ACC Countdown Preview

#11. Miami

Games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams: 11

Best non-conference game: Dec. 2 vs. Minnesota

Projected Starting Five:

F - Dwayne Collins (Senior)

F - Cyrus McGowan (Senior)

F - DeQuan Jones (Sophomore)

G - James Dews (Senior)

G - Malcolm Grant (Sophomore)

When Miami and Virginia Tech moved over to the ACC, critics were definitely lining up to talk about how they would water down the ACC in basketball. So far, that has not happened. Both schools, in fact, have had remarkably similar results in the conference. In the five years since they joined the league, Miami has a total record in ACC games of 33-47. Virginia Tech's is 38-42. Both had one 4-12 year that made the numbers look worse, and both have made one NCAA Tournament in that span.

So where does that bring us for the 2009-2010 Hurricanes? I put up a picture of Jack McClinton because that is the biggest story coming into this year. McClinton was a terrific ACC player who had a knack for hitting clutch shot after clutch shot at the end of games. He was the heart and soul of the Miami team. And now he's gone. While I think Frank Haith is a good coach and has done a great job getting the most out of his team, it's going to be a lot tougher this year.

If you look at the talent, it's just not there. I like Dwayne Collins a lot, and he has the potential to be a great player, but he was underused last year. And Collins is really the only player that I have a lot of confidence in. James Dews is a solid player but not a consistent scorer. Malcolm Grant is a transfer from Villanova and will be playing the point. There are three seniors in the starting five but I still feel like this team doesn't have much experience. And I just don't know where the scoring is going to come from. Haith will keep them in games and win a few but it might be another 4-12 season for Miami.