of that and the Canes were able to use the “us against the world” pep talk all the way to the big dance. Don’t be surprised if the Canes have a big bounce back year next season with the recruits Coach Haith has coming in. Even without #33, the Canes can ride the “us against the world” motivational thing back to the big dance. Coach Haith excels with low expectations anyways.
Miami and VT crashed out of the NIT.
Wake, BC and Maryland blown out in the NCAA.
FSU loses a heart breaker, but loses nonetheless in the NCAA.
Clemson? They aren’t even worth discussing.
The ACC was terrible this year. We know now that the Canes weren’t the only team that regressed from last year.
The conference performance has been humiliating in postseason.
I know it was the NIT and everyone wanted to be in the big dance but it was still the freaking GAYTORS in the POSTSEASON.
HAITH MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DEBACLE.
If DC goes pro as expected we will finish last in the ACC next year. One NCAA in five years yet Haith still gets a pass from half our fans.
Just pathetic!
The ACC was terrible this year. We know now that the Canes weren’t the only team that regressed from last year.
Agreed…. but Miami was a senior heavy, veteran team and doesn’t have a legit excuse for the regression. The fact that the rest of the conference struggled is further proof that this Canes bunch underachieved and should’ve done better.
Absolutely NO excuse to not be in the big dance this year. None.
I didn’t see the game because I couldn’t find it but down 20-2 before your 1st TO is unnacceptable on the coaching. Just like the game vs Duke when they went on a 22-2 run or something like that before he calls a TO is terrible coaching.
Haith needs to be held accountable. If this were the football program going into the season and expectations were as high as they were for this basketball team someones head would roll.
The PG play has been terrible all season. While watching games my brother and I would sit there and be as sarcastic as possible about the shot selection of Hurdle. A behind the back, no look, fade away three for example is stuff we were expecting with the shots that he would take.
It’s on to March 28, 2009, for all of you that are going to spring game, Miami Prime Grill on 163rd St and Biscayne is having and after-spring-practice-party with dozens of Hurricane football alumni. Link is below, GO CANES
http://miamiprimegrill.com/Miami%20Prime%20Grill/Upcoming%20Events.html
Sept. 7 my friends…
FLORIDA TOOK OUT MIAMI BUT AT LEAST PENN STATE SMACKED UP THOSE DIRTY ASS GATORS TONIGHT!!
9/7/09… Agreed. More than ready for football season. Here’s to another five months of practice and hitting the weights. Would love to see nothing more than a beating of the Noles to start the year.