Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Miami Hurricanes Recap

Miami (FL) 63, Minnesota 58

When Jack McClinton left for a shot at the pros, some observers couldn't have been blamed for thinking that the Miami Hurricanes would struggle this season. But after a resourceful Wednesday night victory in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, coach Frank Haith's ballclub just might be even better.

In the 2008-09 campaign, Miami had to settle for an NIT berth, but with this five-point win over Minnesota, the Hurricanes now stand at 8-0, and are beginning to develop an NCAA Tournament-level portfolio in the first week of December.

The not-so-secret element to the Canes' conquest of the Golden Gophers was defense. Over the final nine minutes and nine seconds of regulation time, Miami allowed just one made field goal to coach Tubby Smith's team. That's right: Minnesota could muster only one basket in a stretch of just over nine minutes.

While the Gophers were desperately struggling to put the ball in the hoop - a familiar theme for a club that had problems scoring last season - Miami found enough playmaking in the final minutes of regulation. With the score tied at 53-apiece and both sides looking for some scoring punch, forward Dwayne Collins - who led all players with 11 rebounds - hit a jumper to put Miami in front with 1:58 remaining. After Collins broke the tie, the mentally liberated Canes continued a successful drive toward the finish line, thanks to Durand Scott. The freshman from New York - perhaps the team's spiritual successor to the highly-prolific McClinton - scored three straight baskets in a 44-second span to build a 61-53 bulge for the home team at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Fla.

Scott's final flurry allowed Miami to shrug off a 6-of-11 performance from the foul line, but what also has to be said amidst the New Yorker's heroics is that Minnesota contributed to its own demise... and Miami's meaningful moment, the best win of the Canes' young season.

The Gophers went 7-of-15 from the foul line and hit just 33 percent of their second-half shots, as they continued to scuffle after a win over Butler at the 76 Classic on Thanksgiving weekend. Minnesota scored just 56 in a loss to Portland and 65 in a loss to Texas A&M, so this sub-60 outing won't make Smith any happier. The Minnesota coach has had a nasty beginning to his season; the trailblazer at Kentucky, who then led the Gophers to an NCAA Tournament appearance last season, lost his father a month ago, and then had to deal with the legal issues of star recruit Royce White, who just pleaded guilty on Wednesday to disorderly conduct and theft. Seeing his team lose its third straight game has to concern a man who has seen his world turn upside down on a number of levels. If Tubby can't splash some cold water on his players, the Gophers will find themselves out of the NCAAs... while Miami, to the surprise of many, could do some Dancing without Jack McClinton.

 

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