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Miami Basketball: Miami Hurricanes 2015-16 Season Preview

By Alex Piasecki

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Miami Hurricanes

2014-2015 Record: 25-13 (10-8, ACC)
Postseason: NIT Tournament – Title game runner-up

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When a team loses two of its key players to school transfers, there is rarely room for optimism in the upcoming season. But with a bevy of key returning players, along with Oklahoma State transfer Kamari Murphy, Jim Larrañaga and his Miami Hurricane squad figure to a high-profile team in ACC play. With a starting line-up likely to feature start games with a lineup of Angel Rodriguez, Sheldon McClellan, Davon Reed, Murphy and Tonye Jekiri, the Hurricanes will likely resort to small-ball tactics in many games but a bench that includes Ja’quan Newton and James Palmer will allow Larrañaga to tinker with lineups as the season rolls along.

Miami just missed out on the NCAA tournament last year, instead having to settle for NIT play. With Miami’s senior talent and depth, Larrañaga and his Hurricanes will be expected to improve on last season and snatch an at-large bid for the big dance.

Newcomers

F – Anthony Lawrence (#150 247Sports)
F – Ebuka Izundu (#202 247Sports)
F – Kamari Murphy (transfer from Oklahoma State)
G – Abdoulaye Harouna (JUCO)

Key Non-Conference Games

Nov. 19 vs Mississippi St. – The Puerto Rico tip-off should be a good way to settle in to the season, and Miami will have a legitimate chance to come home with the title. Mississippi State desperately struggled to score the ball last year, ranking 306th in points per game. Jim Larrañaga and his stout defensive schemes will not make scoring any easier.

Dec. 1 vs Nebraska – Miami draws the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Big Ten/ACC challenge. Nebraska finished 3rd to last in the Big Ten and lost court general and leading scorer Terran Petteway to the NBA. Miami will be expected to convincingly win this matchup and build some momentum going into conference play.

Key Players

Angel Rodriguez – Rodriguez is a heck of a player and has an even better story. The Kansas State transfer guard now has a year of experience in Jim Larrañaga’s system and will improve upon a campaign where he was named as an honorable mention for the All-ACC team. The 5-11 guard is a bulldog on defense and is a dark horse to make the All-ACC defensive squad.

Sheldon McClellan– In the 2014-2015 season, McClellan had the top shooting percentage (50%) of any Power 5 Conference guard in the country. In ACC play, he averaged 15+ ppg with a pair of double-doubles. The Hurricanes went 13-0 when he shot 50 percent or better from the floor. Needless to say, the Miami Hurricanes will rely on McClellan to led the offense and use his athletes to create opportunities. If McClellan continues to improve, don’t be surprised to see him make the All-ACC team and lead the Hurricanes to some serious upsets.

Season Outlook

The Miami Hurricanes will surprise people this year. Head coach Jim Larrañaga has one of the strongest backcourts in the nation, led by senior guards Angel Rodriguez and Sheldon McClellan and supported by sophomore Ja’Quan Newton. Forward Tonye Jekiri finished 3rd in ACC defensive player of the year voting and will continue to improve as a defender and rebounder. Despite the losses of Omar Sherman,
Manu Lecomte (transfer to Baylor), and Deandre Burnett (transfer to Ole Miss), this team has the experience and depth to not only make the NCAA tournament, but also be a threat to make a run. Keep an eye on the Hurricanes this season and don’t be surprised if they become one of the strongest teams in the ACC.

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