Hurricanes Won’t Lose Independence Bowl…Right?

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The Hurricanes should win the Independence Bowl, right?

You would hope that the Miami Hurricanes would have learned their lesson.

After another long layoff they will close out a disappointing 2019 campaign December 26th, in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl.

The Hurricanes (6-6) will face the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (9-3) from Conference USA, where they finished with a 6-3 mark.

Louisiana Tech has never beaten the Hurricanes in four previous matchups, could this Miami team be their first conquest?

 

We’ve Been Here Before

Miami has one prior trip to the Independence Bowl in 2014 under Al Golden. That team finished 6-6 during the regular season and entered the game on a three game losing streak.

Sound familiar?

Granted, this current Miami losing streak is only two games but those two should count for more.

The Hurricanes would lose the 2014 game to South Carolina 24-21 despite being the favorite.

This time around the Hurricanes are again the favorite and cannot afford another slow start which has doomed them repeatedly.

Miami was outscored 72-20 in their six losses, five of which were by single digits.

Diaz Must Have Team Prepared

The Hurricanes were dreadful after bye weeks, losing all three of their games after extended hiatus.

Including the FIU debacle.

Lack of preparation defined their season, and they will once again have to gain focus or the results will be similar.

Louisiana Tech averaged 34 points per game this season and should not be taken lightly.

The Bulldogs have an excellent quarterback in J’Mar Smith who threw for 2814 yards with 17 touchdowns against just four interceptions.

Smith shares the wealth as Louisiana Tech has three receivers with at least 500 receiving yards this season.

 

They are succeptable to the pass rush as they allowed 26 sacks (76th in NCAA) and only average 3.8 yards per carry on the ground.

Gregory Rousseau should be primed for a big day, along with Miami’s top-20 run defense.

 

Louisiana Tech has an opportunistic defense which had 15 interceptions, whoever starts at quarterback for Miami must make the easy plays.

The Hurricanes are not good enough to overcome a turnover deficit, we have seen that movie before.

Cam Harris should be a focal point of the running game against a Bulldogs defense that surrenders over 142 rushing yards per game.

Dan Enos has one more opportunity this season to prove he should get another year.

While Manny Diaz has to ensure his team comes out firing on all cylinders and does not overlook Louisiana Tech.

If Miami somehow manages to have another FIU-type performance and lose, the offseason in Coral Gables will be a rocky one.

The Independence Bowl can be seen on ESPN December 26th at 4PMEST.

 

 

Miami Heat’s 2-3 Zone Causing Problems

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The Miami Heat’s 2-3 zone is giving certain teams fits.

Sometimes a simple solution is also the most effective in a complex NBA season.

Whether it be a matchup substitution or a defensive game plan, many times the obvious answer is in plain sight.

The Miami Heat stifled the Philadelphia 76er’s on Wednesday thanks in part to a seldom used zone defense, at least in today’s NBA.

We all know the Heat do things differently, most of the time it works out.

 

Catching professional coaching staffs by surprise is often a challenge, but occasionally an outside-the-box strategy can yield great results.

With a short rotation due to injuries, Miami Heat head coach Erik Speolstra has needed creativity as an ally.

The zone defense is particularly effective against teams that lack elite outside shooting.

Philadelphia fits that bill in the sense of volume, they take the fifth fewest three-point attempts in the league.

They shoot a decent percentage (36.2) but are streaky at that range.

We all know one guy that opposing defenses will gladly allow to launch from beyond the arc.

 

The zone is nothing new to the Heat as they have employed this season, but in live game action on the fly it can be effective.

Philadelphia shot just 12-for-39 (30.8%) from deep and did not attack the zone effectively with Joel Embiid until it was too late.

Miami has the athleticism to defend inside-out and crash the defensive boards, the Heat out-rebounded the 76ers 56-47.

Josh Richardson was just 3-of-10 from three-point range and Tobias Harris 2-of-6.

Philadelphia coach Brett Brown countered late with Furkan Kormaz (2-of-3 from 3pt) but it was not enough.

 

 

Teams will try to replicate the Heat’s formula against Philadelphia and similarly structured teams.

Like Dallas did in their 117-98 blowout to give the 76ers their second straight home loss.

Once again Philadelphia struggled from three-point range, this time converting just 10-of-34 (29.4%) attempts.

Miami has employed the strategy mostly out of necessity, it is not their ideal defense by any stretch.

How long it continues will be dependent on factors such as player availability and matchups.

It also protects players such as Bam Adebayo from foul trouble as there are three players on the baseline to pack it in.

Miami again employed the zone for stretches in their 129-114 win Friday, New York also put up a 10-for-34 mark from deep.

As long as the opponent complies and the bench is short, we may be in the zone for a minute.

Florida Panthers: Noel Acciari scoring at rapid rate

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The Florida Panthers beat the Dallas Stars by a 7-4 score on Friday night. One of the major reasons why they won was the play of forward Noel Acciari.  He recorded another had trick on Friday night. In doing so , this marked his second game in a row accomplishing the feat.

Making history for the Florida Panthers

The last time a Florida Panther recorded hat tricks in multiple games, the legendary Pavel Bure accomplished the feat. He did so in a stretch from February 10-14, 2002.

In his last two games, Acciari has tallied six goals and two assists. On Friday night, he did it efficiently. He scored his first goal at the 7:26 mark of the second period. He followed that up with another tally rather quickly at the 7:58 mark. On the last goal, he took care of business himself. With the Dallas Stars on a powerplay, he scored his third goal unassisted on what was a shorthanded tally.

It’s fascinating to see him flourish in Florida. Coming from the Boston area, I got to see him a lot when he played for the Bruins. He always seemed to be able to record the timely goal, and he was a big part of the youth movement for Boston while he was there. Signing a three-year contract worth $5 million, he is proving his worth so far.

He’s not the type of player that is going to consistently record back-to-back hat tricks. He is the type of player that is going to give you a consistent  hard-nosed effort every time he is on the ice. Acciari has certainly provided that for the Panthers to this point. The way I see it, his scoring is just a bonus. Locating the puck and being actively involved in plays have been some of his strengths over the past couple of games. The statistics have showed it.

It will be interesting to see how he performs the rest of the way. If he can continue to play like this in the second half of the season, the Florida Panthers will be even more scary.

 

Attrition may Have Uncovered Potent Lineup for Heat

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A potent lineup for the Heat may have revealed itself.

The Miami Heat have somehow managed to maintain course despite crucial injuries to Justise Winslow and Goran Dragic.

 

Miami has started to show some vulnerability, as evidenced by their first truly bad loss of the year at Memphis.

Jimmy Butler needs a break.

However the team once again found enough gas Wednesday to end Philadelphia’s undefeated run at home.  The common denominators for most Heat lineups lately have been Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Kendrick Nunn.  That trio has been in the top three lineups for Miami in terms of minutes per game, with Duncan Robinson and Meyers Leonard rounding things out.

Switching to Airplane Mode

One intriguing combination has been to bring in Derrick Jones Jr. for Meyers Leonard early and late.  Leonard typically opens each half but has not been utilized much, if at all down the stretch.  Jones, Jr. has been seeing a huge increase in minutes recently due to several factors, including the razor thin rotation Erik Spoelstra has to work with.  That faith has been rewarded as Jones continues to carve out a more significant role.  Over the last seven games, DJJ is averaging nearly 30 minutes per game and is starting to feel it from downtown.  He is 6-for-13 in his last four games and has scored in double figures three times in that span, while his defense has also made a huge impact.

 

The lineup featuring Butler/Jones, Jr./Adebayo/Robinson/Nunn has been used in just three games going into Wednesday.  Yet in that limited sample the numbers have been encouraging and perhaps worth a look.  Rebounding is a legitimate concern without a second traditional big however, time will tell how the scales balance in that aspect.

 

Butler has been all that Heat fans could have hoped for but is exerting a ton out there. He struggled in his latest return to Philadelphia and is logging a Thibodeau-ian amount of minutes lately.  Butler is playing almost 39 minutes per contest in December which is nearly six minutes more than his career average. His 26.3 usage rate this season would be the second highest total of his career if maintained.

While DJJ has been a key cog in the wheel, the emergence of Adebayo is what has held things together.  The reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week has continued to carry the load on both ends.  Adebayo is the anchor, not only on defense but from the high post where his skill set shines.  Bam is averaging 18/11/5  in December and his ability to finish on the pick-and-roll, or run things from the top, has kept defenses off balance.

Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson have been inconsistent but when they are on, they give this group the scoring from the perimeter it needs.  Nunn erupted for 26 points at Philadelphia and has hit half his three-point attempts on this road trip. If he can start making the easy plays and distribute the ball, expect another nice progression from the rookie.  Meanwhile, Robinson has been feast-or-famine, but when he’s eating the whole offense changes.  He has become a comfortable second option on the perimeter when the initial action doesn’t hit, while doing just enough on defense.  Robinson is shooting over 47% from deep this month and is getting almost six minutes more per game.

The lineup is shooting 59.6% overall and 52% from deep, while averaging a 3.6 assist-to-turnover ratio.  On the opposite end they are holding opponents to just 40% shooting, including 26.5% from beyond the arc.  Conversely, they are 6.5 points better overall than the opponent so far.  Perhaps that is why they were the “Five on the Floor” to close the game out in Philadelphia.

When Dragic (and Winslow?) return, it will likely shake up the backcourt rotation once again.

For now, we may be seeing this group again when it counts.

Early Signing Period: How did the Hurricanes fare?

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Depending on who you ask, you’ll get differing opinions on the current state of  the Miami Hurricanes recruiting going into the Early Signing Period. Overall, Miami did a relatively good job of keeping the majority of their commits but the Canes were also on the shorter end of the stick of a few recruits on the fence. Altogether, 19 recruits faxed over their national letters of intent to Manny Diaz today. Let’s take a look and evaluate how Miami did by position.

 

Quarterback: B+

 

Signees: Tyler Van Dyke (Suffield Academy, Suffield, CT)

 

 

No drama here as Miami and QBs coach Dan Enos were able to lock in their guy back in April of this year and he never wavered. Tyler Van Dyke is a four-star prospect from Suffield, CT and the 6’4” 212 lb. QB committed after a secret visit to campus with his father. The 209th-ranked overall prospect has excellent size and poise when in the pocket and shows excellent accuracy. It would be no surprise if Van Dyke shows enough talent in practice to compete for a starting job next season. 

 

Running Back: A

 

Signees: Don Chaney (Belen Jesuit, Miami, FL), Jaylan Knighton (Deerfield Beach HS, Deerfield Beach, FL)

 

 

I’m giving the team an A with this coup of backs coming in not only because of the talent level but also because of the talent level considering the current depth on the team. Running backs coach Eric Hickson received Chaney’s commitment in February after only three weeks on the job and is considered a borderline four/five-star prospect throughout every recruiting service. Very well-built at 5’10” and 203 pounds, Chaney is a weight room freak and has the perfect combination of size and speed. On top of that, adding Knighton only makes the cake a little sweeter as Knighton finishes his high school career as the all-time leading rusher in Broward County history. You most likely will not find another school in the entire country that has a better group of running back signees. As of right now, Miami will be five-deep at tailback with Deejay Dallas (assuming he returns), Cam Harris, Lorenzo Lingard, Chaney, and Knighton. 

 

Wide Receiver: B

 

Signees: Michael Redding (IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL), Dazalin Worsham (Hewitt-Trussville, Trussville, AL), Xavier Restrepo (Deerfield Beach HS, Deerfield Beach, FL)

 

 

With Jeff Thomas announcing his decision to enter the draft as well as losing two other receivers to the transfer portal, Miami has some work to do in terms of rebuilding the depth at receiver and it seems like they did just that with this year’s class. Redding is an outstanding athlete at 6’2”, 200 pounds as the four-star prospect runs a 4.5 40 with a 41-inch vertical leap. Wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield was able to pry Daz Worsham away from Alabama and as a result, he gets a very productive receiver who graduates from Hewitt-Trussville High as the all-time leading receiver in school history. Restrepo wanted the Miami offer badly and he committed on the spot once he was given the go-ahead. He’s a very sneaky fast guy in the slot and plays with a chip on his shoulder. Would not surprise me if they utilize him in a comparable way to former UM receiver Braxton Berrios. 

 

Tight End: B

 

Signees: Dominic Mammerelli (Naples HS, Naples, FL)

 

 

Mammarelli has been a long-time commit of Miami, even before Manny Diaz took the reigns as head coach. The 13th best tight end in the country measures out at 6’4” and 235 pounds and should be in the mix for playing time next season. 

 

One name to keep an eye out for, whether he makes a decision by Friday (the last day of the Early Signing Period) or waits until February to announce his choice is five-star tight end Darnell Washington. Washington announced on Tuesday that he would not be signing on Wednesday and has been deliberating between Miami, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia with the odds swaying towards each of the schools at times. The Canes are pushing hard for 6’7” 261 pound giant from Las Vegas and a lot of credit goes to tight ends coach Stephen Field for keeping them in this race.

 

Offensive Line: C

 

Signees: Jalen Rivers (Oakleaf HS, Orange Park, FL), Chris Washington (Overton HS, Nashville, TN)

 

 

Miami is getting a very talented left tackle in Jalen Rivers, who has the ideal build and length at 6’6” and 330+ pounds and could very well compete for a starting position in the spring. Washington is considered a project at tackle, also with great size at 6’6”, and honestly, me calling him a project may be just a prediction when you consider that the same was said about Zion Nelson last year. The offensive line unit was probably the worst position group performance-wise this past season and even with Washington and Rivers coming in, there is still much to be desired. It would have been ideal to add more than just two bodies to a unit that is also lacking depth. Miami chasedafter Jacksonville-based guard Kobe Baynes but very late in the process and he opted to honor his commitment to Louisville. It is likely that Miami will re-evaluate their OL board and assess options that are still available as well as rummaging through the transfer portal.

 

Defensive Line: B+

 

Signees: Chantz Williams (Oakleaf HS, Orange Park, FL), Quentin Williams (Mallard Creek HS, Charlotte, NC), Elijah Roberts (Columbus HS, Miami, FL)

 

Unsigned Commits: Willie Moise (Chaminade-Madonna Prep, Hollywood, FL)

 

 

This is such a great haul for Miami at this position as Todd Stroud has plenty to work with next season. This group is headlined by Chantz Williams, who is ranked as the 4th-best weak side defensive end in the country and 77th overall. Williams had an excellent senior season and is considered an athletic freak, who has been clocked in at a 4.56 40 and an 6’8” wingspan at 6’3”. The same can be said about Quentin Williams, who was a great find out of Charlotte and is ranked as the 31st-best weak side defensive end in the country. Quentin had excellent testing numbers at The Opening in Charlotte in January, where was clocked in at a 4.8 40 with a 33.4 inch vertical. The four-star prospect Roberts most recently led his high school to a state championship and is a hometown kid who always preferred to stay home and play in Coral Gables. He’s extremely strong at 6’3”, 267 pounds and it seems like the plan is to move him to the inside at tackle, which is reminiscent of what Miami did with RJ McIntosh. Miami could look to add another DT in the next couple of months.

 

Miami did lose the commitment of Romell Height, who did indeed take a secret visit to Auburn this past weekend and signed with the Tigers as a result.

 

Must note that Willie Moise has been committed to Miami for a long time but due to grades, Moise will wait to sign in February. 

 

Linebacker: B

 

Signees: Corey Flagg (North Shore HS, Houston, TX), Tirek Austin-Cave (Camden HS, Camden, NJ)

 

 

The Canes are preparing for the loss of seniors Shaq Quarterman and Mike Pinckney after this season so it was imperative that linebackers coach Jonathan Patke had to re-up and reload at the position. Manny Diaz may have missed out on a big fish in five-star prospect Justin Flowe (Oregon), but they found a way to hold on to A tackling machine from Houston area , Flagg is ranked as the 38th best inside linebacker in the country according to the 247Sports Composite. Austin-Cave is a lengthy linebacker at 6’1” and plays very physical and knows how to navigate through traffic. Would it have been more ideal for Miami to add a 3rd linebacker? Maybe, and they would’ve had they added the services of Flowe or decided to keep Largo’s AJ Mathis, but luckily their position is more favorable than not with Zach McCloud and Avery Huff redshirting.

 

Cornerback: C

 

Signees: Marcus Clarke (Winter Park HS, Winter Park, FL)

 

 

Miami’s bringing in a speedy cornerback in Clarke from the Orlando area. Clarke should add depth to a unit that will possibly lose Trajan Bandy should he opt for the draft. However, outside of performance, this is a very similar situation compared to the offensive line, where depth could become a problem next season. If you do not include Clarke, the Canes could have as little as four scholarship cornerbacks on the team next season. Look for Miami to add another corner to close out the class.

 

Safety: B+

 

Signees: Keyshawn Washignton (South Dade HS, Homestead, FL), Jalen Harrell (Champagnat Catholic, Hialeah, FL), Brian Balom (Miramar HS, Miramar, FL)

 

 

Miami missed out on getting a third and final commitment from South Dade’s Jaiden Francois, who opted to attend Nebraska after a very strange signing ceremony in which he appeared to step out twice, causing delays. Nevertheless, safeties coach Ephraim Banda deserves a lot of credit for the group of safeties joining the team next year. Headlined by Harrell, the 6’2” 180 lb. long-ranged safety committed to Miami on Black Friday after decommitting from FSU in October. The 22nd-ranked safety country is a great addition to a now loaded safety room. Washington is also highly-regarded as a four-star prospect and played a big role on South Dade’s tenacious defense this past season. Balom is considered a project but the three-star prospect is not afraid to lay the hammer down by any means. 

 

The Canes are still after top safety Avantae Williams who recently decommitted from Oregon and will wait until February to sign. Miami’s chances are really good but they have to fend off Florida for his services. 

 

Overall: B

 

If it weren’t for the holes yet to be filled at offensive line and cornerback, the 17th-ranked class in the country could’ve very well been a B+, even without the possible additions of Darnell Washington and Avantae Williams. When you consider the team’s performance at this point in the season and the plethora of decommitments they’ve had, it is astounding to me that Diaz and his staff were still able to pull off a top-20 class with lots of talent. Miami only added to the depth at defensive end and the competition for playing time at running back next year will be very intense. We would be having a very different conversation if Miami did not lose to FIU and Duke and carried on the momentum that came about after the win at Doak Campbell. 

 

Just a reminder that this class may not be finished yet. Miami only signed 19 players, which means they will have six spots available and with the recent attrition that occurred during the season, the Canes should look to utilize all six. 

Related:

2019 Miami Hurricanes Football: Season of Missed Opportunities

 

Miami Hurricanes senior DJ Vasiljevic has pro potential

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Since Jim Larranaga became the head coach of the University of Miami basketball team in 2011, the Hurricanes have had four players selected in the NBA Draft.

It started with Shane Larkin in 2013 coming off the magical ACC championship season led by Shane Larkin, who was selected by the Dallas Mavericks. The Hurricanes are working on a three year streak with Davon Reed (Suns) in 2017, Lonnie Walker (Spurs) and Bruce Brown (Pistons) in 2018 and even Dewan Hernandez (Raptors) who was drafted despite not playing a game last season due to NCAA violations.

This year, the Hurricanes have an opportunity to make a run back into the NCAA Tournament and get another player drafted. They’ve been led by the trio of Chris Lykes (14.8 PPG) , DJ Vasiljevic (14.5 PPG) and Kam McGusty (13.9 PPG).

Vasiljevic seems to have the most draft potential given his shooting ability. The senior is currently has a three point shooting percentage of 50.8 and his best game so this season was against Alabama A&M where all six of his shots were from the top of the key and he made five them as well as hit 2-of-2 from the free throw line to total 17 points in an 88-74 Miami win.

“Any time you can shoot the ball the way DJ can shoot the ball, you can find a spot for a shooter because the game is so open nowadays,” Alabama A&M head coach Dylan Howard said. “He’s gonna land somewhere, if not the NBA, he’s gonna go overseas and do great things.”

Vasiljevic has spent all four years with the Hurricanes, something that is now a rarity given his talent. He will surely have his jersey retired after notching his 1,000th career point againt Temple. 

“DJ has been with us for four years. I can tell you from the day he arrived he’s one of smartest, hardest working, best shooters, great leader, great competition I’ve been around,” Larranaga said of Vasiljevic. “He is the consummate teammate.” 

Saturday’s home game against Coppin State will cap off the Hurricanes’ out of conference slate of the season. Last year Miami entered conference play 8-4 and their lack of depth doomed them to a 14-18 season. This year, the Hurricanes are 7-3 — which includes a season opening loss to Louisville — with all their horses and have a better outlook going into conference play.

The Hurricanes have road wins over Temple, Central Florida and Illinois but also lost to Connecticut, Florida and Louisville, so the question is which set of results is the more accurate representation of the Hurricanes this season.

If Miami wins on Saturday and goes 9-9 in the ACC, would a 17-12 record be enough. That will be the question of 2020.

Panthers Snap Skid, Still Looking up in Atlantic Standings

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The Florida Panthers ended a three-game losing streak Monday in convincing fashion, dispatching Ottawa 6-1.

Florida (16-12-5, 37 points) moved up to third place in a crowded Atlantic Division which has five teams within four points of each other.

Florida had dropped seven of their last ten games prior and have been disappointing during this long home stand.

Entering Monday’s contest against the Senators, the Panthers have lost four game at home on the stand despite outscoring teams 18-15 in that time.

After two impressive wins, 4-1 over Columbus and 5-1 over San Jose, the Panthers only scored three goals total in those last three losses.

Florida is 24th in the NHL in scoring despite being fifth in shots on goal per game, meaning they are not cashing in on opportunities.

The power play disappeared during the losing spell, Florida had gone 0-for-8 in the last three games before Monday.

While the offense has struggled, the defense has not been much better.

Thankfully the Panthers faced an Ottawa team also looking for answers in what has been a rough season.

The Cats were finally able to cash in with the man advantage, going 1-for-5 on the power play on a goal by Aleksander Barkov (11).

Noel Acciardi notched his first career hat trick, a five goal barrage in the second period put the game on figurative ice.

 

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 29 out of 30 shots in his sixth consecutive start, while Jonathan Huberdeau had four assists and now has 400 career points in 500 games.

Barkov was held without a point during the Panthers’ latest losing skid, when the captain is on the whole dynamic of the offense changes.

The Panthers have relied on the offense to overcome struggles in net and on the blue line, a complete game like the one Monday should be the blueprint moving forward.

Next up for the Panthers they close out the home stand against the Dallas Stars on Friday.

 

Heat’s Bam Adebayo Wins East Player of the Week

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Bam Adebayo took home his first Eastern Conference Player of the Week award for games played Dec. 9th to Dec. 15th.

His stat line included his first two career triple doubles, and the Miami Heat went 2-1 in that span.

 

Lebron James was his counterpart in the Western Conference this past week, and showed his respect to the 22-year old Adebayo via Twitter.

 

James earned the honor in part to the Lakers victory over Miami last week, Adebayo follows Jimmy Butler as back-to-back winners of the award.

In case you were wondering, it has been a little while since the Heat had consecutive winners.

Adebayo has stepped into the spotlight with his usual workmanlike effort and is quickly gaining momentum as a Most Improved Player candidate.

Perhaps even greater honors could be in store.

With the arrival of Jimmy Butler Miami acquired the alpha they were desperately seeking.

What many outside observers may not have realized, there was another star quietly blossoming.

All Adebayo needed was the opportunity to show why he was coveted by Pat Riley and the Heat organization.

Now that the time has arrived, Adebayo is seizing the moment to enter the upper echelon of NBA big men.

We knew it all along.

Now the rest of the NBA world is finally catching up.

Follow us on Twitter for the most complete Miami Heat coverage anywhere @5ReasonsSports.

Subscribe to the Five on the Floor Miami Heat podcast here.

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Launching Pad: Derrick’s Defense, Butler’s Bullying, Struggling Shooters

Exclusive: The Reason for Dion Waiters’ Latest Suspension

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During another grueling back-to-back, which the Miami Heat split — this time against the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks — it was apparent they could have used another playmaking guard who could break down the defense and get to the basket, thus taking some burden off All-Star Jimmy Butler. That’s been the reality in many games lately, as Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow recover from injuries.

So why isn’t Dion Waiters available to help the now 19-7 team?

Five Reasons Sports Network has learned the primary reason for Waiters’ latest suspension, this one for six games and his third of the season totaling 14 games. The active suspension, officially for “failure to adhere to team policies, violation of team rules and continued insubordination” was levied Dec. 12 and extends through the Heat’s Dec. 23 game against the Utah Jazz.

According to three sources, it was inspired by an Instagram post of Waiters hanging out on a boat during a time when the team was made to believe he was unavailable because he was sick. Waiters’ Instagram account (@Waiters3), with more than 350,000 followers, is now private, and no such photo is currently still posted as a regular picture post or Instagram story. But apparently the Heat saw something that troubled them.

According to one source, on its own, this infraction may not have warranted such a lengthy suspension, but it’s due to the cumulative effect of all of Waiters’ distractions, cutting against the team’s valued “Culture” during what has been a less tolerance approach to the season. (Heat president Pat Riley acknowledged after the 2018-19 season that he had “let the culture slip” and would not again). Hassan Whiteside, with his tendency to be mopey and me-oriented, was sent to Portland in a trade that netted team-first center Meyers Leonard. Another veteran, James Johnson, has had his own problems getting back in the mix after being sent away from the team during training camp because he didn’t meet the Heat’s conditioning-related goals for him.

But at least he’s played a little. Waiters has not.

This 6-game suspension came after one for seven games, stemming from Waiters’ “panic attack” on a team charter to Los Angeles in November after reportedly eating a “THC infused edible.” After that incident, the Heat, coincidentally or not, played one of their least focused games of the season. And that situation came after he was suspended one game to start the season after acting out on the bench and on social media, in a way the team didn’t appreciate, especially as it reflected his attitude toward Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

According to multiple sources, that’s not all that Waiters has done to create what the team has deemed a distraction over the past few months, after what it termed “fresh start” for the now-28-year-old. The Heat originally signed him to a short, make good contract in 2016, and after he flourished during the season-ending 30-11 run, signed him to a four-year contract amid limited competition from outside suitors. Then he had ankle problems and the disagreements with the team began in earnest during the approach to his rehabilitation.

A pair of rookies, Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro, have taken minutes that many expected Waiters to get if he was fully recovered from those ankle problems this season, and in shape, which he said he was and largely appeared to be during his training camp and preseason action. And now Duncan Robinson has emerged in the perimeter rotation as well. Even so, with Winslow and Dragic sidelined, there appeared to be an opportunity for Waiters, a capable playmaker, a decent defender and an improved long-range shooter, to at least to showcase himself for a trade that would benefit both him and the Heat. Now, after this latest social media snafu, it appears even more likely that he won’t play for the team again.

Launching Pad: Derrick’s Defense, Butler’s Bullying, Struggling Shooters

The problem, of course, is finding a team that wants the rest of his contract, which expires after next season. Miami has a little more flexibility to find a trade as of today, December 15, since that is the date that many players around the league (signed in the offseason) are eligible to be moved.

But for Waiters….

“There’s been no interest,” one source said. “None. Zip.”

This latest incident won’t help. The team is reluctant to include an asset, whether a young player (such as Winslow or the emerging Derrick Jones Jr.) or a draft pick (Miami has a limited stock of second round picks) just to move Waiters.

Stay with Five Reasons Sports for more, including tonight’s new episode of the Five on the Floor podcast. The Heat play in Memphis on Monday night.

2019 Miami Hurricanes Football: Season of Missed Opportunities

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To put it mildly, the 2019 Miami Hurricanes football team endured a tumultuous campaign.

Week after week a different uncertainty loomed.

Who will be quarterback?

Do we have a kicker?

Why does Dan Enos constantly throw to the short side of the field?

How can we beat Virginia but lose to FIU?

 

Many repetitive questions went unanswered and the doubt piled on.

The Hurricanes finished the regular season with a 6-6 record.

A perfectly balanced mediocrity sandwich, with some hints of flavor but mostly stale.

So how did we get here?

And where do we go?

Bookends Tell the Story

The 2019 season ended as it started, with a two game losing streak.

In his first season as Head Coach, Manny Diaz could never quite turn the corner and build momentum.

A 24-20 loss to Florida to open the year lent false hope of being competitive with the upper tier in college football.

Yet also showed how far Miami had to go as the offensive line allowed ten sacks and looked completely overmatched.

Miami would follow that close game with an embarrassing effort at North Carolina, the first of many ACC tragedies that played out this year.

Bubba Baxa missed short, crucial kicks in both games which would haunt the Hurricanes.

 

Jarren Williams was one of the few bright spots for the offense early as they struggled under offensive coordinator Dan Enos, whose system did not exactly mesh well early on.

Williams opened the year with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in his first four games before the wheels came off.

Miami would cruise to a no-contest win against Bethune Cookman for their first victory of the year, followed by a closer than it should be escape against Central Michigan.

ACC Hunt a Wild Goose Chase

Sitting at 2-2 and with the heart of the ACC slate on the horizon, the season still had plenty of promise and potential.

Which would evaporate like perspiration in the South Florida sun.

Williams was pulled from the Virginia Tech game even though none of his passes hit the ground.

Only problem was out of his seven attempts, his guys caught four while Virginia Tech intercepted three.

N’Kosi Perry would lead a near epic comeback which fell just short as Miami fell 42-35 in front of a shook Miami Gardens crowd.

Perry would tie a career high with four touchdowns and set a career mark with 422 yards through the air.

That game exemplified the struggles of the Hurricanes early in games. Virginia Tech jumped out to a 21 point lead in the first quarter which made Miami one dimensional.

Miami would only gain 94 yards on the ground and turned the ball over five times, themes which would continue as the year rolled on.

Somehow the Hurricanes would rally at home with Perry at the helm the next week, beating the eventual ACC Coastal champs Virginia 17-9.

The Hurricanes defense had an uneven year but the emergence of defensive end Gregory Rousseau is the main story.

Rousseau was mysteriously absent from the starting group early in the year but quickly became undeniable, finishing with 14 sacks and ACC Rookie of the Year honors.

 

While the defense was finding footing the offense was once again stagnant in a shocking 28-21 home loss against Georgia Tech.

Special teams would again prove fatal as Miami would have a chip shot field goal blocked which would have won the game late.

The Yellow Jackets would also score on a fake punt and a fumble recovery, proving the Hurricanes could be creative when giving games away to lesser opponents.

Return of Williams Stops the Bleeding

After the Georgia Tech game Miami sat at 1-3 in ACC play before they would finally go on to find some sustained success, winning three straight.

A 16-12 thriller at Pitt would mark the return of Williams to the starting quarterback job and the best stretch of football during the season.

Winning at Florida State is never easy, no matter the records. Miami put forth a suffocating effort on defense and cruised to their most convincing win to that point 27-10 and were riding high when they returned home to face Louisville.

Against the Cardinals, the Hurricanes would put up their most complete performance of the season in a 52-27 dismantling. Williams would set a school record with six touchdowns and the Hurricanes had a season high three-game winning streak heading into a seemingly easy victory the following week.

Butch Davis and FIU Ruin the Hurricanes

Miami had managed to turn their season around and reached bowl eligibility at 6-4, with games against FIU and Duke to close out the regular season.

Like previous underdogs, FIU stole the thunder early and had the Hurricanes on the ropes from jump street.

Butch Davis was twisting the knife and his defense engaged in some gamesmanship to slow down Williams and the offense.

 

On the site of the old Orange Bowl, Marlins Park, the ghosts of the past haunted the Hurricanes once again.

The last time Miami played in the Orange Bowl they were shutout by Virginia 48-0.

This could have been worse.

A game like this has little plausible explanation, other than a severe lack of preparation and composure.

There was no rebounding from the FIU game as Miami would lay one more egg to close out the year, a 27-17 humbling experience at Duke.

Williams and Perry would share the misery in that one as Miami finished the regular season as it began.

Few Bright Spots on Offense

The bad far outweighed the good for the 2019 Miami Hurricanes, but there were several players that emerged and made real contributions.

Before being injured for the season against FIU, running back DeeJay Dallas was having a solid season despite a severe lack of carries.

Dallas finished with a team high 693 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. In his relief Cam Harris stepped in and played very well, finishing with 545 yards and five touchdowns.

Tight end Brevin Jordan led the Hurricanes with 495 receiving yards, while senior receiver KJ Osborn led the team with his 45 receptions and five touchdowns, he was also second on the team with 491 receiving yards.

The Buffalo transfer was a key addition and an excellent leader with his tough play. Miami spread the wealth through the air as 11 players caught at least one touchdown pass.

Wil Mallory came on late and led the team in receiving yards in each of the last two games, unfortunately his impact was limited for most of the season prior.

Numbers Tell the Story

A major downfall for the Miami offense was their lack of success on third down. The Hurricanes finished dead last in the FBS, converting just 26.4% of their attempts on the money down.

Part of that could be the poor offensive line play, or the shuffling of quarterbacks. Williams led the team in passing yards in the first four games and the final four, while Perry was on top during the middle third.

Neither could take a firm grasp on the job despite intermittent stretches of excellent play.

Miami was 120th in FBS converting red zone opportunities and left points on the field almost every week.

Only three teams gave up more sacks than Miami’s 47, the offense was unable to find rhythm or sustain any type of continuity for long.

All but one of their losses was by single digits, this season was defined by missed opportunities.

The Hurricanes were outscored 72-20 in the first quarter of those losses, showing they simply did not come out ready time and time again.

Although they had lapses, the defense was by far the best group on the team. Miami allowed a respectable 197.9 passing yards per game (22nd FBS) and an even better ranking against the rush, finishing 16th allowing just 109.7 yards per game.

Unfortunately as the season wore on the lack of offensive success took a toll, Miami could not run the football with any consistency and finished 120th in FBS with just 121.8 yards rushing per game.

Combine that with a lack of third down conversions and the defense simply could not hold. The Hurricanes scored 17 or fewer points four times, yet managed to win three of those games thanks in large part to the defense.

So, now What?

After all is said and done, the Hurricanes still have a bowl game to play.

 

Miami will face Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 26th, in Shreveport Louisiana naturally.

No matter the result, the Hurricanes will finish off a disappointing 2019 season searching for answers.

Dan Enos is undoubtedly on the hot seat, his offense simply did not put the skill players in position to succeed.

The offensive line will need to be upgraded and who knows who will be under center in the spring.

Manny Diaz must take a look inward and make some tough decisions in both his coaching staff and roster.

Another highly ranked recruiting class is likely, but the development and deployment of those players will be key.

Diaz must quickly seize control of a program in purgatory, or another lackluster season will follow.

Photo courtesy of Tony Capobianco.