Yes, they are the best team in the ACC.  They also match up really well against us.  I just hope our guys are focused next week when we play.

Miami is definitely better than five ACC teams.  That much we know for sure.

The win over Duke happened on a night when Duke's Curry went 0-for-10 from three.  If he hits his normal percentage of those shots, it's a much closer game.  Not taking anything away from Miami.  But I'm not sold on them yet.  I think they are VERY good.  Solid.  Definitely.  Are they head and shoulders better than every other ACC team, I need to see more before I'm willing to say that.

wolfchicEE wrote: Until someone proves otherwise, yes.

I'll go with this.

Miami hosting Florida State right now on ESPNU. Notice the contrast from last nights games atmosphere. I'm pulling for the Noles, but not expecting an upset. Love to see it though!!!!!

Miami whoops FSU 71-47. They play at Virginia Tech on Wednesday.

They are certainly playing better than the rest of the league right now. 

I did not realize that they are such an "old" team, with a couple players beyond their fourth year (I think Gamble is one of them ... maybe even a six-year player) along with other seniors.  Combine good coaching (Larranaga), with talent, with athleticism, with experience ... yeah, they're pretty damn good.

go hokies

Yes.  Yes they are.

Until Saturday...  

I would love for the NCAA to hammer them right before the ACC tourney.

I think so. Very good guard play, lots of good big men, and they play defense. Until we play defense consistently and show up for everybody opponent, we can't say we're better than Miami

They were my preseason #4 and my sleeper team in the ACC. They're well coached, veteran, have talent up and down the roster and have good size. Their only losses came with players out for injury or suspension.

Sitting at 6-0 in the league with a thrashing of Duke means they're legit in my book. We're really going to need to bring our A game to beat them.

RiseUp wrote: They are certainly playing better than the rest of the league right now. 

I did not realize that they are such an "old" team, with a couple players beyond their fourth year (I think Gamble is one of them ... maybe even a six-year player) along with other seniors.  Combine good coaching (Larranaga), with talent, with athleticism, with experience ... yeah, they're pretty damn good.

They may be the only ACC team that will bringing back less than us next season.

Ahh yes, our proverbial A game. Seems someone says it for each and every one of our opponents.

Is anyone besides me just simply amazed that Miami could be this good at basketball?  Cripes even with a big victory over their in-state rival the stands are DEAD. 

Make no mistake - they are good, really good.  Larranga has done wonders with these guys.  It's just hard to get over a school that doesn't give a crap about basketball having such a good team.

(And yeah - perhaps there's some bitterness coming from a school where basketball = life, and completely sucking at it for 20 years  )

WolfStock wrote: Is anyone besides me just simply amazed that Miami could be this good at basketball?  Cripes even with a big victory over their in-state rival the stands are DEAD. 

That place was actually packed in the lower levels for the Duke game. I didn't watch any of tonight's game though.

Miami is for real.

wolfpack87 wrote:

WolfStock wrote: Is anyone besides me just simply amazed that Miami could be this good at basketball?  Cripes even with a big victory over their in-state rival the stands are DEAD. 

That place was actually packed in the lower levels for the Duke game. I didn't watch any of tonight's game though.

Both Dook and tonights game vs. FSU were sold out.  Still......a dead environment.  After observing several canes games this year (on TV of course), including tonights FSU game, I think a LOT of their problem is where they put the students.  You don't see them on TV.  You hardly HEAR them on TV.  I think the students at the U are relegated to the leprosy section of the arena.

^^^Which goes to show you that screaming fans don't matter nearly as much as they think they do. A good team is a good team anywhere, anytime, anyway.

Like Rib, I had them as #4 or #3 depending on how overrated unc-cheat was. Now with their very EASY schedule the rest of the way except for duke/ncsu I'm not sure how they can lose it. NCSU & Dook & unc will beat up on each other -- sadly, I will be shocked if Miami doesn't win the ACC regular season.

No, but they are easily second.

yep probably....now what are we going to do about it.

Pretty obvious Haith left Larranaga a LOT of talent.

They are legit.

went in march of 2009. Deadest place I  have ever been...maybe they were on spring break because we were getting back from it.

Juardis wrote:

wolfpack87 wrote:

WolfStock wrote: Is anyone besides me just simply amazed that Miami could be this good at basketball?  Cripes even with a big victory over their in-state rival the stands are DEAD. 

That place was actually packed in the lower levels for the Duke game. I didn't watch any of tonight's game though.

Both Dook and tonights game vs. FSU were sold out.  Still......a dead environment.  After observing several canes games this year (on TV of course), including tonights FSU game, I think a LOT of their problem is where they put the students.  You don't see them on TV.  You hardly HEAR them on TV.  I think the students at the U are relegated to the leprosy section of the arena.

trentjone wrote: Pretty obvious Haith left Larranaga a LOT of talent.

They are legit.

Haith pulled a Lowe. Neither can coach but didn't leave the cupboard bare when they left either.

Very well could be. Should be quite the battle on Saturday.

The evidence suggests...yes, they are. Hope we can beat UVa to set up a huge game next weekend.

SidsSouljahBoy wrote:

trentjone wrote: Pretty obvious Haith left Larranaga a LOT of talent.

They are legit.

Haith pulled a Lowe. Neither can coach but didn't leave the cupboard bare when they left either.

So the question is, what do they have coming in?

SidsSouljahBoy wrote:

trentjone wrote: Pretty obvious Haith left Larranaga a LOT of talent.

They are legit.

Haith pulled a Lowe. Neither can coach but didn't leave the cupboard bare when they left either.

Yep.  I argued (at the time) that Haith was a worse coach than Lowe.  He was the one coach in the ACC (prior to Bzz) that I knew Lowe would be able to beat.  

He could recruit though.  He was probably doing it dirty (see the possible infractions that will follow him which is rare), but there's no question he was recruiting well.  I think some of that is Miami itself (who wouldn't want to spend 4 years playing ball in the biggest college party destination of the east?).  

Larranaga is a huge step up in coaching.  I said prior to last season that he was the best coach that entered the league and was the 3rd best acting coach in the league.  I still think that.  

The questions for Miami are how Larranaga can recruit, and how long he'll stick around.  Next year is the first glimpse into the former as Miami will be the only team in the league to lose as much as we do.

This is clearly their window.  I'm sure they recognize it.  They look like a team on a mission.

I hope that our team is as hungry because it is not going to get any easier with two Hall of Fame coaches entering the league (Boeheim and Pitino).  We need to be as focused and hungry.

Like Rib, I had them as #4 or #3 depending on how overrated unc-cheat was. Now with their very EASY schedule the rest of the way except for duke/ncsu I'm not sure how they can lose it. NCSU & Dook & unc will beat up on each other -- sadly, I will be shocked if Miami doesn't win the ACC regular season.

(big) If State wins out and Miami loses @ Duke, we get the nod.

GoofyITGuy wrote:

Like Rib, I had them as #4 or #3 depending on how overrated unc-cheat was. Now with their very EASY schedule the rest of the way except for duke/ncsu I'm not sure how they can lose it. NCSU & Dook & unc will beat up on each other -- sadly, I will be shocked if Miami doesn't win the ACC regular season.

(big) If State wins out and Miami loses @ Duke, we get the nod.

We would get the nod for the #1 seed in the ACC tourney.  That's it.  Still have to win the tourney to be champs.

YES and they have a very good coach.

Yes Miami is the best team in the league right now.  They beat the holes in chapel hill then they smacked the ever living **** out of Duke.

Luckily State only has to play them once and that's at home.  We don't lose at home!

Miami will lose 3-4 ACC games, for State to win the ACC regular season title then the games at Duke and at Cheats become must wins.

Until proven otherwise, the answer has to be yes. They are experienced, talented and deep. I look forward to next weekend.

Until Ryan Kelly returns to competition, yes.

I would definitely say yes.  They play fantastic D and have unbelievable balance.  Solid back court and a huge experienced front court.  I say they win the regular season going away...

trentjone wrote: Pretty obvious Haith left Larranaga a LOT of talent.

They are legit.

Also pretty obvious Larranaga is a significant upgrade for a coach.

No Nc State is on saturdays at PNC when they are playing a team in blue.. wish that would translate

I don't have time to research, but who is new to this team from last year? They seem to have an average age of around 25. Reminds me of FSU last year. Teams who get older decent players to hang around will have an advantage in this era of leave early basketball.

I'd like to put it another way: Miami is surviving better than any other ACC team at the moment.

I can't think of an argument against it.

They have a two-game lead, so yes, they are the best...in January 2013.  Fortunately, a conference title is at least a two month battle and February is going to be a long month.  I see that two-game lead melting quickly.