Heart and Hustle - Season 3: Raptors resign Carter

UNC's PJ Hairston and Leslie McDonald Suspended by NCAA



The North Carolina men's basketball team enters the 2013-14 season as the No. 12 team in the nation with high hopes for an ACC title and national championship contention, but the Tar Heels may have to start their season without a couple key players.

UNC will get things started against Oakland on Nov. 8, but P.J. Hairston and Leslie McDonald have yet to regain eligibility, according to Andrew Carter of the Charlotte Observer.

Both players have gotten into trouble since the end of last season, and it remains to be seen when the NCAA will allow them to play.

According to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, Hairston is currently suspended due to three run-ins with the law during the offseason. Hairston was twice caught driving a rental car linked to an ex-convict, and was cited for speeding on another occasion. Hairston has been seen to be driving a number of highly priced cars towards the end of last season, and their is doubt in the air about the player receiving illegal benefits. If true North Carolina will look to cut ties with Hairston straight away.

McDonald has had his fair share of issues as well. According to Bret Strelow of the Fayetteville Observer, Iceberg Guards have advertised McDonald as a user of its mouth guards. That is obviously in violation of NCAA rules, so McDonald's status is very much in limbo. McDonald is the more likely to be cleared but it's not set in stone.

The Tar Heels have plenty of talent, but both Hairston and McDonald will be needed in order for them to make any type of run.

Hairston is a junior guard who led the team in scoring last season with 14.6 points per game. He is also an NBA prospect. McDonald is a senior guard who is capable of starting or coming off the bench, and he chipped in better than seven points per game last season despite playing under 18 minutes per contest.

North Carolina fans will certainly be holding their collective breath as they await the NCAA ruling on the return of both men, but luckily for the Tar Heels, their first big test doesn't come until Dec. 4 when they take on No. 2 Michigan State.

P.J. Hairston’s college career at North Carolina is officially over.



When North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham spoke to journalism faculty at an August retreat, he told them embattled wing P.J. Hairston would play this season but "not all the games."

Turns out Cunningham was a tad too optimistic.

North Carolina announced Friday that it will not seek reinstatement from the NCAA for Hairston, an outcome that appeared increasingly likely over the past few weeks.

One big clue came Wednesday when the NCAA announced fellow Tar Heels guard Leslie McDonald could play from Mid December but made it clear North Carolina had not yet submitted the requisite paperwork to get Hairston back on the court. The other clue came hours later when Cunningham promised there would be resolution to the Hairston case in the next few days once he had a chance to speak with the junior's family.

That North Carolina had yet to ask for Hairston's reinstatement suggested school officials believed he had accepted too many extra benefits for the NCAA to grant that request. And Cunningham could not realistically promise resolution within days had he intended to seek reinstatement for Hairston since that process was likely to drag out for at least a week or two, if not longer.

Concerns about Hairston's eligibility first popped up as a result of the cars he was driving during the offseason. He was charged with speeding in Durham on May 13 in a Camaro rented to a woman with ties to convicted felon Haydn "Fats" Thomas. He was charged with marijuana possession and driving without a license on June 5 in a GMC Yukon also rented by Thomas.

Cunningham acknowledged Friday that Hairston "made a number of mistakes that placed his eligibility at risk." In a joint review with the NCAA, the university decided Hairston's transgressions were severe enough that reinstatement "would not be possible."

"I am extremely disappointed for P.J., his family and our team as he will no longer be playing basketball at North Carolina," coach Roy Williams said in a news release. "P.J. made mistakes and I was very disappointed by his actions and now he is suffering the very difficult consequences. He is not a bad kid; he just made some mistakes.

"Since summer, P.J. has been outstanding with our basketball program and with his schoolwork. He went through an extremely intense conditioning program with flying colors. He has been called a 'perfect teammate' by one of our other players. He has dominated our practices and at times has been as good as any perimeter player I have ever coached, giving great effort to help our team. He cares deeply about Carolina and the basketball program."

The Hairston family released a statement through a spokesperson that they were "displeased" by the school's decision not to seek reinstatement. They'll announce Hairston's future plans in the next few weeks.

Hairston averaged a team-high 14.6 points per game as a sophomore, sparking North Carolina's late-season surge when he moved into the starting lineup midway through ACC play. He averaged 18.2 points during the Tar Heels' final 13 games, playing so well that he briefly considered entering the NBA draft this spring before announcing in mid-April that he'd return to school for his junior season.

Not having Hairston will probably have some positive and negative effects for North Carolina.

On one hand, North Carolina cannot replace his scoring punch from the wing even with the return of McDonald providing another outside shooter. That won't happen until Mid December now and the Tar Heels will have almost ten games played by then. On the other hand, Friday's news will finally provide closure to a saga that had to be a distraction for the current Tar Heels with "Free P.J." shirts and signs popping up at games and with questions about Hairston coming daily at press conferences and from fellow students on campus.

With the status of McDonald and Hairston hanging over their heads for the past six weeks, the Tar Heels now have a clearer picture. They need some help in th backcourt and fast, as McDonald will miss the first month and a half. If you ever thought of becoming a walk-on in North Carolina, now could be the time to try.

2013-14 Miami Hurricanes Season Preview



After one of the most successful seasons in school history, the Miami Hurricanes return in 2013-14 with a revamped roster, and a litany of unfamiliar faces. Most experts are discounting this Canes roster, but at the very least, it will be an entertaining season as several of the younger Canes cut their teeth and attempt to grow the program into a sustainable NCAA Tournament threat.

The Roster

1 Deandre Burnett G 6-2 191 Fr. Miami, Fla. (Carol City HS)
2 Cornelius Elder G 5-10 173 Fr. Nashville, Tenn. (Ensworth HS)
3 Steve Sorenson G 6-0 161 So. Dallas, Texas (Mark’s School of Texas)
4 Rory Hobbs G 6-5 181 So. Dublin, Ireland (St Johns College HS)
5 Davon Reed G 6-6 208 Fr. Ewing, N.J. (Princeton Day School (N.J.))
11 Mike Fernandez G 6-1 189 Fr. Coral Gables, FL (Belen Jesuit)
12 Justin Heller G 6-2 177 Sr. Boca Raton,Fla. (West Boca Raton Community HS)
15 Rion Brown G 6-6 211 Sr. Hinesville,Ga. (Liberty County HS)
20 Manu Lecomte G 5-9 159 Fr. Brussels, Belgium (Athene des Pagodes)
21 Erik Swoope F 6-5 220 Sr. Lake Elsinore, Calif. (Harvard-Westlake HS)
22 Donnavan Kirk F 6-9 228 Gr. Pontiac, Mich. (Detroit Country Day HS)
23 Tonye Jekiri C 7-0 235 So. Hialeah, Fla. (Champagnat Catholic)
35 James Kelly F 6-7 246 Jr. Ann Arbor, Mich. (Owens CC) (Pioneer HS)

Backcourt

The Canes will try to rebuild the backcourt after losing PG Shane Larkin to the NBA, and SG Durand Scott to Europe. They have also lost SG Garrius Adams who transferred to North Carolina.

Manu Lecomte, Freshman. A Belgium international who comes to Miami with experience of playing in big competitions. The scouting report is that he’s crafty, but a good floor general. He’ll be undersized, checking in around 5’10”, but should not be intimidated by college basketball. It’s a lot to ask a true freshman to play PG, especially in the ACC, so expect growing pains here.

Rion Brown, Senior. The first of two returning rotation backcourt players from a year ago, Brown is a deadly shooter when he’s on his game. At 6’6″, he has very good size and athleticism for playing the hybrid SG/SF role for the Canes. He could get away with being under the radar a year ago, but he’ll be the focal point of opposing teams this year. Very athletic, it will be imperative for him to contribute in all phases this year, including as a leader for a very inexperienced team.

Rory Hobbs, Sophomore. The second of two returning rotation players. Yes, Hobbs was a walk-on freshman last year, but he really did impress in the tournament. Enough to earn a full scholarship for this season. The insider talk was that Hobbs looked very good in practice all last year and his work rate went down very well with all the seniors. The persistance with his consistant play in limited minutes payed off in the NCAA tournament. Hobbs actually got the start in the loss to Marquette. Expect to see him take on a “do everything” role with the Canes this year, especially with opposing teams keying on Brown.

Davon Reed, Freshman. At 6’5″, he actually has the skillset to play both PG and SG, assuming he makes a smooth transition into college basketball. He has plenty of ability and athleticism, something that we’re seeing as a trend in the types of players recruited by Coach L. My expectation is that you will see Reed get plenty of minutes backing up Brown and Hobbs this year.

Corn Elder, Freshman. We know him as a freshman football player, and with the Canes going bowling this year, it will be hard pressed for him to just walk into the ACC and start contributing. However, he was the Mr. Basketball of Tennessee in high school, and has natural point guard abilities. The scouting report is that he is a relentless defender, and if there is something that always translates, it’s energy and defense. I could definitely see him getting reserve minutes once he makes the transition to basketball on this alone. His opportunities greatly increased with Deandre Burnett’s injury.

Overall, you would like to see more experience at the PG position, but the Canes will be forced to throw true freshmen into the action and make the best of it. Hopefully having more experience on the wings will provide the necessary leadership to overcome expected growing pains.

Frontcourt

The Canes will need to replace the production of Kenny Kadji, Reggie Johnson and Julian Gamble, who spent much of last year manning the minutes in the PF-C rotation. Last year, Tonye Jekiri, Eric Swoope, and Raphael Akpejiori played bit parts, but this year, with Akpejiori suspended for academic violations, the pressure will be on Jekiri and Swoope to step up.

Tonye Jekiri, Sophomore. Jekiri showed up big in sporadic games last year off the bench, but must become a consistent contributor to lead the Canes front line. He has spent the offseason working on his offensive game, and the Canes could get a huge boost if he can finish around the rim. He had an inauspicious start to the season going 1 of 7 in an exhibition game, but he did rebound and defend well. He should be the starting center.

Donovan Kirk, Senior. “What is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger.” Welcome back, Donnavan Kirk. The former Hurricane transferred to DePaul, and has now transferred back to Miami to play one season as a graduate student. Kirk was a mainstay in the DePaul lineup last year, starting 30 of 31 games, and playing over 25 minutes per game. He was an elite shot blocker, averaging over 1.5 a game, and even showed off decent touch from outside. The Canes will rely on him and Jekiri to backstop the defense and protect the rim.

Eric Swoope, Senior. Swoope has been on the fringe of the rotation for his entire career. Sometimes starting, sometimes playing significantly, other times not playing at all. He is a high energy player who can defend on the perimeter really well for someone his size. The question is whether he can provide any sort of bump in scoring. It would be pretty surprising if he isn’t a major rotation player this year.

James Kelly, Junior. Kelly comes via transfer from community college and is a big get in terms of adding some quality depth to the Canes frontcourt rotation. He was an offensive force at Owens Community College, and might be the Canes best offensive frontcourt player. As the season progresses, we might see an increased role for him if the Canes lack scoring.

Offense from the frontcourt will be hard to find. 4 out of the 5 frontcourt players in the rotation will be primarily defensive. But with that, I do think the Canes will have the ability to play some really strong defense with so many players protecting the rim. Jekiri and Kirk will log major minutes here, with Swoope and Kelly filling in for probably about 10 minutes per game each. Kelly is intriguing because he can bring a scoring element, but overall, this unit will be asked to provide defense and rebounding.

Analysis

The Canes starting lineup appears to be:

PG: Manu Lecomte
SG: Rory Hobbs
SF: Rion Brown
PF: Donnavan Kirk
C: Tonye Jekiri

The scoring will have to come from Brown and Kirk, as well as Rory Hobbs who may play offguard this year. Losing Deandre Burnett and Raphael Akpejiori for the year was a major blow that the Canes likely couldn’t afford. The frontcourt will have to protect the rim and block shots. The backcourt is definitely the stronger position, both in terms of returning production (with Rion Brown and Hobbs being the only player's earning reasonable minutes last year that are still on the team) and in terms of incoming young talent. The frontcourt is actually very veteran, with 3 seniors, 1 junior, and 1 sophomore, but these players have not played many minutes on this level outside of Kirk, so it might be a struggle.

Hurricanes begin regular season 4-3, the rollercoaster ride begins.

The Hurricanes have gotten off to a predictable start. The experts reckoned Miami would have around a .500 record at seasons end, and it seems to be going to script so far. The Hurricanes haven't found any answers offensively yet, and are still tinkering around with a starting unit. The defence has been pretty solid though, with Sophomore guard Rory Hobbs leading the way in that category. Center Tonye Jekiri has become a deterent for opposition's driving the lane. The foundations are being laid, the Cane's just need to find some consistency on offence. We will be up and down all year, but there is a lot of potential there.

The feature game is the loss to #3 ranked state rivals Florida



Hobbs gets the tough bucket against Frazier, en route to scoring 20 points

MIA@FLA

Miami: 58
( Hobbs 20, Brown 17, Reed 11)
Florida: 63
(Wilbekin 19, Young 16, Yegute 12)

Rebounds:
Miami: Rory Hobbs 8
Florida: Patric Young 9

Assists:
Miami: Emmanuel Lecomte 3
Florida: Scottie Wilbekin 3

Highlight of the Month - November



Rory Hobbs ran the Gators ragged, and his 20 points almost led to a win over the heavily favored Florida.

Last 7 Games:
v St Francis (NY) 62-66 L
v Georgia Southern 81-80 W
v Texas Southern 84-69 W
@ Charleston 54-70 W
@ Florida 58-63 L
@ George Washington 71-63 L
@ Cal State Fullerton 48-46 W

Hobbs' stats for last 7 games:
v St Francis (NY) - 15 Pts, 3 Reb, 3 Ast, 3 Stls, 35 mins
v Georgia Southern - 11 Pts, 4 Reb, 2 Ast, 5 Stls, 36 mins
v Texas Southern - 10 Pts, 5 Reb, 2 Ast, 3 Stls, 26 mins
@ Charleston - 8 Pts, 2 Reb, 2 Ast, 2 Stls, 28 mins
@ Florida - 20 Pts, 8 Reb, 2 Stls, 36 mins
@ George Washington - 17 Pts, 4 Reb, 5 Ast, 1 Stl, 40 mins
@ Cal State Fullerton - 7 Pts, 4 Reb, 1 Stl, 35 mins

Hurricanes headed in right direction stand at 8-5

Bit by bit, piece by piece the Hurricanes are finding their feet. The defence has stayed solid, and now finally the offence has begun to click. The Hurricanes reeled off several high scores against Butler and Loyola (MD) to round out December well. A good win over Arizona State was a great performance too. Guard Rory Hobbs has been very solid in his second season with Miami, and has quickly become one of Miami's on-court leaders, while regularly filling up the box score. However they did lose their opening ACC regular season game to Virginia Tech. Miami will have a difficult year ahead in the ACC with Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse joining the ACC this season.

The feature game is the win over Butler



Hobbs (Wearing #4 this season) has run the show at point guard this season so far, with Rion Brown partnering him in the backcourt.

BUT@MIA

Butler: 58
(Marshall 19, Dunham 16, Brown 10)
Miami: 71
(Brown 17, Hobbs 13, Kelly 10)


Rebounds:
Butler: Kameron Woods 10
Miami: Rion Brown 9

Assists:
Butler: Alex Barlow 4
Miami: Rion Brown 4


Highlight of the Month - December



Hobbs makes the tough shot over the Butler defence, en route to scoring 13 points.

Last 6 Games:
@ Arizona State 57-60 W
@ Nebraska 60-49 L
v Virginia Tech 61-60 L
@ Savannah State 51-68 W
v Butler 71-58 W
v Loyola (MD) 71-48 W

Hobbs' stats for last 6 games:
@ Arizona State - 9 Pts, 9 Reb, 4 Ast, 2 Stls, 33 Mins
@ Nebraska - 2 Pts, 7 Rebs, 2 Asts, 1 Stl, 31 Mins
v Virginia Tech - 14 Pts, 3 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl, 34 Mins
@ Savannah State - 12 Pts, 7 Rebs, 4 Ast, 2 Stls, 33 Mins
v Butler - 13 Pts, 3 Rebs, 3 Asts, 2 Stls, 34 Mins
v Loyola (MD) - 8 Pts, 3 Rebs, 3 Asts, 3 Stls, 29 Mins

NBA Comparison: Jose Calderon

Strengths: Standing 6’5” he has an elite size for the PG position.. Quick hands and great defensive instincts allow him to get a ton of steals... Owns elite passing ability that few PGs in the NBA and Europe possess ... His height affords him great court vision in pick and roll situations, where he shows amazing passing ability and glimpses of pure creativity ... In pick and roll situations, he’s really effective in exploiting the screens to create the space for the shot or to attack the basket with his solid handle ... Great in transition. Good finisher at the rim ... ... Tough defender who shows a lot of defensive potential with his length (6'7" wingspan) ... Effective pull-up jumper, though needs to add range and consistency ... ... He has a natural instinct and feel for the game, combined with a great maturity and basketball IQ...Extremely strong mentally and shows great leadership ... Amazing to consider he was a walk-on last season with Miami...

Weaknesses: His big flaw is that he’s not a consistent shooter, especially behind the three point line (32% this season in the ACC) and after the pick and roll, he should work on his mechanics and release, which is usually rushed when shooting from the dribble ... He lacks a solid midrange game, even if he has shown some improvements so far this season ... His playmaking is really instinctive, he could struggle when forced to play something different than basic set games and simple pick and rolls ...

Notes: Potential first rounder with sure NBA potential...Passing ability has drawn comparisons among scouts to Steve Nash, though Hobbs lacks some of Nash's excellent shooting touch ... 1994 born making him eligible to declare for the 2014 NBA draft ...

Last edited by RMJH4 on Tue Apr 28, 2015 8:35 am, edited 1 time in total.

Love the player analysis

Love the player analysis

Thanks man. Think it sum's him up fairly well! Big fan of Steve Nash so i modelled his game pretty much after him with a few tweaks. Glad to see you are following, dont know if anyone else is, the story has like 1870 views and only 3 or 4 comments! If anyone else is reading, please comment and give me some feedback! I wondering if two years in the NCAA has bored people or is this forums just pretty dead?!

Am following. Idk what's wrong with the community here too. They don't comment or at least give feed back. My story has like 1500 views but only a handful of comments

Am following. Idk what's wrong with the community here too. They don't comment or at least give feed back. My story has like 1500 views but only a handful of comments

Yeah this place used ot have serious traffic. Maybe people just dont log in and comment. We must be doing something right though. Even the odd comment makes it all worthwhile! U on sim sports too?!kevinparker13?

Hurricanes blowing Hot and Cold stutter to a 10-10 record

The Hurricanes season is spiralling out of control rapidly. Their record stands at 10-10 and 2-6 in the ACC. Not exactly impressive but when you look at the strength of the roster, it's hardly surprising. Coach Larranaga has struggled to find a good starting unit. Over the course of the last month he tinkered around, and the only lineup with some consistency has the freshman Lecomte at PG, and Sophomore Rory Hobbs as SG. Hobbs is more of a natural PG but he has played very well off the ball too. His shooting has improved considerably, and he scored double digits in every game this month. Rion Brown has scored well too playing more primarily as a small forward. However the frontcourt has not produced well at all. Donnovan Kirk has had a poor month, scoring less than 10 pts regularly. Tonye Jekiri often disappears in the Zone as the defence serves up open lay-ups regularly. However after all the losses to Syracuse (Twice) and Duke, the Cane did beat the Tar Heels.

The feature game is the win over ACC rivals North Carolina



Hobbs drains the jumper from the wing. He has had to step up his scoring and all around game as the Hurricanes look for answers, often playing more Shooting Guard.

MIA@NC

Miami: 63
(Brown 19, Hobbs 14, Lecomte 11)
North Carolina: 57
(McAdoo 12, Paige 8, Adams 8)

Rebounds:
Miami: Rion Brown 10
North Carolina: James McAdoo 12

Assists:
Miami: Rory Hobbs 6
Butler: Marcus Paige 8

Highlights of the Month - January



Hobbs drains the 3, as his good shooting continues, however it wasn't enough to get Miami the win.



Hobbs beats Cooney with a lovely cut to get the open lay-up. He scored over 10 points in every game this month.

Last 7 Games:
@ Syracuse 49-44 L
@ North Carolina 57-63 W
v Florida State 53-63 L
@ Georga Tech 42-56 W
v Duke 46-67 L
v Syracuse 52-64 L
@ Maryland 74-71 L


Hobbs' stats for last 7 games:
@ Syracuse - 10 Pts, 5 Rebs, 4 Ast, 36 mins
@ North Carolina - 14 Pts, 3 Rebs, 6 Ast, 2 Stls, 37 mins
v Florida State - 21 Pts, 4 Rebs, 5 Ast, 2 Stls, 34 mins
@ Georga Tech - 14 Pts, 4 Rebs, 2 Asts, 1 Stl, 34 mins
v Duke - 11 Pts, 3 Rebs, 2 Asts, 1 Stl, 35 mins
v Syracuse - 10 Pts, 3 Rebs, 1 Ast, 3 Stls, 35 mins
@ Maryland - 12 Pts, 6 Rebs, 2 Ast, 34 mins

Hey im following this, ive been with it since the beginning but just never got around to commenting! Great series

Hey im following this, ive been with it since the beginning but just never got around to commenting! Great series

Thanks man, much appreciated! Stay tuned!

Draft Prospect of the Week


#4 Rory Hobbs - Miami University

Shooting Guard / Point Guard

NBA comparison: Manu Ginobili


Strengths: Very smooth and crafty player … Used his sophomore season to add new dimensions to his game, and he proved to be a steady and consistent scoring threat … Seems to fit even better as a Shooting Guard now instead of a Point Guard with his improved shooting... One of the most mature players of his class … He has great feel and understanding of the game, knows when he has to be a facilitator and when he has to take over the scoring load … As much as he brings in terms of scoring, his vision and playmaking ability may be his most impressive attributes … He makes great reads and is extremely unselfish … Has a developed body that is prepared to handle the rigors he will face in the league … In ISO situations he has a variety of deceptive and shifty moves that allow him to get by defenders … Out of the triple threat he is difficult to defend because his jab step is long and he sells his shot fake extremely well … Off the bounce he incorporates a nice crossover to get into the lane … His jumper has shown great improvements, he has added range as well as consistency from the outside … His strength is a great asset because he is not afraid to use his body, either on drives or when playing with his back to the basket … Has good balance and body control when finishing around the basket … He has become a difficult matchup, because he looks to take advantage of mismatches, and enjoys playing with his back to the basket … Has a great feel for the ball, on the glass and in the passing lanes …

Weaknesses: Has only averaged 13.5 PPG but as of January he averaged 15 PPG, this has unfairly taken some luster off of a good season (he faced zone defenses on most occasions and it forced him to play out of his comfort zone)… Does not possess the great size that many have at his position … His leaping ability and quickness are only marginal, which forces him into tough and contested drives and makes it hard for him to get by people … Even though he has worked on his drives going left, he is still not nearly as comfortable and effective as he needs to be … Defenders have a much easier time cutting of his driving lanes when he does go left … His midrange game will need to become more polished, his ability to make shots off the dribble before the helpside D rotates will be key … He has become turnover prone at 3.4 per game, but this is mostly a result of being asked to do too much with Miami this season…

Hurricanes continue with .500 ball move to a 14-14 record

The Hurricanes season continues with .500 ball and is quickly becoming known as the Rory Hobbs show. Hobbs has been scoring in double digits regularly and keeping the Canes in games they really shouldnt be close in. However he still hasnt found anybody to help out. Rion Brown's production has gone up and down every game. Without a second scorer Miami often gets blown out in games home and away. Somehow someway the Hurricanes have got to have somebody else step up. Because their season is quickly going down the drain. And at this rate, recruiting is going to take a hit for next season. Time will tell if Brown and Hobbs look to transfer or even throw their names in the hat for the NBA draft.

The feature game is the win over new ACC rivals Notre Dame



Hobbs drives the lane for another tough bucket.

ND@MIA

Notre Dame: 64
(Connaughton 22, Jackson 17, Sherman 8)
Miami: 71
(Hobbs 21, Brown 14, Reed 12)


Rebounds:
Notre Dame: Tom Knight 8
Miami: Rion Brown 11


Assists:
Notre Dame: Eric Atkins 4
Miami: Rory Hobbs 5


Highlight of the Month - February



Hobbs drains the 3 with 5 seconds left on the shot clock. Slowly but surely he is adding some 3 pt range to his game.



Last 8 Games:
v Norfolk State 64-49 W
v Pittsburgh 59-55 L
v North Carolina State 56-55 L
@ Florida State 77-73 W
@Virginia Tech 45-52 L
v Notre Dame 71-64 W
v Boston College 69-42 W
@Virginia 40-65 L


Hobbs' stats for last 8 games:
v Norfolk State - 15 Pts, 10 Rebs, 5 Ast, 35 mins
v Pittsburgh - 14 Pts, 6 Rebs, 6 Ast, 35 mins
v North Carolina State - 18 Pts, 4 Rebs, 4 Ast, 34 mins
@ Florida State - 16 Pts, 4 Rebs, 6 Ast, 36 mins
@Virginia Tech - 13 Pts, 2 Rebs, 5 Ast, 34 mins
v Notre Dame - 21 Pts, 11 Rebs, 5 Ast, 37 mins
v Boston College - 18 Pts, 2 Rebs, 7 Ast, 35 mins
@Virginia - 16 Pts, 3 Rebs, 5 Ast, 34 mins

Hurricanes end regular season 16-15, 7-11 in ACC.

The Hurricanes regular season ended with a win over Clemson at home. But it was too little too late. The Hurricanes finished with a 16-15 overall record and a 7-11 record in the ACC regular season. A very disappointing record after last years ACC regular season title win. The team was pretty much two guys this season. Rion Brown and Rory Hobbs. From January onwards Hobbs averaged 17.9 PGG and 6.5 APG. A poorly balanced attack for the Hurricanes revolved around perimeter players doing all the scoring. The Hurricanes frontcourt of Kirk, Jekiri and Swoope was extremely poor, and a major reason for Miami's poor season. The emergence of Sophomore Rory Hobbs was something to behold, especially considering he was a walk-on freshman who earned a full scholarhsip this season. Coach Larranga and Miami will be doing everything they can to convince Hobbs to see out his scholarship, and ignore the recent interest from NBA scouts. The Hurricanes season is not entirely over yet, the small matter of the ACC tournament is around the corner. For the Canes to have any chance of getting into the NCAA tournament, they will need to make the ACC championship game, or even win it.

The feature game is the win over NC State



Hobbs gets the bucket and harm, he made the free throw to convert the And1 play.

MIA@NCS

Miami: 85
(Hobbs 20, Brown 16, Lecomte 12)
NC State: 70
(Warren 20, Washington 13, Turner 9)


Rebounds:
Miami: Tonye Jekiri 13
NC State: TJ Warren 7


Assists:
Miami: Rory Hobbs 4
NC State: TJ Warren 5


Highlight of the Month - March



Hobbs looks on after a fine alley-oop pass to Jekiri. This was the final play in what some believe could be Hobbs' last home game for the Hurricanes.


Last 3 Games:
@NC State 85-70 W
@ Clemson 54-58 L
v Wake Forest 56-69 W


Hobbs' stats for last 3 games:
@NC State - 20 Pts, 4 Rebs, 4 Asts, 36 mins
@ Clemson - 18 Pts, 2 Rebs , 5 Asts, 34 mins
v Wake Forest - 17 Pts 3 Rebs, 9 Asts, 38 mins

Episode 10 - End of Regular Season

Few teams in the country fell as far and as fast as we did this season. After winning the ACC regular-season and tournament titles last season, we entered the new season with a completely new team, and it showed. We dropped our opening ACC game to lowly Virginia Tech, a team that would go 2-16 in the conference. We ended up with a 7-11 record in the league this season, and dropped both games to the Hokies. We finished 16-15 overall, but the only notable win we notched all season long was at North Carolina early in the conference schedule when the Tar Heels were struggling.

With top scorer Rion Brown being a senior, and four of our other seniors departing after this season, Coach Larranaga faces the same rebuilding job next season as he did during this campaign. I really have to decide whether I should stick around for it. I'll update you on Darren's rumors later!

Here’s an evaluation of the Hurricanes on both sides of the ball and overall from ESPN the Magazine:

OFFENSE: Miami was one of the worst offensive teams in the nation, averaging just 61.5 PPG, good for 341st in the country of about 350 teams. Hobbs did all he could to try and carry the Hurricanes, averaging 15.5 PPG himself to lead the team. Senior guard Rion Brown (14.4) was the only other Miami player to score in double figures. Miami’s offensive struggles were famously shown in the second loss to Virginia Tech, a 52-45 defeat in which the Hurricanes scored just 15 points in the first half and finished a horrible 15-for-58 from the field (25.9 percent). Miami was 7-for-34 from three-point range. Hobbs and Brown combined for 25 points, and the rest of the team connected for just 20. For the season, Miami shot a pitiful 42.1 percent from the field. GRADE: F.

DEFENSE: For Miami to win any games at all, the defense had to at least be really good, considering how pathetic the offense was most of the time. Indeed, the Hurricanes were 11th in the country in scoring defense, giving up just 59.5 PPG. Miami’s chaos number — a combination of steals and blocks per game — was a modest 8.7. In Miami’s lone signature win, the Hurricanes went into Chapel Hill and held North Carolina to just 57 points, good enough for a 63-57 victory. Amazingly, Miami lost nine games this season where it held its opponent to 63 points or less! GRADE: B+.

OVERALL: Some of the numbers for Miami this season are truly amazing. The Hurricanes held Syracuse to 49 points and lost by five. Miami barely got 40 points against Virginia. Now, with their second highest scorer graduating, the Hurricanes will likely be in a similar mess next season. Miami was a very temporary portion of the national elite a season ago, but reality hit in 2013-14. Now the question is if the teams leading scorer, sophomore Rory Hobbs will stick around or head for the bright lights of the NBA. GRADE: D.

A pretty tough read for any Hurricanes fans, players and coaches. But pretty accurate. Again the media are talking about me heading to the NBA. I had not even thought about it. I have been so engrossed in trying to get some W's I barely got to watch Sportscenter. Anyway Darren has just filled me in, and you better guess what he is excited about...

Darren reckons the word on the street in Miami is that a number of teams are thinking about taking me in the first round if I declare. The Hurricanes roster won't look fantastic next season either. Darren reckons a couple of agents are already sniffing around Miami to get talking to Rion and I. There are a tonne of teams who think I have all the intangibles to be a solid NBA player. Of course if there is a chance I go late first round, Daren reckons he will send the scouting report onto Pat Riley so I can join the Heat and chase a ring. Wishful thinking Darren. Time to get my head out of the clouds now though, Off to Greensboro Coliseum in the morning, lets see if we can get something rolling again Hurricanes in the ACC!

NBA Mock Draft 2014

Hurricanes make final 4 in ACC Tournament Title, lose out to Duke.



Virginia Cavaliers celebrate as ACC Tournament Champions

The 2014 ACC Tournament was held from March 12–16 in Greensboro, North Carolina, at the Greensboro Coliseum. This was the first ACC Tournament to include 15 teams, a result of the conference adding Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and Notre Dame, and also the last to feature Maryland, who are leaving next season for the Big Ten. Seeds 5 through 9 received a first-round bye, and the top four seeds received a first- and second-round "double bye".

The top seed Virginia won the tournament, defeating Florida State, Pittsburgh, and then Duke in the championship game. It was their second ACC tournament championship and first since 1976. Virginia had lost its previous five appearances in the tournament championship game, losing to North Carolina in 1977, 1982, and 1994, to NC State in 1983, and to Georgia Tech in 1990. The Cavaliers placed two players on the all-tournament teams and their leading scorer Joe Harris was named tournament MVP. The biggest surprise of the tournament was Miami, who made a run from the first 4 to the final 4, where they only lost by 8 to Duke. They had strong wins over NC State and #11 nationally ranked Syracuse, led by the phenomenal play of top scorer Rory Hobbs. This run could give Miami a chance at making the NCAA Tournament after a poor regular season.

Tournament MVP: Joe Harris, Virginia

All-Tournament Teams:

First Team

Joe Harris, Virginia
Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia
Jabari Parker, Duke
Rodney Hood, Duke
Rory Hobbs, Miami

Second Team

Anthony Gill, Virginia
Akil Mitchell, Virginia
Rion Brown, Miami
Amile Jefferson, Duke
Lamar Patterson, Pitt


The feature game is the semi final game vs Duke



Hobbs fought a tough battle all night as the Canes heavily relied on his scoring.

MIA@DUKE

Miami: 67
(Hobbs 28, Brown 20, Lecomte 12)
Duke: 75
(Parker 28, Hood 17, Sulaimon 11)

Rebounds:
Miami: Donovan Kirk 10
Duke: Jabari Parker 7

Assists:
Miami: Rory Hobbs 7
Duke: Quinn Cook 5

Highlight's of the Tournament



Hobbs nails the pull up jumper vs NC State in the 2nd Round.



Hobbs drives past Tyler Ennis (Syracuse) with ease, as he dominated the match-up with 20 points.



Hobbs celebrates another And1 play with Jekiri vs Duke.

ACC Tournament Results:
Vs Virgina Tech 57-53 W
Vs NC State 67-58 W
Vs Syracuse 66-63 W
Vs Duke 75-67 L

Hobbs' stats for ACC Tournament:
Vs Virginia Tech - 19 Pts, 4 Rebs, 6 Asts, 1 Stl, 35mins
Vs NC State - 18 Pts, 3 Rebs, 4 Asts, 3 Stls, 36 mins
Vs Syracuse 20 Pts, 6 Rebs, 6 Asts, 2 Stls, 35 mins
Vs Duke 28 Pts, 6 Rebs, 7 Asts, 4 Stls, 38 mins

Episode 12 - Tournament Seedings

As expected, Florida is the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. The top-ranked Gators lead the South Region and will face the winner of Albany and Mount St. Mary's in the second round in Orlando. Virginia was awarded the much-debated No. 1 seed in the East region while Arizona, which was ranked No. 1 for eight weeks, is the top seed in the West region and undefeated Wichita State is the top seed in the Midwest.

Florida enters the tournament having won 26 consecutive games. It became the first team ever to go 18-0 in the SEC and then won the conference tournament title, beating Kentucky 61-60 on Sunday afternoon in Atlanta. The Gators have not lost since Dec. 2, and their only two losses this season came at Wisconsin by six points on Nov. 12 and at Connecticut by one point on Dec. 2. They have held the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll since late February. Florida starts four seniors and is trying to reach the Final Four after losing in the Elite 8 each of the past three seasons.

The Midwest had the biggest bubble surprise, as Miami Hurricanes got into the field. The Hurricanes finished 7-11 in the ACC but boast one of the ACC tournaments first teamer in Rory Hobbs. Miami will be in the First Four against Xavier in a battle of 12-seeds. Two other First Four matchups are also in the Midwest: Cal-Poly against Texas Southern as 16-seeds and Iowa and Tennessee as 11-seeds.

Virginia won the ACC regular season and tournament title, and every ACC team that has ever pulled off that double except one (Miami, last season) has been rewarded with a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Cavaliers didn't even make the tournament last year, having to settle for the NIT after fading down the stretch. This year's team started slowly, losing non-conference games to VCU (at home), Green Bay (on the road) and, by 35 points, at Tennessee. Virginia then cruised to the ACC regular season title, going 16-2, losing only at Duke by four and at Maryland by six in overtime. The Cavs avenged that first league loss by upending the Blue Devils in Sunday's ACC tournament title game.

Villanova, the No. 2 seed, was one of several candidates for the East's No. 1 seed in recent weeks, along with Wisconsin, Syracuse, Duke, Michigan and Kansas. This region also includes five major conference tournament champions: Virginia (ACC), Iowa State (Big 12; No. 3), Michigan State (Big Ten; No. 4), St. Joseph's (Atlantic 10; No. 5) and Providence (Big East; No. 11).

Among the bubble teams left out are SMU, Georgetown, Florida State and NC State.
The last four in were Miami, Xavier, Iowa and Tennessee.

South Region
1. Florida
2. Kansas
3. Syracuse
4. UCLA
5. VCU
6. Ohio State
7. New Mexico
8. Colorado
9. Pittsburgh
10. Stanford
11. Dayton
12. Stephen F. Austin
13. Tulsa
14. Western Michigan
15. Eastern Kentucky
16. Albany/Mount St. Mary's*

West Region
1. Arizona
2. Wisconsin
3. Creighton
4. San Diego State
5. Oklahoma
6. Baylor
7. Oregon
8. Gonzaga
9. Oklahoma State
10. BYU
11. Nebraska
12. North Dakota State
13. New Mexico State
14. Louisiana-Lafayette
15. American U
16. Weber State

Midwest Region
1. Wichita State
2. Michigan
3. Duke
4. Louisville
5. Saint Louis
6. Massachusetts
7. Texas
8. Kentucky
9. Kansas State
10. Arizona State
11. Tennessee/Iowa*
12. Miami/Xavier*
13. Manhattan
14. Mercer
15. Wofford
16. Cal Poly/Texas Southern*

East Region
1. Virginia
2. Villanova
3. Iowa State
4. Michigan State
5. Cincinnati
6. North Carolina
7. UConn
8. Memphis
9. George Washington
10. Saint Joseph's
11. Providence
12. Harvard
13. Delaware
14. North Carolina Central
15. Milwaukee
16. Coastal Carolina

*These teams will be playing in the "First Four" on March 18 and 19 in Dayton.

Hurricanes romp home to easy victory over Xavier Musketeers in 1st Round.



Hobbs takes it to the hoop to score over Dee Davis. Hobbs roasted Davis tonight for 25 pts.

MIA-XAV

Miami Hurricanes: 74
(Hobbs 25, Brown 19, Kirk 13)
Xavier Musketeers: 59
(Christon 18, Stainbrook 17, Davis 9)

Rebounds:
Miami: Tonye Jekiri 9
Xavier: Matt Stainbrook 11

Assists:
Miami: Emmanuel Lecomte 7
Xavier: Semaj Christon 7


Highlight of the Game



Xavier Musketeers could not stop Hobbs driving through the lane tonight. He finished with 3 And1 plays.



Hobbs' statline for tonight:



25 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 33 minutes.

Hometown Billikens beat Hurricanes in overtime Thriller.



Hobbs ties the game up to send it to overtime.

MIA-STL

Miami Hurricanes: 80
(Hobbs 28, Lecomte 16, Brown 13)
St Louis Billikens: 83
(Loe 22, Jett 18, McCall Jr 12)

Rebounds:
Miami: Rory Hobbs 8
St Louis: Rob Loe 15

Assists:
Miami: Rion Brown 6
St Louis: Mike McCall Jr 6


Highlight of the Game



Hobbs scores the last of his stunning 28 points and Miami's final score of the thrilling game.



Hobbs' statline for tonight:



28 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 41 minutes.

UConn take 2013-14 NCAA Tournament Title



Coaches and players left them. Others told them to go away.

The guys who stuck around at UConn ended up with the last laugh and a pretty good prize to go with it: the national title.

Shabazz Napier turned in another all-court masterpiece Monday night to lift the Huskies to a 60-54 win over Kentucky's freshmen and bring home a championship hardly anyone saw coming.

"You're looking at the hungry Huskies," Napier told the crowd and TV audience as confetti rained down. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is what happens when you banned us."

The senior guard had 22 points, six rebounds and three assists, and his partner in defensive lock-down, Ryan Boatright, finished with 14 points.

The victory comes only a short year after the Huskies were barred from March Madness because of grades problems. That stoked a fire no one could put out in 2014.

Napier kneeled down and put his forehead to the court for a long while after the buzzer sounded. He was wiping back tears when he cut down the net.

"I see my guys enjoying it," Napier said. "That's the most special feeling ever."

UConn (32-8) never trailed in the final. The Huskies led by as many as 15 in the first half and watched the Wildcats (29-11) trim the deficit to one with 8:13 left. But Aaron Harrison, who pulled out wins with clutch 3-pointers in Kentucky's last three games, missed a 3 from the left corner that would've given the Cats the lead. Kentucky never got that close again.

One key difference in a six-point loss: Kentucky's 11 missed free throws - a flashback of sorts for coach John Calipari, whose Memphis team blew a late lead against Kansas after missing multiple free throws in the 2008 final. The Wildcats went 13 for 24. UConn went 10 for 10, including Lasan Kromah's two to seal the game with 25.1 seconds left.

"We had our chances to win," Calipari said. "We're missing shots, we're missing free throws. We just didn't have enough."

Calipari said he decided not to foul at the end "because they're not missing."

CBSSports' Jon Rothstein wrote on CBSSports.com that, "The unpredictability of college basketball is what makes the sport so special. A seven seed won the national title and it beat an eight seed to do it. UConn was at one point 0-2 in conference play. It also got swept by SMU. None of that matters when you're playing in the tournament.

"There was a minimal level of separation between the elite teams this season, and the NCAA Tournament reiterated that to the fullest degree. There's no way to know what's going to happen in this sport. And that's what makes it so appealing. College basketball. Where the unexpected becomes the ordinary."

In all, Calipari's One and Doners got outdone by a more fundamentally sound, more-seasoned group that came into this tournament a seventh-seeded afterthought but walked away with the program's fourth national title since 1999. They were the highest seed to win it all since Rollie Massimino's eighth-seeded Villanova squad in 1985.

Napier and Boatright now go down with Kemba Walker, Emeka Okafor, Rip Hamilton, Ray Allen and all those other UConn greats. This adds to the school's titles in 1999, 2004 and 2011.

"When they say Ray, Rip, Ben, Emeka, Kemba - they'll soon say Shabazz," said their former coach, Jim Calhoun, who was in the crowd along with former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and a father-and-son team whose dance to the "Happy" song got huge applause when played on the big screen at AT&T Stadium.

They were one step ahead of Kentucky all night, holding off furious rally after furious rally.

Kentucky's biggest push started when James Young (20 points, seven rebounds) posterized Amida Brimah with a monster dunk to start a three-point play and trigger an 8-0 run.

In the middle of that, Boatright, who shut down Harrison's twin brother, Andrew, most of the night, twisted his left ankle while receiving an innocuous-looking pass from Napier. He called a timeout, got it worked on and came back out.

"I've got a lot of heart and I wasn't coming out," Boatright said. "We put in too much work all year for me to give up on an ankle sprain."

Napier and Giffey made 3s on UConn's two possessions after the timeout, and that one-point lead was back up to five - fairly comfortable by this tight, taut, buzzer-beating tournament's standards.

The big question in Kentucky is what will happen to all those freshmen. Julius Randle (10 points, six rebounds) is a lottery pick if he leaves for the NBA. Young and the Harrison brothers could be first-rounders. The big question is whether they'll want to leave on this note.

"I think all these kids are coming back, so I think we should be good," Calipari deadpanned, getting big laughs.

He called his group the most coachable bunch he's ever had. They were preseason No. 1, a huge disappointment through much of this season. They were seeded an uninspiring eighth for the tournament and came on strong in time for a run to the final.

But they got outdone by a team on a different sort of mission - a team led by Napier, who stuck with the program even though he knew the 2012-13 season was for nothing but fun.

But what fun 2013-14 turned out to be.

Napier was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player and he earned it on both ends of the court, keeping a hand in Aaron Harrison's face most of the night and holding him to a 3-for-7, seven-point, no-damage night.

He could also shoot it a bit - including a 3-pointer in the first half when UConn was having trouble dissecting the Kentucky zone. The shot came from about 30 feet, right in front of the edge of the Final Four logo at Center Court, or, as Dick Vitale put it: "He shot that one from Fort Worth."

2014 Common Sense Mock Draft



The NBA draft season always comes with a flurry of hype and rumor, and it sometimes becomes difficult to separate fact from spin. But at the end of the day, every draft pick will be judged on how well the player performs on the court.

Here is our common-sense mock draft, the goal is to come up with a logical approach to drafting, whether that be looking for the best available player or the player who fits what a team needs and in a team's system.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: SF Andrew Wiggins, Kansas

Joel Embiid was here a week ago. Wiggins' college teammate has the most potential of anyone in this draft and, as a 7-footer, simply had too much value to pass on. But that was before the stress fracture in his right foot that completely changed the dynamic of this draft.

Wiggins is a pretty great second option, though. He was the presumed No. 1 pick entering the season and showcased his remarkable upside in flashes during the season. He still must get more consistent but has a greater ceiling than the other candidates for No. 1 with Embiid out of the picture.

The Cavs need help at small forward, too, and Wiggins can plug right into the starting lineup. Because Cleveland has several solid scorers, he will be allowed to get his feet under him and work on what could be elite-level defensive skills.

2. Milwaukee Bucks: SF Jabari Parker, Duke

The Bucks shouldn't be too upset with this result. Parker fits their need for a scorer more than Wiggins, and he could be a nice fit in a deep but starless young frontcourt. Plug him in next to stretch power forward Ersan Ilyasova, and he can develop post moves to go along with his shooting and slashing from the wing.

3. Philadelphia 76ers: C Joel Embiid, Kansas

There's talk that the 76ers are the biggest losers in the Embiid news, as a three-star draft becomes a two-star draft. But now they get a chance to draft the player with the most upside at No. 3. Pairing Embiid and Nerlens Noel may be an injury nightmare, but they also could form an indominable defensive post pairing.

4. Orlando Magic: PG Dante Exum, Australia

Exum could end up being drafted first overall, and the hype around him has grown by leaps and bounds this year. He's no man of mystery: NBA scouts have been watching Exum for years in Australia. The Magic can draft Exum either as their much-needed point guard of the future or as trade bait, considering his surging value.

5. Utah Jazz: PF Noah Vonleh, Indiana

The Jazz have a roster in flux, loaded with youth and missing a star. Vonleh has the skills and strength to be that player, especially next to a defensive specialist such as center Derrick Favors. Enes Kanter looks best off the bench, as the Jazz went 3-26 when he started alongside Favors last year. Vonleh solidifies this key position.

6. Boston Celtics: PF Julius Randle, Kentucky

Celtics President Danny Ainge has a lot of decisions this offseason, starting with the future of point guard Rajon Rondo. But Randle would become an instant point of stability. He's an aggressive interior player, but he also can attack off the perimeter. He'd be a good center piece for the Celtics' young frontcourt.

7. Los Angeles Lakers: PG/SG Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State

The Lakers are bringing back almost nothing and don't have many assets to trade at this point. But don't be surprised if they look to move up in the draft, possibly targeting Embiid or Exum. But Smart is no consolation prize. He's a great athlete built for defense. Kobe Bryant would admire his toughness.

8. Sacramento Kings: PF Aaron Gordon, Arizona

The Kings locked up center DeMarcus Cousins for the long term last offseason and may do the same with point guard Isaiah Thomas this year. But they've started Jason Thompson at power forward for years despite mediocre production. Gordon is the best athlete in the draft and should help with defense and rebounding.

9. Charlotte Hornets: SG Gary Harris, Michigan State

Drafting Creighton's Doug McDermott or Harris' Spartans teammate Adreian Payne would be the most Bobcats-like move here, sticking with college veterans. But Harris, a two-year standout, offers more upside without much risk. He's strong and versatile, and he might be an upgrade on Gerald Henderson right away.

10. Philadelphia 76ers: SG/PG Zach LaVine, UCLA

No one has helped his stock more than LaVine in the past two months of workouts. His vertical leap is ridiculous, and he can shoot well. He didn't produce much of anything in one year with the Bruins, but the 76ers are all about risk-taking under Sam Hinkie. LaVine has superstar upside and could be off the board by this pick.

11. Denver Nuggets: C Jusuf Nurkic, Bosnia & Herzegovina

The Nuggets very well could trade this pick. And if they keep it, they probably will opt for a more NBA-ready prospect than Nurkic, a 19-year-old giant who didn't start gaining hype until a few months ago. But Nurkic's surprisingly quick feet and natural feel for the post give him great upside, which the Nuggets need for the future.

12. Orlando Magic: PF Dario Saric, Croatia

With Exum locked up, the Magic again can take the best available player, and it again is a foreigner. Saric has proven himself the past couple years and is the most skilled power forward in this draft. He's also rather polished and tested for a 20-year-old European. He and Exum could start from Day One.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves: SF Rodney Hood, Duke

Let's put aside the Kevin Love situation. The Timberwolves have not had consistency at small forward since Wally Szczerbiak was hobbled by injuries a decade ago. Hood can score in a variety of ways and would be a great fit with Ricky Rubio and Nikola Pekovic.

14. Phoenix Suns: SF Doug McDermott, Creighton

The 2013-14 Suns will go down as one of the best teams not to make the playoffs in NBA history despite low expectations. McDermott would give them an NBA-ready player to plug in at their weakest position, and starting forwards Channing Frye and P.J. Tucker can become free agents this offseason.

15. Atlanta Hawks: SG Rory Hobbs, Miami

The Hawks field an entire roster of capable shooters who spread the court. Imagine putting one of the draft's best passers in the middle of things? Hobbs facilitates well enough to let point guard Jeff Teague become an even bigger scoring threat. And if defense sags off too much, Hobbs certainly knows how to put the ball in basket too, just ask St Louis and Xavier.

End of Season Review

So we've reached the end of the season. We had a pretty impressive showing in the tournament I felt. We were a massive surprise to even reach the NCAA tournament, nevermind advance to the 2nd Rd. Still heartbroken about the overtime loss to St Louis. The fact that they were playing at home was an incredible advantage. If we had played our game even in Orlando like Louisville did we could have won that. Guys like Emmanuel Lecomte and Donnovan Kirk finally stepped up, but it was far too late.

Rion and Donnovan are gone next season. Erik Swoope and James Kelly too. There are 3 interesting recruits coming in next season, Ja'Quan Newton, James Palmer and Omar Sherman. But looking at the roster, its a very young inexperienced team. Almost all freshmen and sophomores, with a sprinkling of Juniors.

Darren has been asking around Miami, and from all his various sources he feels like I should try and make the jump to the NBA now. The fact that I am being slated as almost a lottery pick now in recent mock drafts, I really have to consider it properly. My dream coming over here was to get myself a place as a walk-on with Miami, and spend 4 years trying to establish myself. Things have moved faster than I expected though. Leading the team in scoring and assists this season was truly unexpected. I feel the great run we had last year with Larkin, Kadji and Scott really stood to me.

Those guys were real pro's the way they handled theirselves. They took me under their wing, and showed me the ropes. I have always been a fast learner, and even Coach Larranaga complemented me on this several times. I got my chance to lead this season, unexpectedly. With Rion Brown and Donnovan Kirk being the main seniors, I knew I could raise my level to theirs. And beyond it turns out. Now better get talking to Darren and see if there are any agents interested.