CORAL GABLES, FLA. — Feb. 5, 2013: Junior guard Rion Brown keeps Boston College defender at bay. (Photo by Zach Beeker)
Never in history have the ‘Canes been so good. The best part? The University of Miami men’s basketball success story does not have just one single hero carrying the team to victory.
Try to pinpoint why the Hurricanes are where they are right now. Do you credit the big guys down low, senior post players Julian Gamble and Reggie Johnson with hardball rebounds? Highlight the cool composure and court control of the guards, sophomore Shane Larkin and senior Durand Scott?
Perhaps Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga said it best.
“Having great balance in your offense is really important, sharing the ball is really important, and having enough weapons that the defense has to guard five guys out on the floor, as you saw tonight,” said Larrañaga.
On Tuesday night at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Fla., the No. 8 Hurricanes kept the perfect ACC streak alive with a 72-50 win over Boston College. UM entered the match 8-0 in the ACC (17-3 overall) set to defend its home court against the Eagles, 2-6 in the ACC (10-11 overall).
CORAL GABLES, FLA. — Feb. 5, 2013: Senior guard Durand Scott defends Boston College’s Joe Rahon. (Photo by Zach Beeker)
Junior guard Rion Brown led UM in scoring with 22 points, 15 of which game from beyond the three-point arc. Brown matched his career high 22-point mark with Tuesday night’s performance.
“My teammates did a great job of finding me, kept passing me the ball, and I kept knocking them down,” said Brown.
Boston College’s offensive efforts were led by freshman guard Olivier Hanlan with 16 points, followed by sophomore forward Ryan Anderson, contributing 14 points for the night.
Senior forward Kenny Kadji recorded 16 points for the ‘Canes. Kadji’s attitude reflects the Hurricanes’ team mentality that is winning games.
“Whatever the team needs, just call my name and I’ll do whatever.”
Part of what made the Hurricanes so successful on Tuesday against BC was the versatility and the range of ability on the Miami sideline.
“When they start to help out inside, the three point shot ends up appearing. When they’re out there pressuring our guards, we’re able to get the ball inside and that guy can score. So, having three post-up players who can all score with their back to the basket and every one of our perimeter guys, Shane, Durand, Trey and Rion are excellent three-point shooters, you add Kenny to that perimeter game, you put pressure on the opponent’s defense to try to figure out how to defend us,” said Larrañaga.
ACC Player of the Week Larkin shot 4-6 from the field and 2-3 from the three-point line.
“We’re playing with a lot of confidence right now … it didn’t really matter what anyone else was saying, it just matters if we believe in each other, and since the beginning we’ve done that,” said Larkin.
“The fewer turnovers you have and the smarter your guards are with the basketball, the better off you are,” said Larrañaga, “Shane and Durand have done a great job all season long in that category.”
Boston College made ACC headlines on Monday as well when freshman guard Joe Rahon earned the ACC Rookie of the Week title. A major credit to the Hurricanes’ defense, Rahon was held scoreless in all of his 33 minutes on the court.
One of Miami’s own, sophomore forward Eddie Odio, a graduate of Christopher Columbus High School, shot 2-6 from the field and recorded five points for the Eagles.
Yet with such recent success over major ACC teams, Duke, FSU and N.C. State to name a few, the Hurricanes are just taking it one game at a time. Larrañaga likened it to texting while driving: “The moment you get distracted…its too easy to get into an accident.”
UM will tipoff against North Carolina, an already sold-out game at the BankUnited Center, on Sunday at 2 p.m.
CORAL GABLES, FLA. — Feb. 5, 2013: Junior guard Rion Brown matched a career-high scoring night with 22 points for the Hurricanes. (Photo by Zach Beeker)
words_kristen spillane. photo_zach beeker.