UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS 5821 San Amaro Drive Coral Gables, FL 33146 305-284-3244 www.HurricaneSports.com Facebook: MiamiHurricanes Twitter: @HurricaneSports
CREDITS DESIGN AND PRODUCED BY Amy Woodruff and Chris Yandle Athletic Communications EDITORS Chris Yandle, Chris Freet, Amy Woodruff EDITORIAL ASSISTANCE Camron Ghorbi, Brian Bowsher, David Villavicenio, Leo Ramos Courtney Freet, Andrew Goodrich, Taylor McGillis, Chris Gray PHOTOGRAPHY JC Ridley
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI MISSION STATEMENT
The University of Miami’s mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of the diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world.
WHAT’S INSIDE
March 27, 2014 VOLUME III, ISSUE 9
FEATURED The Hurricane Club provides scholarship and operational support for University of Miami student-athletes. This support allows Miami to compete at the highest possible level by providing our student-athletes with the scholarships and services needed to excel in academics, athletics and life.
8-9 // BUILDING CHAMPIONS Senior Omar Aly is looking to finish with a great last season at The U. Learn more about this Oklahoma native.
25 // Rallying with Omar Aly Hurricanes head coach Jim Larrañaga is signing proven winners to the University of Miami men’s basketball program. This winter, UM’s most recent signees - Ja’Quan Newton, Ivan Cruz Uceda, James Palmer and Omar Sherman - have accumulated postseason hardware at their high school and junior college basketball championships.
30 // Larrañaga Signing Proven Winners 3
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Men’s tennis won back-to-back matches over nationally ranked ACC teams No. 18 Wake Forest and No. 31 NC State.
THE RUNDOWN 6 UM: #bythenumbers 7 Around the Web 8-9,12,17 Hurricane club 10-11 CAne-Stagram 20, 28 UM SPORTS HALL OF FAME 24 compliance 33 HFBCA view from the u 16 TRACK & FIELD 19 women’s tennis 21 rowing 23 golf 25 men’s tennis 28 Women’s Basketball 30 Men’s basketball 32 baseball
UP CLOSE
#SCTOP10
Senior Dale Carey earned ESPN SportsCenter’s Top Play with this diving catch on March 22 against No. 3 Virginia.
#BYTHENUMBERS A statistical look at the Miami Hurricanes The 13th-ranked Miami women’s tennis team extended its win streak to 10 matches with a 6-1 victory against Wake Forest.
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Miami’s Shakima Wimbley was recognized as the 2014 ACC Women’s Indoor Freshman of the Year.
Miami’s trip to the WNIT marked the fifth consecutive year that Katie Meier’s team played in the postseason. The past three years the Hurricanes have gone to the NCAA tournament and in the 2009-10 season, Miami advanced to the WNIT Finals.
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TAROUND estaverdeTHE Inducted WEBinto College Football HOF TUMBLR BLOGS Baseball Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball Football Tennis
CANES ALL ACCESS ubaseball.tumblr.com theuhoops.tumblr.com uwomenshoops.tumblr.com theufootball.com utennis.tumblr.com
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK Athletics MiamiHurricanes Baseball TheUBaseball Compliance UCompliance Men’s Basketball caneshoops Women’s Basketball Miamiwbb Football CanesFootball Rowing canesrowing Soccer CanesSoccer Golf UMiami.wgolf.3 Men’s Tennis MiamiHurricanesMensTennis Track and Field MiamiHurricanesTrackandField
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COMMUNICATIONS Chris Yandle Taylor McGillis Camron Ghorbi David Villavicencio
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MARKETING
Andrew Goodrich Lindy Sparby Scott Zavitz Brandon Myles Sebastian the Ibis
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The Hurricanes men’s tennis team defeated No. 31 NC State on March 23 for their third-straight win over a nationally ranked opponent.
INSTAGRAM OF THE WEEK
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Official: @CanesHoops Jim Larrañaga: @CanesCoachL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Official: @MiamiWBB Katie Meier: @CoachKatieMeier
FOOTBALL
Official: @MiamiHurricanes Al Golden: @GoldenAl
GOLF
Official: @HurricanesGolf
ROWING
CREATIVE SERVICES Brian Bowsher Leo Ramos
Official: @CanesBaseball Jim Morris: @Coach3Morris
MIAMI TENNIS DEFEATS NO. 31 NC STATE
@BrianBowsher @LeoRamos82
Official: @CanesRowing
SOCCER
Official: @CanesFutbol @canescohen @305fonzi @dboggs24 @emilycboone
MEN’S TENNIS
Official: @CanesMensTennis
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Official: @HurricaneTennis @TheUEqRoom @ATGoodrich @LindySparby @ScottZavitz @BMylesWorld @UM_Sebastian
HURRICANESPORTS MAGAZINE
TRACK & FIELD
Official: @MiamiTrack Amy Deem: @AmyDeem
VOLLEYBALL
Official: @CanesVB
MARCH 28, 2014
The RealTano
#sullivanwedding @miamihurricanes #sebastian #sebastiantheibis #allabouttheu #theu #miami #miamihurricanes
TWEET OF THE WEEK @CanesAllAccess
Thoughts and prayers are with Jim Kelly and his family as he continues his battle with cancer. #CanesFamily
THURRICANE estaverde Inducted CLUB into College Football HOF
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THURRICANE estaverde Inducted CLUB into College Football HOF
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CANE STAGRAM
@CG15OH
@univmiami @hurricanesports #ItsAllAboutTheU #GoCanes @UM_Sebastian Representing The U from Central Ohio!
THURRICANE estaverde Inducted CLUB into College Football HOF
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Basketball fans follow the action.
HURRICANE fANs lIvE It. Get more Hurricanes™ basketball at blazing fast speeds and in more places with Verizon 4G LTE. America’s Largest 4G LTE Network. Plus, connect like never before with the newest smartphones and smart accessories.
Technology that elevates your game. That’s Powerful. See verizonwireless.com/bestnetwork for details. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. © 2013 Verizon.
TSalas, estaverde Inducted into College ootball HOF Scavo Tapped into FIron Arrow
Miami Hurricanes senior pitcher Javi Salas and head athletic trainer Vinny Scavo were among those tapped into the Iron Arrow Honor Society during the spring semester. Iron Arrow Honor Society, founded in 1926 in conjunction with the University’s opening, is the highest honor attained at the University of Miami. Based on Seminole Indian tradition, Iron Arrow recognizes those individuals in the University of Miami community who exemplify the five qualities of Iron Arrow: Love of Alma Mater, Character, Leadership, Scholarship, and Humility. The honor capped off an amazing week for Salas, who tossed a perfect game Tuesday night in Miami’s 17-0 win over Villanova. It was the second perfect game in program history and only the 23rd in modern NCAA Division I history (since 1957). Salas is 1-1 with a 1.59 earned run average in 17.0 innings this season. A 38th-round draft pick by the Minnesota Twins in the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, he owns a 12-11 career record on the mound for the Hurricanes. Scavo is only the Hurricanes’ third head athletic trainer to be tapped into Iron Arrow, following Dave Wike and Walt Pomerko. Scavo was surprised by former Miami Hurricanes player Shayon Green after football practice. He has been Miami’s head athletic trainer since 2011 and has extensive experience as an athletic trainer at the professional, college and high school levels. He previously served as Miami’s baseball athletic trainer from 1984-87, including Miami’s 1985 national championship season. From 2008-11, he was the Director of Sports Medicine Services at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
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A Well Executed Play That Racks Up A Win. That’s Logistics. The coach makes the call. Every player is in the right place at the right time. The score is made. And the huge crowd roars its approval. That’s logistics. The coordination of personnel and equipment designed to achieve the best possible results. At UPS, we understand logistics. We live logistics. We love logistics.
Official Corporate Sponsor of the Miami Hurricanes thenewlogistics.com © 2014 United Parcel Service of America, Inc. UPS, the UPS brandmark, and the color brown are trademarks of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. All rights reserved.
VIEW FROM THE U TRACK&FIELD BY DAVID VILLAVICENCIO
@MiamiTrack
2014 SCHEDULE Outdoor Track and Field 3/21-22 3/29 4/4-5 4/12 4/17-19 4/24-26 4/26 5/2-3 5/9 5/29-31 6/11-14
Hurricane Invitational Miami Invitational Florida Relays Hurricane Alumni Invitational ACC Championships Penn Relays Bobcat Classic (Texas State) LSU Georgia Tech Invitational NCAA East Preliminary NCAA Championships
HURRICANE INVITE RECAP
McClure Excited for Outdoor Senior won women’s 100m and 200m at 2014 Hurricane Invitational CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Alyssa McClure feels like she can finally run. Despite qualifying for the 60m finals at the ACC Indoor Championships, McClure is thrilled to be competing outdoors where she feels most comfortable. “It’s a matter of a bigger track and you have more room to run,” McClure said. “I like outdoor better than indoor overall.” The senior looked comfortable in her 2014 outdoor debut, winning both the women’s 100m and 200m at the Hurricane Invitational last weekend. McClure was especially happy with her performance in the 200m, where she turned in a personal-best time of 23.75 seconds that currently ranks 13th in the country. “I just felt more relaxed about my turnover,” McClure said. “Doing well, it boosted my confidence a lot. Doing the best for my 200, it showed that I keep getting better and better.” McClure and the Hurricanes are home for three of the first four weeks of the 2014 outdoor season. Following last weekend’s Hurricane Invitational, Miami will host two more meets at Cobb Stadium: the Miami Invitational on March 29 and the Hurricane Alumni Invitational on April 12. “I like being at home,” McClure said. “I’m more comfortable here. We practice here. And we can stay fresh here. During indoor the travel can take a toll
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on your body. In outdoor we are home a lot so I can practice on the track and I don’t have to get on the airplanes or buses for long trips.” The Baltimore, Md., native thinks it is a huge advantage to compete at home three times before the ACC Outdoor Championships on April 17-19. “I think we can focus more on getting better every day,” McClure said. “In indoor season we would travel on Thursday so we would only practice on Monday and Tuesday and then Wednesday mornings. But now that we’re home, we can practice in the afternoons or we can practice on Thursdays and we can do previews on Friday instead of Thursdays. The schedule is different because we have more days available to us and that should help us build up to ACCs.” As a senior, McClure feels like she needs to help lead the team. The gifted sprinter prefers to lead by example, working hard on the track and in the weight room. “I’ve grown a lot,” McClure said. “I’ve been working a lot with weights and in practice. Coming off indoor this year, I feel stronger going into outdoors. I want to do better than I did in indoors. I want to want to be get better and stronger and help the team more.” McClure and the Canes will be back in action Saturday at the Miami Invitational. Action begins at 9 a.m. with the javelin.
MARCH 28, 2014
Miami opened its 2014 outdoor season with a strong showing at the Hurricane Invitational. Lea Johnson got things started in the hammer throw. The junior won the event with a throw of 59.22m that ranks second in UM history.
Fellow throwers Isaiah Simmons and Gian Ragonesi had good starts to their outdoor seasons. Simmons improved his school record in the weight throw with a personal-best throw of 51.56m, while Ragonesi finished fourth with a mark of 50.01m that vaulted him into second place in UM history. They also finished first and second in both the men’s shot put and discus, with Simmons claiming the top spot in both events. Senior Luke Fontaine secured his first victory in the men’s 5000m with a time of 15:27.26, while sophomore TeQuille Jackson won the men’s 110m hurdles with a personal-best time of 14.44 seconds. Anthonia Moore, Jamika Glades, Taneisha Cordell and Shannon Wright combined to run a 3:40.96 and finish first in the women’s 4x400m relay. The Canes claimed the top two spots in the event on the women’s side, while Miami was the top collegiate finisher in the men’s 4x400m relay with a time of 3:21.00. Overall, Miami won 13 events in its first meet of the 2014 outdoor season. “It was a very good start for us,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “We’re still training through these meets, but I thought the effort was there. We had a lot of great performances and I think that really starts us off well this outdoor season.”
HURRICANE CLUB
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The Kia Optima. Why it s not your average midsize sedan. Kia Optima SX Limited
vs
Honda Accord Touring
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278
22/34/26
21/34/25
Ventilated Front Seats
Included
Not Available
Heated Rear Outboard Seats
Included
Not Available
Voice-Command Navigation System
Included
Included
Panoramic Sunroof
Included
Not Available
Power-Folding Heated Outside Mirrors
Included
Not Available
High-Intensity Discharge Headlights
Included
Not Available
Hill-Start Assist Control
Included
Not Available
Yes
Yes
Included
Not Available
Horsepower EPA-Estimated MPG1 (city/highway/combined)
2013 IIHS Top Safety Pick + 10-Year/100,000-Mile Warranty*
Starting at
$22,150
2
2013 Optima SX Limited shown.
Finally, a sedan that offers more, especially when compared to the Honda Accord. With a sporty design and available premium features, plus an industry-leading, 10-year/100,000-mile warranty,* the 2013 Optima proves that not all midsize sedans are created equal.
Visit your Dade and Broward County Kia Retailer to experience the Optima. Nothing comes close to the real thing. Official Automotive Partner of the Miami Hurricanes
SFLKia.com
†Model shown with optional features. Not all optional features are available on all trims. Comparison data sourced from automobiles.honda.com as of 9/1/13. 1Based on EPA estimates for the Optima SX Limited 2.0L I4 GDI model. Actual mileage will vary with options, driving conditions, driving habits, and your vehicle s condition. 2MSRP for Optima LX model starts at $22,150. MSRP for Optima SX Limited shown starts at $35,300. * The Kia 10-year/100,000-mile warranty program includes various warranties and roadside assistance. Warranties include powertrain and the New Vehicle Limited Warranty (Basic). All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for details or go to kia.com.
VIEW FROM THE U WOMEN’S TENNIS
BY TAYLOR MCGILLIS
Canes Win 10th Straight
@HurricaneTennis
Miami in the Rankings
Despite winning 10 matches in a row, the Hurricanes fell to No. 14 in the latest ITA Women’s Rankings, released on Tuesday, Mar. 26. Two Miami players remained in the singles rankings -Kelsey Laurente at No. 49 and Stephanie Wagner at No. 61. In doubles, Miami’s top duo checked in at No. 23 of the latest polls and Kelsey Laurente and Melissa Bolivar jumped up to No. 28 Miami has been dominant in doubles this season, having not lost an ACC doubles point since April of 2013 Overall this spring Miami doubles teams are a combined 39-7 and 18-1 in ACC play.
The 13th-ranked Miami women’s tennis team extended its win streak 10 matches with a 6-1 victory against Wake Forest on Sunday afternoon. The Hurricanes (14-2, 8-0 ACC) have dominated their last 10 opponents and still have not lost an ACC doubles point since April of 2013. In some of the tightest doubles matches of the spring, Miami (14-2, 8-0 ACC) prevailed at three-doubles and onedoubles to take a 1-0 lead in the match. The Hurricanes kept their streak of doubles points going at 10 and haven’t lost an ACC doubles point since last April. “We played great in doubles, which was great to see because it’s been a focus of ours,” head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “Wake Forest is a good doubles team. I’m happy with the way we came out and played.” At three doubles, Stephanie Wagner and Lina Lileikite were dominant in their win against Karen Forman and Brigita Bercyte, taking down the Wake Forest duo 8-1. In just their fifth match together this spring, Wagner and Lileikite captured their fourth straight victory. 14th-ranked one-doubles team Monique Albuquerque and Clementina Riobueno edged out Demon Deacons duo Xue Zhang and Kasey Gardiner by an 8-5 score. Despite Miami opening the match with a 4-1 lead, Wake Forest would not go quietly. The Hurricanes led 5-2, 6-3 and 7-5 before finishing the set 8-5. Albuquerque and Riobueno remained perfect in ACC play, improving their record to 8-0 in conference and 16-1 overall. The Canes top duo also extended their team-long doubles win streak to 10 consecutive matches. No. 31 Kelsey Laurente and Melissa Bolivar battled back and forth with Demon Deacons Luisa Fernandez and Samantha Asch, before the matched was stopped when Miami won the point. The 72nd-ranked team from Wake Forest twice took one-game leads against the Hurricanes, but Laurente and Bolivar showed tremendous poise, evening the match at 6-6 and then taking a 7-6 advantage before play stopped. Clinching the first singles point for the Hurricanes was Albuquerque, who extended her match win streak to 10 straight with the performance. Albuquerque handled her match from start to finish, taking the first set against Forman 6-1 before putting her away with a 6-4 second set. Giving Miami a 3-0 lead on the board was 61st-ranked Wagner, who took down Wake Forest’s Fernandez in straight sets 6-4, 6-2. Wagner was tied 4-4 with Fernandez in the opening set before taking control of the final two games to take the lead. She was able to keep that momentum going in the second set en route to her 10th consecutive singles victory. Wagner also improved her overall record to 14-2 and 8-1 at the top singles position. Signaling Miami’s 10th-straight win with the third singles victory of the day was Bolivar, who won her 10th straight match in a 6-1, 6-4 win against Wake Forest’s Zhang. After handling the first set easily, Bolivar was up 3-2 in the second before pulling away for the win. Continuing Miami’s strong performance with a 6-2, 6-3 win was Lileikite. Playing at the three singles spot, the Latvia native controlled from start to finish against Kasey Gardiner. With a set lead, Gardiner took 1-0 lead in the second, but Lileikite was too much for her to handle—winning six of the final eight games to take the match. In her first ACC win of the season, Brittany Dubins beat Wake Forest’s Bercyte in a three-set thriller. After winning the first set in a tiebreaker, Dubins dropped the second set, forcing a 10-point tiebreaker. Dubins bested Bercyte 10-7 to take the match and put Miami’s sixth point on the board. With a 6-0 lead and looking for the sweep, Riobueno’s first match at the two-singles spot was the only match remaining. Facing an early deficit after falling in the opening set 6-4, Riobueno fought back to win the second set 7-6—prevailing 7-4 in the tiebreaker. In the first-to-10 third set to determine the match, Wake Forest’s Samantha Asch came away with a 10-8 win. “I think everybody did what they needed to do,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “To play a position higher than normal and dominate the way they did says a lot about the depth of this team.”
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#LoveMiami on Instagram
UMSHoF to Induct Eight Canes Legends
1992 Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta and Hurricanes legends Steve Walsh and George Mira, Sr. joined 2013 inductee Ken Dorsey (2nd from left) at last year’s UMSHoF Induction Banquet.
The 46th annual UM Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be held Thursday, April 10 at Jungle Island in Miami. The Class of 2014 is highlighted by James Jones of the Miami Heat, Andre Johnson, currently with the Houston Texans, former NFL star Clinton Portis and former Miami Dolphin Lamar Thomas. Also being inducted this year are baseball greats Jeff Morrison and Javy Rodriguez, track All-American Wyllesheia Myrick and NCAA diving champion Rio Ramirez. The banquet begins at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception where guests can mingle with the inductees and members of the Hall of Fame. Last year, nearly 40 UMSHoF members attended the dinner, along with football coach Al Golden and athletic director Blake James. After dinner, the eight inductees will be honored individually with video highlights and their induction speeches. Tickets for this special Hurricanes evening are $100 per person or tables of 10 for $1000. Super Tables for $1500 include front seating and a free advertisement in the program. Local businesses or individuals can purchase ads in the program to salute their favorite inductee. Call 305-284-2775 for information on tickets and program ads.
Right: Inductee Ed Reed is joined by UMSHoF president Wally DiMarko, and UMSHoF members Reggie Wayne and Greg Mark as he is inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012. Above: Legendary Coach Howard Schnellenberger is introduced to the audience at the 2013 banquet.
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VIEW FROM THE U ROWING BY DAVID VILLAVICENCIO
@CanesRowing
2013-14 SCHEDULE Nov. 2-3 Mar. 8 Mar. 21 Apr. 5-6 Apr. 19-20 Apr. 27 May 17 May 30
Head of the Hooch Michigan Scrimmage UConn San Diego Crew Classic Tiger Invitational UCF, Tulsa & Old Dominion ACC Championships NCAA Championships
CANES SWEEP UCONN
Miami’s Stern Pair Guides 1V8+ Tayler and Lowe help lead top varsity boat in opening race of 2014 season One of the keys to success in rowing involves getting all the rowers in a boat to work in unison. The feat is not easily accomplished as the slightest lack of synchronization affects the efficiency of a boat. But the University of Miami rowing program has found a stern pair in Catherine Tayler and Caitlin Lowe that has its top varsity boat on track towards the finish line. “Sometimes when you have people behind you, you can feel they are slightly heavy or they are slightly out of sync,” Tayler said. “But when Caitlin was behind me it was almost effortless. I couldn’t feel her working, but I knew she was there.” Lowe, who sits in the 7-seat in the 1V8+ boat, feels it is easy to work with Tayler. “Catherine just has a really good rhythm and is very consistent,” Lowe said. Miami’s 1V8+ has raced once this seaspn, beating UConn by nearly 20 seconds. The duo of Tayler and Lowe helped keep the Canes in sync on their way to victory. “It’s really hard to get everyone in sync,” Tayler said. “Having a good stern pair gives you two people that are now leading the next six people.” “Because we are so on time and row on either side, it helps people on either side of us and behind us see what’s going on more effectively,” Tayler said. “They can look to either side and see the same thing.” Tayler, who is from South Africa, and Lowe, a native of New Zealand, are two of the many international rowers on the Miami roster. Miami’s roster features student-athletes from the United States, Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, England and South Africa. While they have different cultural and regional backgrounds, they have found several similarites that they all share.
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“We’re all from different places, but we find similarities between our countries,” Lowe said. “And we are all Canes, so that helps us come together.” Tayler, a freshman, had no problem feeling like she was part of the team when she arrived in Coral Gables prior to the fall semester. “Before I came here a lot of people told me I would really be home sick in the first couple of weeks,” Tayler said. “But everyone was really supportive.” The family atmosphere at Miami helped Tayler feel welcome almost immediately after setting foot on campus. She feels like she has learned a lot about her teammates and meshed well with them on and off the water. “It definitely helps you feel comfortable quickly,” Tayler said. “I liked learning about the different cultures. Just to take in that was so exciting and it felt like a big adventure. You really feel like you fit in even though you can still be an individual. ” Lowe, who is in her second year at Miami, loves what it means to be a part of the Hurricane rowing program. The sophomore feels a huge sense of pride and prestige every time she represents the Canes. “It’s so different from home,” Lowe said. “At home you can row for a university, but here it’s different. You row for ‘The U.’ It’s cool to be part of something so big.” The duo of Tayler and Lowe were part of successful run against UConn. Now they will look to improve as they set their sights on their next race at the San Diego Crew Classic on April 5. “It was great to compete, but we know we can still get much better. It will be good to see improvement because that is what we’ve been working towards.”
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The University of Miami women’s rowing team kicked off the 2014 championship season March 21 with a sweep over UConn. The Hurricanes and Huskies faced off in a series of heat-to-head races over a two-kilometer course on the Indian Creek waterway in Miami Beach. The Canes protected their home course, winning in the 1V8+, 2V8+ and V4+ races. “I am happy with the racing,” Miami head coach Dave Sanderson said following the three-race sweep. “I thought the athletes were able to apply some focus points from our practices during their racing. We still have a bunch of things that we are trying to work on, but I think we have improved a bit over the last two weeks. We need to continue that as we move forward.” The 1V8+ opened the sweep with a nearly 20-second victory over the Huskies. Miami crossed the finish line in 6:40.0, while UConn finished in 6:59.1. Miami’s 2V8+ also impressed, posting a time of 6:45.4 to beat the Huskies by 23.1 seconds. In the final race of the day, the Canes beat two V4+ boats from UConn. Miami’s V4+ finished in 7:50.1, while the first UConn boat finished nearly 30 seconds later and the final Huskies boat came in nearly a minute behind the Canes. The Hurricanes next racing action will take place in the first week of April. The Canes will travel to California to compete in the prestigious San Diego Crew Classic from April 5-6. Miami’s 1V8+ won the Cal Cup at the 2013 San Diego Crew Classic and will compete for the JessopWhittier Cup in 2014. Miami’s 2V8+ will look to bring home the Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy.
VIEW FROM THE U GOLF
BY CHRIS YANDLE
Eyeing a (Regional) Return Eight tournaments down in the 2013-14 season, the Miami Hurricanes are poised for a return to the NCAA postseason. Miami, ranked No. 26 in the latest Golfstat head-to-head rankings, will look to bolster its postseason resume April 17-19 at the ACC Championship in Greensboro, N.C. Miami finished fifth or better in six of its eight tournaments, including four straight third-place finishes. The Hurricanes’ top-30 season has been anchored by NCAA postseason veterans Leticia Ras-Anderica and Rika Park, along with the additions of sophomore transfer Kailey Walsh and freshmen Daniela Darquea and Delfina Acosta. Fourth-year head coach Patti Rizzo has used the same lineup in each of Miami’s eight tournaments, producing similar results in each event.
Ras-Anderica (73.91) and Park (75.83) – Miami’s All-ACC performers from a season ago – rank second and fifth, respectively, on the team in scoring average. Ras-Anderica’s five top-25 finishes are second on the team behind only Darquea. Speaking of Darquea, the freshman sensation has two tournament wins under her belt and leads the team with a 72.87 scoring average. She ranks in the top 50 nationally according to Golfstat and could play an instrumental role if the Hurricanes are to win their first ACC title. Rizzo’s squad has improved in each of her four seasons and this team could make back-to-back NCAA postseason appearances for the first time since 2004 and 2005.
@HurricanesGolf
DARQUEA’S SOLID SPRING Freshman Daniela Darquea opened the spring season with four consecutive top-10 finishes, including back-to-back tournament titles. Darquea finished seventh at both the Florida Challenge and UCF Challenge. Thanks to two sub-par rounds, she posted her career-first college win with a 2-under 211 at Miami’s home event Hurricane Invitational at the Biltmore. She followed with her second win at the SunTrust Gator Women’s Invitational. She shot a 5-under 67 to overcome a seven-stroke deficit. Through five spring tournaments, she is averaging 72.14 in 14 rounds, including a 71.80 scoring average in the second round. Darquea has finished in the top 25 in six of Miami’s eight events in her rookie season. She leads the Hurricanes with a 72.87 scoring average in 23 rounds and owns the team’s lowest 18-, 36and 54-hole scores.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS NAME TOURN Daniela Darquea 8 Leticia Ras-Anderica 8 Kailey Walsh 8 Delfina Acosta 8 Rika Park 8 TEAM 21
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PCT OF ROUNDS COUNTED RDS CNTD PCT STROKES 23 20.5 89.1 1,676 23 19.5 84.8 1,700 23 16.5 71.7 1,714 23 18.0 78.3 1,716 23 13.5 58.7 1,744 139 10,430
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AVG 72.87 73.91 74.52 74.61 75.83 75.04
SCORE VS. PAR LOW +32 (1.39) 67 +56 (2.43) 69 +64 (2.78) 68 +68 (2.96) 69 +98 (4.26) 71 +486 (3.50) 67
PAR OR BETTER T10 T15 T25 7 4 5 6 4 3 4 5 5 0 1 4 4 1 1 4 1 0 1 1 20 8 12 20
BEST ROUNDS 18 36 54 67 139 211 69 140 214 68 142 216 69 141 216 71 144 217 67 139 211
As March Madness approaches, the University of Miami Athletics compliance office would like to share with you a few rules that our student-athletes and athletic department institutional staff members must abide by when it comes to gambling. Student-athletes and athletic department institutional staff members are prohibited from engaging in wagering activities. A wager is any agreement in which an individual or entity agrees to give up an item of value (e.g., cash, shirt, dinner) in exchange for the possibility of gaining another item of value. The prohibition also extends to sports wagering. This prohibition extends to sports wagering activities as well. Sports wagering includes placing, accepting or soliciting a wager (on a staff member's or studentathlete's own behalf or on the behalf of others) of any type with any individual or organization on any intercollegiate, amateur or professional team or contest. While there are many NCAA bracket pools that would be considered permissible, the prohibition on wagering activities would include participation in all (e.g., NCAA, NIT, CIT, CBA) Tournament bracket challenges in which an entry fee is required and money or any item of tangible value may be won. Previous NCAA major infractions cases involving staff members’ participation in organized gambling activities have resulted in a number of institutional corrective actions, including termination of employment. The following list includes examples of impermissible sports wagering: Paying to enter a pool at work or at any other location; Placing a bet on the internet on a college or professional sports event; Entering online pools (including the current basketball pool on facebook.com and other websites) that have fees associated with them; Participating in fantasy leagues that require an entry fee; Placing a bet with your co-workers, family members, or friends; Purposely affecting the outcome of a game or contest in which you are involved; and Providing information about your team, teammates, or other student-athletes to anyone who places bets on college or professional sports. Please contact the University of Miami Compliance Department with any questions regarding NCAA or ACC rules or regulations at athleticscompliance@miami.edu or 305-284-2692. ASK BEFORE YOU ACT! Sincerely,
Craig Anderson Associate Athletic Director for Compliance Athletics Compliance Office | University of Miami Athletics Schwartz Athletic Center | 5821 San Amaro Drive | Coral Gables, FL 33146 Direct: (305) 284-2692 | Fax: (305-284-2276)
VIEW FROM THE U MEN’S TENNIS
BY AMY WOODRUFF
@CanesMensTennis
SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT TIME/SCORE Jan. 12 FAU W, 7-0 Jan. 19 at UCF L, 4-3 Jan. 31 BETHUNE-COOKMAN W, 7-0 Feb. 2 FLORIDA A&M W, 7-0 Feb. 7 No. 54 TEXAS TECH L, 4-3 Feb. 9 USF L, 5-2 Feb. 22 UNF W, 4-3 March 4 No. 75 PRESBYTERIAN W, 4-0 XAVIER W, 7-0 March 7 at No. 23 Clemson L, 6-1 March 9 at No. 52 Georgia Tech W, 5-2 March 12 TROY W, 5-2 March 15 BOSTON W, 6-1 March 17 No. 58 WISCONSIN W, 4-0 March 21 No. 18 WAKE FOREST W, 4-3 March 23 No. 31 NC STATE W, 4-3 March 25 NEBRASKA-OMAHA March 28 at Virginia 3 p.m. March 30 at Virginia Tech 12 p.m. April 4 DUKE 2 p.m. April 6 NORTH CAROLINA 12 p.m. April 11 at Notre Dame 3:30 p.m. April 13 at Boston College 11 a.m. April 19 FLORIDA STATE 11 a.m. April 24-27 ACC Championships May 9-10 NCAA Regional May 15-18 NCAA Championships May 21-26 NCAA Individual Championships
Early Years I started playing tennis when I was five years old. My parents wanted a family sport because I have a younger brother and sister. They wanted to be able to bring us all to the same place so we could do an activity together. They found tennis because we have a tennis center about 15 minutes away from our house. We would go and they would drop balls and we would try to hit them. Why Miami? I cam to Miami because I really like Mario as a coach, he is a great guy. Miami has great weather and is a good academic school. I was living in Boca Raton two years prior and I got used to the Florida life. It was an easy move for me. This Year This year I look forward to graduating. I would like to have as much fun as I can, that’s my main goal. I want to be able to play in the NCAA tournament with my team. I want to end up with a winning record. After graduation I want to get a job and get some experience. In a couple years, I would like to go to graduate school. Miami would be a great place to stay since I know the city already and I have friends here, but I won’t restrict myself to move for a job. 25
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Singles or Doubles? I prefer playing doubles because it is a lot faster paced. I love the fact that I have a partner that can pump me up and I can pump him up. I feel a lot more comfortable with the doubles game instinctively. I think I am better at it.
Website: HurricaneSports.com Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @CanesMensTennis
RECENT RESULTS #72 Miami 4, #31 NC State 3
Memorable Moments My most memorable moment was when we played Minnesota last year and it was three all, and I was the last match playing in the third set. I ended up winning and clinching the match in a third set tie-breaker, 7-6. It couldn’t much more dramatic. After I won the team rushed on the court and picked me up.
Singles competition 1. No. 41 Powell (NCS) def. Omar Aly (UM), 6-2, 6-3 2. Gabriel Flores (UM) def. No. 98 Mudge (NCS) 7-5, 6-4 3. Diego Soto (UM) def. Weber (NCS) 7-6 (11-9), 3-6, 6-1 4. Wilfredo Gonzalez (UM) def. Weigel (NCS) 7-6 (9-7), 6-1 5. Norenius (NCS) def. William Albanese (UM) 6-2, 6-1 6. Henrique Tsukamoto (UM) def. McGuiness (NCS) 6-2, 7-5
To Be A Miami Hurricane To be a Miami Hurricane means to be committed to your sport, your academics. I have a responsibility to represent the school well being a studentathlete.
Doubles competition 1. Ian Dempster/Robbie Mudge (NCS) def. Omar Aly/ Wilfredo Gonzalez (UM) 8-5 2. Gabriel Flores/Diego Soto (UM) def. No. 27 Sean Weber/Nick Horton (NCS) 8-6 3. Austin Powell/Thomas Weigel (NCS) def. William Albanese/Henrique Tsukamoto (UM) 8-5
Rituals I have just one pre-match ritual, which is a breathing routine that I go through to get me focused. On the court, when I lose a point, I like to get that ball back and play that ball. If I win a point I like to get that ball back and put it in my pocket. MARCH 28, 2014
MEET THE 2014WSIGNING CLASS TUNITE.14: C estaverde ousineau NIApril amed nducted endy into CSun ollege yland A Football ward Recipient HOF 12 atW Life Stadium
The Miami Hurricanes will host UNITE.14 - the Spring Game & Family Festival Presented by BankUnited - on April 12 at Sun Life Stadium. Stadium gates will open at 3 p.m.; the Hurricanes’ Spring Game will begin at 6 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN3. UNITE.14 will signify the conclusion of the Hurricanes’ spring football practice schedule. Head coach Al Golden’s team opened spring practice March 1 and will hold 15 spring practices. UNITE.14 SCHEDULE 3:00 p.m. Stadium gates open (enter through Gate C) 3:00-8:00 p.m. Carnival on field 3:00-6:00 p.m. Select-A-Seat 4:00-5:00 p.m. Team Autograph Session 5:00-6:00 p.m. Team Warm Ups on Field 6:00 p.m. Kickoff on ESPN3 The carnival area, which will occupy a portion of the field facing the east end zone, will include inflatables, dunk tanks and Miami’s new football uniform display. The University of Miami has launched the $7 million Football Victory Fund to address the most important needs of the football program. There are a variety of ways to contribute to the Football Victory Fund as well as to Hurricanes Athletics. For more information on how you can donate and details of the pending projects, please call the Hurricane Club at 305-284-6699 305-284-6699 or visit umvictoryfund.com. For the latest information on the Miami Hurricanes, follow us on Twitter, @MiamiHurricanes, and check out the official football blog, www.theufootball.com. For the most accurate and up to date information delivered to your phone, download the official Miami Hurricanes app for your Droid or iPhone.
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MARCH 28, 2014
VIEW FROM THE U WOMEN’S BASKETBALL BY TAYLOR McGILLIS
@MiamiWBB
5th Straight Postseason The Miami Hurricanes women’s basketball team earned its fifth-consecutive postseason berth, as the Hurricanes were selected to compete in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). Unfortunately, the Hurricanes stay in the postseason was short, falling to Stetson at home in the opening round of the tournament on Thursday, March 20. It was a back-and-forth affair for most of the night, but a 14-5 Hatters run during the opening stages of the second half sent the visitors to their largest lead up to that point at 50-40 with 13:21 remaining.
A Smile & A Story
On Saturday, March 8, the day of the semifinal games at the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament, former greats from each conference institution waited to be inducted into the 10th class of ACC Legends. For Miami, it wasn’t a former player. It was the fourth coach in program history and one of the most iconic women in women’s basketball history—Lin Dunn. Dunn coached the Hurricanes long before Miami joined the ACC, or any conference for that matter. Her nine years in Coral Gables laid the foundation for a program and the groundwork for its success. Inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2003, Dunn remains one of the most transcendent figures in the Miami Hurricanes family. In her time at the helm of the program in Coral Gables, Dunn accumulated a 149-119 record. Dunn’s influence on the game of basketball stretches far beyond Coral Gables. She has won at every level, and her southern personality has touched people from coast to coast. “Say the name Lin Dunn to anyone in women’s basketball and they’ll immediately give you a smile and a story,” current head coach Katie Meier said. For the first time since her last season at Miami in 1986-87, Dunn was formally brought back to campus for a celebration of her contributions. A week before the ACC Tournament and a day before Miami’s home finale, the gathering took place in the new Schwartz Center on campus. Current coaches, administrators, friends of Dunn, and former players all spent the evening visiting and telling old stories about their favorite coach. The impressive turnout of former players says a lot about what Dunn meant to them - with one player, Loretta Harvey Brown, coming all the way from California for the event. The following day, at Miami’s final home game of the season, Dunn was honored with a ceremony at mid-court where she was joined by the same former players. After her time in the collegiate ranks, Dunn started the WNBA Seattle Storm franchise from scratch as head coach and general manager. Building the franchise into a winner, the Storm won the WNBA Championship just the second season after she left. In her fifth season as head coach of the Indiana Fever in 2012, Dunn finally got her championship. But even with over 500 wins to her name and a Final Four and WNBA Championship, ask people in the women’s basketball world about Dunn. They’ll give you a smile and a story.
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“I want to give Stetson a ton of credit,” Meier said. “They’re a sharp basketball team, they won 26 or 27 games for a reason. They’ve only lost to one team since January…they came in here a lot more confident and with a lot more chemistry.” For two Miami seniors it was their final game in the orange and green, and it was unfortunate to see them go out the way they did. Both Saunders and Maria Brown, who helped guide Miami to postseason appearances during all four of their years with the Hurricanes, drew praise from their head coach in postgame commentary. “They’re great citizens. I never had a meeting with them about anything bad – they never got in trouble…never missed study hall,” Meier said. “I look at them, and I see two adults. As a coach, you have a lot of different personalities that come through, but those two, steady, consistent personalities mean so much to me.”
You are cordially invited to attend the
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI Sports Hall of Fame 46th Annual Banquet Inductees...
• Andre Johnson (football) • James Jones (basketball) • Jeff Morrison (baseball) • Wyllesheia Myrick (track) Date: Thursday, April 10th, 2014 Time: Cocktails at 6:00 PM Dinner at 7:00 PM
• Clinton Portis (football) • Rio Ramirez (diving) • Javy Rodriguez (baseball) • Lamar Thomas (football) Please fill out form below and mail it with your check payable to UM Sports Hall of Fame. If you cannot attend, your donation will be appreciated. For further information call
Place: Jungle Island 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail Miami, FL 33132
Ken Lancaster at 305.666.6000, John Routh at 305.284.2775 or visit our website www.umsportshalloffame.com
Price: $100.00 each individual ticket $1000.00 per table of ten $1,500.00 SUPER Table of Ten
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, April 10th, 2014 Reserve early as seating is limited.
Ticket Chairmen: Ken Lancaster: 305.666.6000 • John Routh: 305.284.2775 5821San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, Fl 33146 UM Sports Hall of Fame Banquet www.umSportsHallofFame.com
Please Reserve_______SUPER Tables of Ten at $1,500.00 each Please Reserve_______Tables of 10 at $1000.00 each. Please Reserve________seats at $100.00 each for the UM Sports Hall of Fame Banquet To pay by credit card please go to UMsportshalloffame.com and look for the secure payment link or call Ken Lancaster at 305.666.6000 Enclosed is my check payable to UM Sports Hall of Fame in the amount of $___________. I cannot attend, but enclosed is my donation of $_____________. Please send tickets to:________________________________________________________________
VIEW FROM THE U MEN’S BASKETBALL BY AMY WOODRUFF
@CanesHoops
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS DATE OPPONENT Oct. 30 Florida Tech (exh.)
TIME/SCORE W, 84-55
Nov. 8 St. Francis Brooklyn L (OT), 66-62 Nov. 11 Georgia Southern W (OT), 81-80 Nov. 14 Texas Southern W, 84-69 Nov. 18 at College of Charleston & W, 70-54 Nov. 21 UCF L, 63-58 Wooden Legacy (Anaheim, Calif.) Nov. 28 vs. RV George Washington L (OT), 71-63 Nov. 29 vs. Cal State Fullerton W, 48-46
Hurricanes head coach Jim Larrañaga is signing proven winners to the University of Miami men’s basketball program. This winter, UM’s most recent signees Ja’Quan Newton, Ivan Cruz Uceda, James Palmer and Omar Sherman - have accumulated postseason hardware at their high school and junior college basketball championships. Ja’Quan Newton Ranked No. 58 in ESPN’s Top 100, Philadelphian Ja’Quan Newton of Neumann-Goretti High, is the premier player in Pennsylvania. He is ranked No. 1 in the state and is the 12th-best PG in the country, says ESPN. After leading his team with an average of 21.7 points per game and to a 22-4 record, Newton was crowned the Catholic League MVP and to the All-Catholic First Team. Newton guided the Saints to a sixth-straight Catholic League Championship, defeating Roman Catholic 53-48. He scored 15 of his 23 points in second half to seal the victory—it was Newton’s fourth consecutive start in the Catholic League Championship game. Newton’s perimeter scoring capability is an aspect of game Larrañaga hopes can replace the productivity of graduating seniors Rion Brown and Garrius Adams. “He has become the leading scorer in his school’s history, and he is close to breaking the record to become the leading scorer in the history of the Catholic School League in Philadelphia,” Larrañaga said. “He’s competed against high-level competition and is a proven scorer.” Newton secured a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the first round of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs this weekend. Neumann-Goretti topped Berks Catholic 62-46. James Palmer The Canes were able to secure Washington, D.C., guard James Palmer of St. John’s College High. ESPN ranked Palmer as the No. 1 player in the D.C. region. “James Palmer is someone who plays in what I think is the best high school basketball league in the country,” described Larrañaga. “At 6-feet-5-inches he’s a very good shooter—like a Rion Brown—but, he also is an outstanding passer.” Palmer is listed as a shooting guard with impressive size, averaging a team-high 15.7 points per game. St. John’s fell a game short of the D.C. State Athletic Association final, falling 84-77 to Theodore Roosevelt High in the semifinal. Palmer, still not even 18 years of age, led the Cadets to a successful regular season finishing at 27-4. “He [Palmer] is young, he’s only just turned 17,” Larrañaga said. “When he comes in he’ll look like Manu Lecomte—baby-faced and doesn’t shave yet. He looks like he should be going into his junior year of high school rather than freshman year of college.”
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Ivan Cruz Uceda Ivan Cruz Uceda was born in Madrid, Spain, and has played the last two seasons at Harcum College, a junior college in Philadelphia. Harcum was ranked as high as No. 4 in the NJCAA rankings, finishing the season with an overall 29-3 record. Uceda, a 6-foot-10 center, averaged a double-double scoring 14.7 points per game and snatching 10.2 rebounds per game—both are team highs. He was efficient as well this season, converting over 62 percent of his field goal attempts. “Ivan is a guy who can hit a spot-up three and he’s got very good hands around the basket,” Larrañaga said, describing Uceda’s versatility. “The thing I was most impressed about him is that he’s an excellent passer. I would consider him a smart player.” Uceda’s experience at the JUCO level enticed the Hurricanes staff to offer him a scholarship. There will only be one senior on the roster next season and Uceda provides more veteran, upperclassman-type leadership. The Spaniard started in all 32 games this season, including Harcum’s 77-73 loss to Westchester Community College in the NJCAA Region XV Championship. Uceda’s versatility was on full display in the championship—15 of his team-best 21 points came from behind the three-point line making five of his 10 tries. The center was just as effective in the paint, securing 12 rebounds, which were also a team high. Omar Sherman There is a second center joining Larrañaga’s 2014 recruiting class, a three-star Texan named Omar Sherman from Duncanville High School, outside of Dallas. At 6-foot-9-inches, Sherman is the No. 10 recruit in Texas and No. 19 center in the country, as ranked by ESPN. After signing with Miami in September, Sherman paced Duncanville to a 20-12 season, leading the team with 17.1 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game. “Sherman has a beautiful, soft, left-handed shooting touch from three-point range, kind of like a Kenny Kadji,” Larrañaga said. “He also has a nice low-post, left-handed jump hook game. And we felt as he got bigger and stronger, he could be a force offensively, but also a very good and serviceable rebounder.” Sherman guided Duncanville to a birth in the regional quarterfinals of the Texas UIL Boys State Basektball Championships, where they ultimately lost to Hebron, 52-44. The Hurricanes lose six players to graduation after this season, including leading scorer Rion Brown. But, Larrañaga and his staff have four incoming players that will be capable of filling that offensive void, as well as redshirts Sheldon McClellan, Angel Rodriguez and Deandre Burnett.
MARCH 28, 2014
Dec. 1 Dec. 4 Dec. 8 Dec. 19 Dec. 22 Dec. 30
vs. RV Arizona State at Nebraska Virginia Tech at Savannah State La Salle Loyola (MD)
W, 60-57 L, 60-49 L (OT), 61-60 W, 68-51 W, 71-58 W, 71-48
Jan. 4 Jan. 8 Jan. 15 Jan. 18 Jan. 22 Jan. 25 Jan. 29
at No. 2 Syracuse at RV North Carolina Florida State at Georgia Tech No. 18 Duke No. 2 Syracuse at Maryland
L, 49-44 W, 63-57 L, 63-53 W, 56-42 L, 67-46 L, 64-52 L, 74-71
Feb. 1 Feb. 5 Feb. 8 Feb. 10 Feb. 15 Feb. 19 Feb. 22 Feb. 26
Norfolk State No. 25/22 Pittsburgh NC State at Florida State at Virginia Tech Notre Dame Boston College at No. 20/21 Virginia
W, 64-49 L (OT), 56-55 L, 56-55 W, 77-73 L, 52-45 W, 71-64 W, 69-42 L, 65-40
March 1 at NC State March 4 at Clemson March 8 Wake Forest ACC Tournament March 12 vs. Virginia Tech March 13 vs. NC State
W, 85-70 L, 58-54 W, 69-56 W, 57-53 L, 67-58
DID U KNOW? Senior Rion Brown was voted to the All-ACC Third Team by both the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA) and the league’s head coaches. In his senior season with the Canes, Brown averaged 16.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 35.6 minutes per game in ACC play. The native of Hinesville, Ga., hit 44.4 percent (100-225) of his shots from the field and 34.5 percent (40-116) of his attempts from long distance. He led the Canes in scoring nine times during conference play.
VIEW FROM THE U BASEBALL
BY CAMRON GHORBI
@CanesBaseball
MILESTONES FOR MORRIS Head coach Jim Morris became just the eighth coach in the history of Division I baseball to accumulate 1,400 wins when Miami beat Boston College 5-2 on March 8. Two weeks later, Morris won his 900th game with the Hurricanes in a 7-1 upset of No. 3 Virginia on March 22. Morris ranks second in wins in Miami history behind the late Ron Fraser (1,267). He also ranks fourth among active Division I coaches in career victories (1,404) and eighth all-time in the category.
POWER SURGE
Carey’s catch keys Morris’ 900th victory Freshman slugger Zack Collins connected on a two-run home run to break a tie game in the sixth inning, and No. 25 Miami topped No. 3 Virginia 7-1 in head coach Jim Morris’ 900th win at the helm of the Hurricanes Saturday night. “2-0 count in a tie ballgame, I’m trying to put the ball off the bat hard,” Collins said of his home run swing. “You try to hit it as hard as you can everytime. I just made a great connection.” When asked if he knew the ball would clear the fence, Collins smiled. “Oh yeah, I knew it.” Despite the big hit from Collins, a matchup featuring two of the premier lefthanders in the ACC - Miami’s Chris Diaz and Virginia’s Nathan Kirby - did not disappoint. After going ahead 3-1, Miami (13-10, 5-2 ACC) tacked on four insurance runs in the eighth, while Bryan Garcia recorded his sixth save of the season with 1.2 clean innings of relief.
Virginia put together a scoring opportunity in the eighth, but a breathtaking catch from senior Dale Carey, who sprinted towards the wall and fully extended to haul in a deep fly ball from Howard, helped Garcia work out of the jam. The incredible defensive play from Carey earned a lengthy standing ovation from the crowd of 3,337. “I just remember he hit it, I was running, and at the last second I realized I had a chance,” Carey said. “Me and Willie were both going into the gap at the same time, I called ‘ball’ and I laid out.” Morris added further praise for his star centerfielder. “That catch might be the best catch I have ever seen,” he said. “That was huge. If that ball drops, the game is tied.” The catch earned No. 1 on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays, joining Javi Salas’ perfect game and Brandon Lopez’ catch two nights later as Miami baseball’s No. 1 plays on SportsCenter Top 10 in 2014.
Miami leads the ACC with 14 home runs through its first 25 games of the regular season. Dale Carey and Zack Collins are tied for fourth in the ACC with four homers, while Garrett Kennedy and Tyler Palmer have two each. The offense already has three multi-homerun games this season after recording just two in all of 2013: games one and two against Florida (Feb. 21 & 22) and game one against Georgia Tech (March 14). Miami is 3-0 in 2014 when hitting more than one home run. Miami did not record its 14th home run in 2013 until a 7-0 win over Oklahoma State in the NCAA postseason on May 31 - the team’s 60th game of the season. Miami only hit 14 home runs as a team last year. The Hurricane offense exploded for six home runs in its series with Florida (Feb. 21-23), the most for a Miami team in a single series since an April 2010 weekend set at Virginia Tech.
SENIOR CLASS CANDIDATE Senior relief pitcher AJ Salcines was among the thirty NCAA baseball student-athletes selected as candidates for the 2014 Senior CLASS Award in collegiate baseball To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas – community, classroom, character and competition.
NEWS AND NOTES | AROUND THE LIGHT ***Miami earned its fourth win of the season against a top 25 team in a 7-1 victory over No. 3 Virginia on March 22. The Hurricanes captured a series victory over then-No. 16 Florida at Mark Light Field from Feb. 21-23, and also took down No. 1 Florida State on the road (2/28).
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***After struggling through the first month of the season, freshman slugger Zack Collins has turned it up a notch. Collins is hitting at a .412 clip over his past five games with two doubles, two homers and three RBI. He has recorded a .882 slugging percentage over that span.
MARCH 28, 2014
*** The Hurricanes have won every single one of Chris Diaz’ starts in 2014, including victories over Florida (2/14), FSU (2/28) and Virginia (3/22). Miami has not lost a game startedby Diaz since the 2013 ACC Tournament in a 7-1 loss to NC State.
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