Duke Title & Miami NIT Run Validate 2016 Canes

Three months ago when the Miami Hurricanes ended a 41-game win-streak at Cameron Indoor Stadium and whipped the hosts by 24 points, a national championship was probably the last thing on the mind of the Duke Blue Devils.

After the final 68 was whittled down to one, the iconic program wrapped up title number five—which doesn’t bring much solace for a UM squad that didn’t get invited to The Big Dance, but should serve as a reminder that a few rough losses aside, Miami was a quality team this year that could be in store for big things in 2016.

While loss to Eastern Kentucky and Green Bay—as well as late-season conference losses seemed to define the Canes—the post-season proved kind to Miami, right up to and including Duke’s NCAA Tournament run.

While a short-handed Miami team grinded-it-out in the NIT, taking down North Carolina Central, Alabama, Richmond and Temple—oft overcoming double-digit deficits—before falling to Stanford in the title game.

Meanwhile Duke went to town on Robert Morris, San Diego State, Utah, Gonzaga, Michigan State and Wisconsin—beating the Spartans and Aztecs in similar fashion to the way the Canes smacked down the Blue Devils during the regular season; by big time double-digits.

While the Canes might still be reeling from that overtime loss to the Cardinal—a winnable game that UM simply could close out late—the NIT experience, returning starters and big wins of this past season should pay dividends next time around.

Throttling Duke at home was huge. So were wins over Syracuse, NC State and Florida (yes, the Gators fell off big time, but the Canes ended a huge win-streak in Gainesville and won at the O’Connell Center, which is no small feat.)

There were also games against tough foes that came down to the wire; losing in overtime to second-ranked Virginia, falling to Notre Dame in South Bend (and at the ACC Tournament), as well as road losses to Louisville and Florida State.

Jim Larrañaga will bring back his entire starting line-up—highlighted by guards  Sheldon McClellan and Angel Rodriguez; transfers who sat out the 2013 season, but found their groove year one with the Hurricanes.

Center Tonye Jekiri will return for his senior season, as well—the missing piece in the NIT title game, sidelined with concussion-related issues. Jekiri’s rebounding was instrumental to Miami’s success this past season and his energy is a big part of the Canes’ DNA.

Deandre Burnett stepped up late with Rodriguez out and he’ll return for his r-sophomore season, as will junior guard Davon Reed. There’s also Manu Lecomte—the Belgian-born transfer, who feels a bit like the odd-man-out for the Canes based on overload at the guard position. It’s something Larranaga recently touched on; the premise of some off-season turnover.

“We had 12 guys on scholarship, 11 are supposed to return, but it wouldn’t be surprising if someone decided to transfer,” Larranaga said, as reported by CaneSport.com. “And if they did our thoughts would be why and try to help them find the best situation for them. … We want our players to want to be here and be happy while they’re here.”

Larranaga also pointed out that should there be a scholarship opening, he and his coaching staff have a list of guys they’d like to go after and recruit.

(Editor’s Note: As of 5:20 p.m. ET on April 8th, the University of Miami announced that both Lecomte and Burnett have decided to transfer.)

Regarding those who are expected to return, the Canes will suit up Ja’Quan Newton, James Palmer, Omar Sherman and Ivan Cruz Uceda—all who should return for their sophomore campaigns after getting their feet wet year one. The Canes will also welcome incoming freshman Anthony Lawrence.

Miami will also welcome forward Kamari Murphy next season; the Oklahoma State transfer who originally had the Canes on his radar, but was scared off by the NCAA scandal. Murphy sat out last season, but is expected to be a force next year.

With the Cowboys, Murphy started 21-of-33 games and averaged 6.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 25.9 minutes per outing.

The wait-til-next-year rallying cry in sports isn’t one that fans necessarily welcome. Especially at Miami, where it’s played like a song stuck on repeat for way too long regarding the football program.

That said, basketball is a different beast—different coach, different attitude, different culture and a much easier engine to retool with the right personnel.

Larrañaga laid down a proper foundation years back and things began coming to fruition with that first-of-its-kind (by Miami standard) squad in 2012-2013, that reached the Sweet 16 in and all reality should’ve gone much further.

The following year was expected to be a full-blown rebuild as the entire starting line-up moved on, while transfers like Rodriguez and McClellan had to watch from the bench.

This season was all about the Canes finding a groove, which they did—though the consistency was certainly lacking.

Best way to thwart inconsistency? Putting in work. Playing. Overcoming adversity. Learning from mistakes and experience—all of which the Canes did, right up through an incredible NIT run and heartbreaking finish.

Closing strong has to be the mantra for next season; as well as staying focused and consistent. While there were a handful of brilliant wins for the Canes this past season, the lopsided losses were arguably the biggest reason this team didn’t reach the NCAA Tournament.

So much focus was put on the embarrassing, 72-44 loss to Eastern Kentucky—and while that might’ve been an aberration, there were still too many brain-fart-type nights against conference foes where Miami simply didn’t show up.

A 70-50 home loss to Georgia Tech. A 72-70 loss to conference doormat Wake Forest. A 55-54 loss at Florida State. A 63-55 loss to Louisville.

From late January through early February, Miami had a stretch where it lost four of five. Between the Green Bay loss (12/6) and late February loss to North Carolina, the Canes went 10-11—which there was simply no excuse for; especially when wins over Duke, North Carolina State and Syracuse were sandwiched in-between.

A good eight months before Miami takes the court for what will be the fifth year of the Larrañaga era and much to accomplish between now and then, but all signs are pointing to what could be another special run for this Hurricanes program, beginning next fall.

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