Games against 2012 NCAA Tournament teams: 10
Games against ACC top 4: 5
Games against ACC bottom 4: 7
Best non-conference game: 11/28 vs. Michigan State
Projected Starting Five:
C - Reggie Johnson (Senior)
F - Kenny Kadji (Senior)
F - Trey McKinney Jones (Senior)
G - Durand Scott (Senior)
G - Shane Larkin (Sophomore)
The first thing you see when you look at Miami is experience. Four seniors in the starting lineup. The second is their coach, Jim Larranaga. I have been high on him since I saw him at many George Mason games over the years. I think he's got what it takes to get the program over the hump that they couldn't get over during Frank Haith's tenure. Miami was very close last year to making the NCAA Tournament. And if it weren't for some injuries they might have made it.
This year's team will be led by Reggie Johnson. Johnson is a great talent who struggled some last year after having to sit out much of the first half of the season. If he can stay in shape and active in the game, he can be the best center in the conference. Kenny Kadji really played strong in Johnson's absence, and if these two can play together they can form a formidable frontcourt. I also like Shane Larkin, who can score from the point and distribute.
Miami has one of the stronger schedules in the conference. They have a great home game against Michigan State in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge. They also have sneaky tough road games at UMass and UCF before going to Hawaii for the Diamond Head Classic. Their conference schedule is manageable, and look out for the Hurricanes late in the year. In their last six games, only a road trip at Duke is a game they should lose.
I'm pretty high on the Hurricanes this year, as you can see by the fact that I picked them to finish fourth. I think they have the combination of talent and coaching to give the other teams fits. They may struggle some early in the year, but they should be peaking in March, and carry momentum into their first NCAA Tournament in a while.
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