The Beast : Two steps forward, three steps back

I wish I didn’t expect it. I wish I didn’t know it was going to happen. I wish I could have felt safe with a double-digit lead. But, as we’ve come to expect with Miami basketball last few years, this squad just isn’t consistent enough to make us feel the opposite of the way that we do.

It was such an amazing comeback win against Virginia. However, all of the buzz was diminished by the ultimate collapse a day later against North Carolina.

Part of me wants to keep saying, “It’s the Tar Heels and we can’t expect to beat the top seed in the ACC Tournament in North Carolina.” The other part of me knows that excuses don’t work anymore.

Up by double-digits and leading until the final possession of the game? The Canes needed to pull this one out.

Miami has one of the worse three-point defenses in the country; number 211 and it showed yesterday. North Carolina, ranked 276th in three-point field goals per game, hit ten threes when the only average 5.1 per game.

Again, Reggie Johnson was in foul trouble and despite an awesome performance against Virginia, Julian Gamble couldn’t pick up the slack, scoring only two points. The statistical analysis could go on, but bottom line is we live in Frustration City with this team.

Maybe this is what Miami basketball is. Maybe the best Cane fans can hope for is that once-a-decade Sweet Sixteen appearance. Maybe we just accept it – as hard as that may be.

Miami more than had a chance to beat Tar Heels and should’ve. I don’t care of the front of those jerseys read ‘North Carolina’ or ‘North Dakota’ – when you have a double-digit lead against a team mid-way through the second half, the assumption is that you’re going to win the game and the anomaly comes when you lose.

It’s time for the excuses to end. This team showed some bright spots this year, but more often than not opportunities have been squandered. The Canes are consistently inconsistent and it’s time to win close games; no more talking about the lessons learned or moral victories.

It’s time for consistency and smart basketball, both offensively and defensively. It’s time Miami suits up a true point guard that has the basketball IQ of Albert Einstein. It’s time for fans to take in a game, where the result is a hard-fought victory over a solid program, not an other late-game meltdown.

The easiest and lazies thing to do right now would be talking about making a coaching change. I think that’s the wrong move and we already know after speaking to interim athletic director Tony Hernandez, that’s not going to happen.

I love Frank Haith and believe he’s everything you want in the face of a program – but there needs to be a philosophy change. Miami needs to recruit a true, high-IQ point guard as this team needs a real floor general. Coach Haith needs a guy out there that can run plays, getting the ball in the right spot. Nothing is more frustrating than watching this, “chuck up a three with two seconds on the shot clock” offense.

Miami will most likely get another NIT berth, which for the sake of playing more basketball is great – but Hurricanes Nation is ready for the big dance. There are sixty-five slots in the NCAA tournament and it’s not too much to ask that UM earns a berth every once in a while.

IN OTHER NEWS : If you are in town, please come down to the Newman Alumni Center, across from A-Rod Park on Monday night, and celebrate the women’s team’s NCAA tournament berth. The girls will be there from 6:45pm to 8:30pm and they absolutely deserve your support after the run the made this year.

Also, the football team is on spring break with the rest of the kids at ‘The U’ this coming week. I hope to catch up with a few assistant coaches for next week’s allCanes Radio. We had a jam-packed show this past week and if you want to hear what Al Golden had to say about spring football, tune in. We also had great interviews with Stephen Morris, Damien Berry and Lamar Miller. Head over to the archives and check it out.

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