I’m still not ready to talk basketball this time of year… but the Miami Hurricanes earned another big out of conference road win – it’s fourth straight – and it needs to be acknowledged.
This may not be your father’s Kentucky Wildcats bunch, but they’re still a quality program and it was The U’s first win against UK in four tries. A big showdown for an up-and-coming team.
Miami blew a 15-point lead against Ohio State last Tuesday, after Jack McClinton was sidelined for taking a swipe at a Buckeye. This time around, the Canes were sitting on a 21-point lead that dwindled down to four, but McClinton and crew stepped up and kept this one out of reach down the stretch.
Unlike the loss to Ohio State, Miami’s supporting cast held it together for the duration. James Dews had an 18-point effort and went 4-6 regarding 3-pointers. Lance Hurdle was the next closest Cane with nine point, which pales in comparison to McClinton’s 23.
From what little has been seen of these Hurricanes this early in the season, it appears to be McClinton and everybody else. His lack of presence cost Miami against Ohio State and these Canes are simply an average bunch if he’s not on the roster. Moving forward, other players are going to have to step up.
McClinton went cold in the second half, going 0-for-5, missing a few threes and hitting his first two-point jumper with 9:11 remaining. #33 went 2-for-8 in the second half, but did hit two clutch free throws in the final minute to help secure the win.
Miami had the luxury of holding on to a 20-point halftime lead, which won’t be the case once ACC play kicks off in the coming weeks. These Canes can’t continue to go cold when ahead by such a large margin and when McClinton isn’t hitting, someone else has to.
The difference in the waning moments this time around were free throws. Miami went 6-of-8 from the line with less than a minute to play, en route to a six-point win.
Next up, a Friday night showdown with crosstown rival Florida International.
Kentucky really isn’t that bad this season. Not a national championship contender, but certainly not as bad as last season.
A good win for the Canes.
A nice win, but honestly I was loving the first half, changed the channel to watch the SEC title game, and then when I switched back the lead was in single digits. Miami has a lot of talent and should be a top team in the ACC this year, but blowing second half leads consistently doesn’t bode well for the rest of the year.
The game should never have been that close. We took bad shots and let them get in transition to get back in it. Kentucky is not a great team by any means. We have to play for the whole game, take good shots and play better D in the second half. Up by 20 at half and then hang on barely against a sub par Wildcats team.
-Columbus Cane
The season is young but this was a win we had to have. The ACC is going to be a war this year especially with an improved FSU and Maryland nipping at our heels. Every road win matters especially at a place like Rupp. Besides the SEC is so soft this year, UK could win the league and a win on the road against the SEC champs is certainly a good thing for the selection committee to weigh!
Kentucky win the SEC? This year? Wow, I’d bet my life that they don’t. Florida and Tennessee are much better than UK.