JCMJ: What is it like covering Miami Hurricanes basketball in college hoops hotbeds such as North Carolina and Duke? Unlike the U, these schools live for college hoops, any chance of that ever happening at Miami?
MN: I'm not sure basketball will ever really catch on at the University of Miami the way it has at Carolina and Duke and Maryland and other places in the ACC where Wednesday night tip-offs at 9 p.m. still get packed houses. Basketball has never been big business in Miami. Most Heat games are not filled to capacity and that's a team that just won the NBA title and has two of the biggest names in the sport in Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal. The Hurricanes are simply fighting an uphill battle to draw fans. And the students aren't helping. Despite having an on campus gym, nothing has really changed.
JCMJ: Who is the best team in the ACC?
MN: North Carolina. They are the most talented and well coached team in the conference. Roy Williams is going back to the Final Four. These regular season losses aren't a big deal.
JCMJ: What team from the ACC could surprise people come March?
MN: Virginia Tech. They look like a Sweet 16 team to me. They've got great senior leadership and a great backcourt led by Zabian Dowdell. I think the Hokies have the type of ingredients for a special run.
JCMJ: Is Duke really as bad as they seem right now?
MN: No. They are young and losing the type of games young teams lose. I expect by the end of the season, Duke will be in the tournament and likely battling for a Sweet 16 appearance. It's Duke. Come on.
JCMJ: As for the Hurricanes, this appears to be a rebuilding season. How long until they can turn it around?
MN: Next year. I really believe the one positive this season has brought coach Frank Haith is that the young players he envisioned carrying this team in the future have had to learn how to remain competitive the hard way this year. Dwayne Collins has improved drastically as has point guard Denis Clemente and small forward Brian Asbury. I'm not sure those guys are given those opportunities if this team is fully healthy. Those three guys along with Jack McClinton will all be back in the starting lineup next year along with a pair of incoming freshman I believe will make enough of an impact to make the Hurricanes postseason contenders next season. And if Anthony King is granted a medical redshirt, there is no doubt in my mind this team can be one of the top five in the conference.
JCMJ: In basketball terms, was it a mistake for Miami to join the ACC?
MN: Tough question to answer. The reason this program is where it is at today is not because it joined the ACC but rather because Leonard Hamilton left in the midst of its rise and Perry Clark wasn't the right guy to replace him. Frank Haith is fighting an uphill battle this season because of injuries. I think this UM team could have been NIT bound had it not lost King. The Georgia Tech victory was not a fluke, nor the win at Maryland. This UM team simply is out of post players and teams are shooting at a high percentage because the guards are having to help in the post and leaving shooters wide open. UM was at the top of the Big East standings when Hamilton left for the Washington Wizards. Had Michael Jordan never called him, I believe Miami would be a perennial NCAA tournament program much like Boston College has become.
JCMJ: Final question, your in charge of Miami basketball. What changes would be made to make the team a perennial winner?
JCMJ: Who is the best team in the ACC?
MN: North Carolina. They are the most talented and well coached team in the conference. Roy Williams is going back to the Final Four. These regular season losses aren't a big deal.
JCMJ: What team from the ACC could surprise people come March?
MN: Virginia Tech. They look like a Sweet 16 team to me. They've got great senior leadership and a great backcourt led by Zabian Dowdell. I think the Hokies have the type of ingredients for a special run.
JCMJ: Is Duke really as bad as they seem right now?
MN: No. They are young and losing the type of games young teams lose. I expect by the end of the season, Duke will be in the tournament and likely battling for a Sweet 16 appearance. It's Duke. Come on.
JCMJ: As for the Hurricanes, this appears to be a rebuilding season. How long until they can turn it around?
MN: Next year. I really believe the one positive this season has brought coach Frank Haith is that the young players he envisioned carrying this team in the future have had to learn how to remain competitive the hard way this year. Dwayne Collins has improved drastically as has point guard Denis Clemente and small forward Brian Asbury. I'm not sure those guys are given those opportunities if this team is fully healthy. Those three guys along with Jack McClinton will all be back in the starting lineup next year along with a pair of incoming freshman I believe will make enough of an impact to make the Hurricanes postseason contenders next season. And if Anthony King is granted a medical redshirt, there is no doubt in my mind this team can be one of the top five in the conference.
JCMJ: In basketball terms, was it a mistake for Miami to join the ACC?
MN: Tough question to answer. The reason this program is where it is at today is not because it joined the ACC but rather because Leonard Hamilton left in the midst of its rise and Perry Clark wasn't the right guy to replace him. Frank Haith is fighting an uphill battle this season because of injuries. I think this UM team could have been NIT bound had it not lost King. The Georgia Tech victory was not a fluke, nor the win at Maryland. This UM team simply is out of post players and teams are shooting at a high percentage because the guards are having to help in the post and leaving shooters wide open. UM was at the top of the Big East standings when Hamilton left for the Washington Wizards. Had Michael Jordan never called him, I believe Miami would be a perennial NCAA tournament program much like Boston College has become.
JCMJ: Final question, your in charge of Miami basketball. What changes would be made to make the team a perennial winner?
MN: Obviously hiring a big name coach makes a difference. Just look at what has happened at Kansas State since Bob Huggins arrived. I think Frank Haith deserves to finish out his existing contract and if the program rises to where it once was, he should be retained as coach as long as possible. But if he fails and the program doesn't reach the level it was once at, the university needs to bring in a big name coach who can sway the big name talent this program has never real had. Other than that, stadium upgrades (new JumboTron) and changing ticket prices to make them more affordable to draw more fans is a must. Right now, whatever package is in place is not cutting it.
You can read more of Manny's work at:
The Miami Herlad
Eye on the U Weblog
2 comments:
Great interview!
That Virgina Tech statement is looking really good today
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