Been on this Miami train all off-season. This team looks for real. Just rolled through very good teams in the Puerto Rico Tournament starting wiht Ben Howland and Miss St, to Utah who was 16 in country with a lotto pick, and then Butler.
This team has some some great senior pieces in Angel Rodriguez, Sheldon and Tonye. Davon Reed and Newton great young pieces, transfer big men Ivan Cruz Uceda and Kamari Muprhy who was at Ok St and was a high end recruit.
They also secured 2 top 30 recruits last week and have a top 10 class for next year, Larranaga is ageless it seems and this can be 2013 all over again in the Gables.
ACC will be real fun with Duke, UNC, UVA and Miami and some real nice teams behind them.
Nice to see national writers such at Rothstein, Parish, Goodman, Davis, Gottlieb think so highly of the team also.
Should be fun.
The inconsistency last year was lack of cohesion & roster balance. Rodriguez/McClellan were both trying to be lead players in their first years after sitting out due to transfer and behind them they were extremely guard heavy so guys struggled to find roles - Reed, Newton, Lecomte and Burnett - the latter of 2 who have since transferred. At times it worked and at times roles got a little confused, like when Rodriguez hurt his wrist at the end of the season.
IMO this year's team is much more balanced, with guys in clearly defined roles, and possibly even more talented than than last year's. This team is much deeper than the Canes team with Larkin a few years ago, though maybe not quite as good from 3.
I had Miami to the s16 to start year, now think I may of undersold them.