A Review: Miami Hurricanes 2017-18 Basketball Season

The 2017-18 basketball season for the Miami Hurricanes is marked by a first-round NCAA Tournament exit, despite the coaching staff and team braving the odds, injuries, and many distractions during the journey. But it’s not one without valuable lessons to bring into the seasons they will face.

The team came into the season as number 12 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, as well as number 13 in the Associated Press Top 25. They leveraged on a weak non-conference schedule and gallantly worked their way to a 10-0 start to the season. Part of the winning streak is an 86-81 win they had on the road against Minnesota during the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. UM also manage to clobber Pittsburgh at home as well as Virginia Tech on the road in January.

Image source: TheMiamiHurricane.com 

Add this to the fact that there trudged along with a limited Lonnie Walker IV, the freshman who was still working his way back into the game after an offseason knee surgery.

The season may not have emerged with the ideal results, but it’s another teaching moment for head coach Jim Larrañaga and his staff in their unyielding quest to build a winning program. For one, it enjoyed significant contributions from the freshman squad of Bruce Brown Jr., DJ Vasiljevic, and Dewan Huell, as well as an exciting game element in the form of point guard Chris Lykes.

Image source: StateoftheU.com

Amid the spirit of resiliency, UM has to grapple with a number of negatives from the season, such as its spate of injuries, inconsistent shooting, recruiting shortcomings, and underperforming for much of the season.

Patrick Dwyer is a financial advisor and avid supporter of the Neuroscience Centers of Florida Foundation, Inc. (NSCFF). He is also a huge fan of the Miami Hurricanes basketball and football teams. Similar reads on this page.

Playoffs-bound: The 2017-18 Miami Hurricanes basketball team

It seems ages ago that the Hurricanes got both the ACC regular season and tournament championships, led by the triumvirate of Durand Scott, Julian Gamble, and Shane Larkin.That was, of course, just four years ago in 2013. This year, coach Larranaga hopes to replicate that solid UM showing, with a team that should push the school into the Sweet Sixteen and maybe higher.

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With the return of Bruce Brown and the arrival of freshmen Deng Gak, Chris Lykes, and Lonnie Walker, we might be witnessing the team’s most solid lineup in more than a decade. Brown could have easily entered the NBA draft and landed as a first-round pick, but the now-sophomore star will bring an average of almost 12 points per game, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. UM should be getting another ACC player of the year.

Though Gak will most likely require some time to adjust to the Canes system, the two other freshmen should immediately contribute on the floor. Lykes is ranked 46th in the 2017 Recruiting Index. While Walker, provided he stays healthy, is seen as the most impactful, 12th-ranked player to don the Canes uniform.

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Yes, the team’s former star Davon Reed has joined the NBA, but three good rookies should be enough to compensate for this loss. Keep in mind, too, that the player roster is mostly intact with Dewan Huell, Ja’Quan Newton, Ebuka Izunda, and Anthony Lawrence, Jr. providing firepower and stifling defense.

Barring any catastrophic health issues, it shouldn’t be a surprise if this year’s Canes team make it into the Final Four. And maybe even bring back the glory of four years ago starting this November.

Patrick Dwyer is a financial advisor who avidly supports the Miami Hurricanes basketball and football teams. For more Canes news, follow this Facebook page.

Double Crown: Famous Athletes Who Have Won The Ncaa And Nba Championships

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Winning a championship is an athlete’s dream. They train, work, and play hard for it. So winning it at different levels of competition -- the NBA and college -- is a rare distinction. Here are some of the famous NBA players who have a knack for winning championships:

Bill Russel

If being the G.O.A.T is determined by the number of rings you have, then Bill will easily take that spot. He led San Francisco to back-to-back NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956, then won 11 titles with the Boston Celtics.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem is arguably the best center of all time. Having led the UCLA to three championships – 1967, 1968, and 1969 -- he then brought the cup to the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson

Magic Johnson not only has NCAA and NBA rings, he has won titles at every level: high school, college, the NBA, and the Olympics. He won an NCAA championship in 1979 with Michigan State and is a five-time NBA champion with the Lakers.

Isiah Thomas

Before becoming the captain of the Detroit Pistons “Bad Boys” and winning two NBA Championships with them, Isiah Thomas brought the crown to Indiana in the 1988 NCAA championships.

Michael Jordan

Even as a freshman, Michael Jordan had it in him as he scored the game-winning basket which gave the North Carolina the 1982 NCAA trophy. As a professional basketball player, he led the Chicago Bulls to six championships.

Patrick Dwyer is a financial advisor who follows college basketball and other tournaments. Visit this blog for more interesting reads on college sports.

Top Ncaa Basketball Title Contenders Of The 2016-17 Season

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In a few months, another iteration of the NCAA tournament will be played out by 68 qualified teams. And while practices have just begun for many college programs, there already are championship favorites expected to contend for the 2017 national title, some of which are the following:

Villanova Wildcats: Every other team is gunning to wrestle the national title away from the Wildcats, whose 2016 campaign was one of the most dominant tournament runs in NCAA history. The defending champion boasts an experienced roster as the team lost just two starters this past offseason. Villanova is out to prove that their success last year was no fluke.

Duke Blue Devils: Not listing Duke in the title favorites discussion would be a major mistake. Year after year, Duke continues to show that their program is top notch, and the upcoming season would be no different. Especially with coach Mike Krzyzewski patrolling the sidelines, key players returning for another championship run, and a couple of the best freshmen.

Kentucky Wildcats: Last season Kentucky was full of disappointment; and if there is something that legendary coach John Calipari has shown in the past, it is that his team does not stay out of the Final Four for long. With a handful of four- or five-star recruits, a national title would not be surprising for the team.

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Kansas Jayhawks: A potential top NBA draft pick, arguably the nation’s most elite backcourt, a solid frontcourt, and one of the best coaches in Bill Self – being equipped with all these will undoubtedly help the Jayhawks once again make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

Patrick Dwyer is a financial advisor who keeps track of college basketball teams and tournaments. Visit this website for more interesting read about college sports.