Dwayne Collins Declares for the NBA Draft

By Kartik Krishnaiyer
Canes Rising Staff

The good news is that the Hurricanes took two of three from arch rival Florida State at the Light this past weekend. But now the Hurricanes face a daunting road the rest of the way in the ACC. But we'll save Baseball for tomorrow, and focus on some potentially bad news from Basketball today.

Dwayne Collins, Miami's Center has declared for the NBA Draft but will not hire and agent. Collins averaged 10.6 PPG and 7.3 RPG this past season but probably most significantly for Miami averaged the least number of blocks per game for any Miami starting Center in recent memory. Simply put, he is not NBA ready.

Hopefully he'll be told by the pro scouts that he needs another year of College Basketball.

Spring Game Thoughts Part One

Rich Halten the editor of Chant Rant has been throwing questions our way this week to get a feel for UM's Spring Practice. Here is the first question of the bunch.

What did you see in the Canes offense that makes your new O.C. an upgrade over the last one?

More of a power running game. Damien Berry and Mike James both had a good spring game, after a few really good weeks of practice. I think Nix had the offense on the right track and a lot of Miami fans either don't recall how Miami won a few of their titles (with passable offenses coupled with great defenses and kick/punt returners who were game changers) and how Nix had his unit closer to being a typical Miami unit than did the defensive and special teams coaches. The ultimate problem with Nix was that his offenses lacked an identity. From game to game the Canes would change their gameplan, offensive look, starting WRs, and often the featured RB. The lack of consistency not just in production but in looks killed Nix. Whipple on the other hand is used to the grind of the NFL and evidently believes that consistency in looks and play calling is a must. As a result Miami may actually become more predictable. Nix was anything but predictable, which hastened his downfall.

Canes Spring Game Video

Watch live video from Canes Spring Game on Justin.tv

My piece on Tony Douglas

Kartik Krshnaiyer/Canes Rising Staff

Check out my farewell piece to a worth cane adversary, Tony Douglas over on Chant Rant.

Is Dwayne Collins NBA Ready?

By Kartik Krishnaiyer
Canes Rising Staff

It may seem like an absurd question, but apparently DC is testing the draft waters. What is he thinking and why would he believe he is draft ready?

For every spectacular game in ACC play Collins has had like his 26 point outburst last season versus Duke, or his back to back big games this year versus Virginia Tech and NC State, he has had even more head-scratchers. For a guy who should play big every game out, Collins often time is soft and gets easily dominated by smaller, but more tenacious post players.

Perhaps Collins is encouraged by the ease at which he posted up and scored against Florida in the NIT. First off all it was the NIT which is in affect a glorified exhibition, and secondly Florida's inside game resembles that of a soft High School Team. Much like his big performances against Duke and Boston College the last few years, Collins takes advantage of scoring against perimeter oriented team while being a detriment for the Canes against the likes of Florida State, Georgia Tech and Clemson, teams who have had skilled big men the past three seasons.

What is apparent is that Collins wants to test the draft waters. Another ACC junior, Maryland's Grevius Vasquez is thinking about doing the same. The difference is Vasquez has actually been an influential and pivotal player for his team almost single handily willing the Terps to this year's NCAA Tournament, while Collins two NCAA appearances last year was notable for how little he played and how many minutes Anthony King, Ray Hicks and Jimmy Graham had to log because of Collins ineffectiveness.

Dwayne Collins is not NBA ready period. Perhaps he doesn't enjoy going to school or is unhappy with having to work so hard in practice. I really don't know, but he's certainly not a finished article.

Jack McClinton's Legacy

Miami has had better players than Jack McClinton. The Hurricanes have had better teams than those of the last few seasons as well. But seldom has Miami Basketball ever had a player who meant as much to the program as Jack McClinton, a transfer from Siena who changed the culture of Miami Basketball.

In the late 1990s, Miami Basketball mattered. Leonard Hamilton established the program in the upper echelon of Big East. In a five year period, Miami won the Big East, made the Sweet 16 of the NCAAs, was a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, finished a season in the top 10 of the RPI and AP rankings, made four NCAAs, and produced far more quality players than the program had ever had in one era.

But Miami slipped back into Basketball oblivion after the graduations of John Salmons, Elton Tyler and James Jones. Sure, Darius Rice and Guillermo Diaz made the occasional Sportscenter highlight reel and an occasional quality player like Rob Hite came through the program.

But Miami really didn't matter. Even with the occasional upset, nobody had to pay attention to the Canes.

That all changed with Jack McClinton's transfer to Miami. Jack wasn't just a long range bomber in the style of so many ACC off guards. He was the embodiment of a student athlete. The only player the last two seasons to make the All ACC Academic and All ACC First Team, McClinton is a workaholic.

Hitting the gym in his spare time, excelling in the classroom, and leading by example, Jack McClinton changed a culture of losing at Miami and turned the Hurricanes into a team that matters in today's ACC. Jack leaves the program as the conference's all time three point percentage leader, and the second best free throw shooter by percentage in the league's history.

McClinton's impact was felt troughout the conference. Miami entered the ACC as a bit of a laughing stock. Who on Tobacco Road or in the Mid Atlantic would want to see Miami play? But once McClinton arrived on the scene, crowds around the league flocked to see Miami so they could watch the greatest three point shooter in ACC history.

McClinton's 38 point outburst in last years NCAA Tournament against St Mary's broke Johnny Hemsley's "unbreakable" school record for most points in an NCAA Tourney game. Sadly for Jack he didn't have the supporting cast Hemsley did and never got the chance to hit as many big game winning shots as #31 did, because of circumstances but he'll probably be remembered more fondly by Miami fans. (Besides he didn't get suspendedseveral times like Hemsley also.)

Jack made Miami matter again in Basketball. Whether the program can sustain that is to be determined. But McClinton's impact has been clear: he leaves the program as a Hurricane legend.

Complete Effort Paces Canes Win

By Kartik Krishnaiyer
Canes Rising Staff

A complete effort for the Hurricanes paced by Jack McClinton's 25, sees Miami through to the second round of the NIT. The Canes dominated inside with Dwayne Collins and Jimmy Graham controlling the paint. The Canes out rebounded the Friars, 43-32 and won the game 78-66.

The team showed an intensity and passion for the game they quite frankly lacked late in the regular season. Crashing the boards and moving well of the ball, the Canes perhaps will leave 2008-09 with some pleasant memories after all.

Miami will now face Florida in Gainesville, likely on Friday with no TV. Such is life in the NIT, quick turnaround road trips and often no television. Florida crushed Jacksonville tonight but last won two straight games a month and a half ago. But the Gators have only lost five times at home in the last four seasons.

However, Miami did beat Florida in Gainesville the last time the Canes traveled to the O Dome in December 2004, by a 72-65 score. Anthony Harris led the Canes that night with 23 points, and it was Frank Haith's first road win as Miami's coach.