The University of Miami Mens Basketball team is one of the most highly-acclaimed in all of NCAA Division I basketball. They have won over 100 games, made it to the NCAA Tournament 5 times, and have finished in the top 10 in the nation on multiple occasions. With such great success, why haven’t they won a National Championship?
Miami Hurricanes Men’s Basketball
Last season, the Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball team finished with a record of 20-12, their best season since 2006. They upset fifth-ranked Duke in the first round of the ACC tournament, but fell to eventual champion North Carolina in the second round. They lost three players to graduation, leaving only five scholarship players on the roster.
This year’s team is led by All-ACC selection Michael Loyd and transfers Sheldon McClellan and Anthony Lawrence. At 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, McClellan is one of the biggest players in college basketball. Lawrence is a 6-foot-10 forward who averaged 17 points and six rebounds per game last season at Kansas.
The Hurricanes open their season against Florida A&M on November 10th.
History of the Miami Hurricanes Men’s Basketball program
The University of Miami Hurricanes Men’s Basketball program has a rich history which dates back to the early 1960s. The Hurricanes first qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 1978, and have reached the postseason tournament each year since then.
In 2001, current head coach Jim Larranaga led the Hurricanes to their first Division I Final Four appearance. In 2002, Miami earned its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament and advanced all the way to the national championship game before falling to Arizona.
In 2006, Miami became just the fifth school in NCAA history to win at least 60 games in three consecutive seasons. That same year, sophomore Alonzo Mourning became just the second player ever to be named Associated Press Player of the Year, First Team All-American, National Player of the Year and Naismith College Player of the Year all in the same season.
Larranaga was again named ACC Coach of the Year in 2007 after leading Miami to a conference-best 33 wins. Newcomer Derrick Brown led the team in scoring with 16.5 points per game, while Mourning finished second on the team with 13.9 points and 10 rebounds per game. The Hurricanes reached their fourth consecutive ACC
The Players on the Miami Hurricanes Men’s Basketball Team
What a difference a year makes.
Last season, the Miami Hurricanes Men’s Basketball Team finished with a record of 21-13, good for fifth place in the ACC. This year, however, things are different.
Led by sophomore forward Sheldon McClellan and junior guard Durand Scott, the Hurricanes have compiled an impressive record of 35-2 so far this season. In fact, they are currently ranked No. 1 in the nation and are one win away from qualifying for the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
What has made the difference for Miami this season? For one thing, they have played excellent defense all year long. They currently rank second in the nation in scoring defense (64.1 points per game) and first in rebounding defense (37.9 rebounds per game). They also rank fourth in assists allowed (16.3 assists per game) and third in blocks (6.8 blocks per game).
On offense, McClellan and Scott have been dominant forces. McClellan is averaging 19.5 points per game while Scott is averaging 16.9 points per game. They have also combined to score 58% of the team’s total points this season.
The
The Head Coach of the Miami Hurricanes Men’s Basketball Team
The Miami Hurricanes basketball team is in for a big year. Head coach Jim Larranaga has assembled a talented roster that features a number of key returning players. This season, the Hurricanes look to make some noise in the ACC and nationally. Here’s a look at some of the key players on the team:
Senior forward Sheldon Mac
Mac is a veteran presence on the Miami roster. He averaged 15.5 points and 7 rebounds last season and is expected to be an important contributor this year.
Junior guard JaQuan Lyle
Lyle is one of the most exciting young guards in the ACC and will have a huge impact this season. He averaged 11 points and 3 assists last season and should be even more productive this year with improved shooting accuracy.
Freshman center Ja Morant
Morant was one of the top recruits in 2018, signing with Miami over major programs such as Kentucky, Duke, and Arizona. He has all-conference potential and will be crucial to Miami’s success this season.
The Uniforms of the Miami Hurricanes Men’s Basketball Team
When it comes to Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball, there is one uniform that stands out above the rest. That uniform is the “hurricanes” which is a white and green stripe down the side of the pants. The stripes are also featured on the collar and along the sleeves of the jersey.
The majority of uniforms in men’s college basketball are either all-white or all-black. However, Miami has stuck to this unique look for over 50 years. Some may say that this choice is due to nostalgia, while others may say that it reflects the school’s “Aloha Spirit.” Whatever the case may be, there is no questioning that this uniform is different and unique.
One of the most interesting things about the Miami Hurricanes uniforms is their font choice. The lettering on the jerseys is reminiscent of 1970’s graffiti art. This was chosen as part of a campaign by then-head coach Bruce Arians to create a “cool factor” for his team. While some people may not love this aspect of the uniforms, it definitely stands out and helps make Miami’s jerseys one of a kind.
The Playing Surface of the Miami Hurricanes Men’s Basketball Team
The playing surface of the Miami Hurricanes Men’s Basketball Team is often cited as one of the most important aspects of their game. The court at the University of Miami is one of the largest in college basketball, measuring 100 feet by 50 feet. It was originally built in 1976 and has been renovated several times since then.
The playing surface at the University of Miami is known for its hardwood surface. The court is made up of two strips of maple wood that are glued together and then covered with a layer of polyurethane. This creates a very tough surface that is both durable and smooth. The polyurethane also makes it easy to clean, which is important because the basketball team plays on it every single day.
The playing surface at the University of Miami has been extremely successful over the years. The Hurricanes have won six national championships since 1987 and they have never lost a game played on this surface. This consistency has made the playing surface one of the most important factors in their success.
Statistics and Highlights of the Miami Hurricanes Men’s Basketball Team
The University of Miami Men’s Basketball team has seen a resurgence in recent years, culminating in a national championship in 2016. The Hurricanes are led by head coach Jim Larranaga, who has coached the team since 2006.
This season, the team is led by sophomore sensation Lonnie Walker IV, who is averaging 22.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. They also have plenty of veterans on the squad, such as forwards Sebastian Saiz and Kamar Baldwin and guard Angel Rodriguez. In their last game of the regular season, the Hurricanes defeated Florida State 89-81 to clinch their first ACC championship since 1993.
Looking Forward:
The Hurricanes are coming off a successful regular season, but they aren’t done yet. In the ACC tournament, they narrowly lost to eventual champion North Carolina in the semifinals before beating Virginia in the third-place game to earn an NCAA Tournament berth. However, they face a much tougher challenge in the First Round (vs. UMBC). If they can advance past that round, there is no limit to what they can achieve in March.