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Miami vs NC State Game Preview

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Awsi Dooger said:
Die you home dog die. Die you home dog die.

There was one guy in Las Vegas who used to hang out at the Imperial Palace sportsbook 15-20 ago and matter of factly repeat that sentence night after night. It was amazing how frequently the small home underdogs he bet against would quit on demand during crunch time. He had a great knack for identifying the home dogs that were troubled and outmanned, and simply given too much credit for the home court.

I thought about that guy tonight as soon as I sat down. How could the Canes be given full home court allotment for that game? No band. No student section. Late arriving small crowd.

The team somehow had more offensive energy than all season. But it felt so fragile. Izundu had to make sure he didn't pick up fouls. Nobody could afford fouls. We got the benefit of a doubt with the referees all night long. Very rare that a conference game unfolds with the underdog in the double bonus both halves before the favorite ever reaches the single bonus. And especially when that underdog is being outmanned on the boards so severely.

Basically the Canes created their own upset opportunity with so much determination, the referees aided their cause, but the free throw shooting helped keep down the margin, before the inevitable collapse.

Johnson missed 3 of 4 free throws in one stretch late in the first half then followed with another miss later. D.J. didn't play as many minutes as I expected. But he also contributed with a missed free throw. Then he had a key late open miss on a 3 pointer that the Canes desperately needed. A guy like that who is otherwise so limited and one dimensional absolutely has to hit that shot in crunch time.

No alma mater after the game. Now that is pathetic. First time I've seen that. Canes under Larranaga now have developed a habit of quckly walking off the court after a home defeat, and not waiting for the alma mater. Low class compared to prior tendency. But at least that alma mater has always been played. We had two older couples in my section who are all alums and they were so miffed at the lack of the alma mater they said they planned to complain. I didn't blame them. If you are going to tout the new football coach during the game then don't give away one of your traditions later.
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Excellent analysis, spot on about DJ. He has to make that wide open 3 there. I didnt realize they didnt play the Alma Mater I left. They should have.
 
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hotshot said:
Play Proctor.
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I been saying "play Willie" (H)… of course he's a half foot shorter. I just like the way he plays in practice and even his few minutes on the court this year...

...that being said; I saw Sam practice at a few games I attended and was "wowed", back in the days when he barely played. I wondered why Coach L didn't play him more. Now I know.

I daresay that Proctor and Heronton both are probably just not close to being ready. Coach L surely is on top of it in these undermanned days.
 
I'm sure you're right. Wishful thinking.

Living in Maryland, I always have seen aIot of the Maryland Terps. Some years ago, they had a walk-on who could do one thing, really play stifling man-to-man defense for a couple minutes in each half. Wasn't expected to do anything else but ... in that very limited way, he was able to contribute.

L could always hold student tryouts. Maybe Pike or SAE has someone. :)
 
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