2007 Miami Hurricanes Basketball Preview

The Miami Hurricanes (12- 20 overall, 4- 12 ACC) finished 12th in the ACC, which earned them neither an invite from the NCAA or the NIT. All season long, Coach Frank Haith (46- 49 in three years at Miami and overall) had to contend with injury after injury, which sent the club to the bottom of the ACC and increased the college basketball point spreads. The good news is it gave frosh players a whole lot of experience. This season, with a host of healthy and experienced players, Haith may be able to cash-in on some of the mishaps suffered in 2006- 2007.

In 2006- 2007, Miami did one thing really well—they ably handled the ball as they placed second with only 12.7 TPG. Opponents out scored them 72.9 PPG to 71.2 PPG, hit field goals at a rate of .463 to their .435 and knocked down threes 38% to their 35%.

In the front, the Canes show some fine talent. Senior center Anthony King (7.9 PPG, 9.3 APG, 54.0 FG%) blocks shots, rebounds and shoots with aplomb. Junior forward Jimmy Graham (5.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 53.8 FG%), who was injured early last season, came on strong at the end. After leading the ACC in offensive rebounding in his freshman year, athletic forward Dwayne Collins (8.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 53.8 FG%) is back and expected to be even better and affect the college basketball betting lines.

Junior Jack McClinton (16.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 40.4 FG%) led the ACC in three-pointer percentage, three-pointers per game and free throw percentage. McClinton may become the team’s point guard this season or the point could go to freshman sensation Edwin Rios, who was a phenomenal player at Miami Senior High.

In his first two years at Miami, coach Haith had engineered two more wins each season and then the bottom fell out last year. Things should be better for the Canes this year as a lot of experience and talent returns. Although the club has suffered through three twenty-loss seasons straight, this year could be the one where they breakthrough and earn an NCAA brackets berth. It’s been five years since they’ve been to the Big Dance. They look primed.