2015 Preview: University of Miami Hurricanes Baseball

Miami held their Fanfest & Alumni Game on Saturday - They start the season on Friday against Rutgers in Coral Gables

by Jason Klenetsky | Miami SPORTS & Lifestyle

The University of Miami was ranked No. 15 in the inaugural D1-Baseball poll released last week, marking the Hurricanes' second top 20 ranking of the preseason.

Collegiate Baseball Newspaper ranked Miami No. 14 in its preseason poll released in December.

Miami, who finished 44-19 in 2014 and earned one of 16 NCAA postseason Regional host sites, ended the season atop the ACC with a 24-6 record in conference play. Head coach Jim Morris' team also took home their second ACC Regular Season Championship in program history en route to a top seed at the ACC Baseball Championship in Greensboro, N.C.

The Hurricanes, who in 2014 extended their postseason streak to a college baseball-record 42 consecutive years, return a number of key contributors from last season both on the mound and in the field.

Miami features a trio of Louisville Slugger Preseason All-Americans: first-team catcher Zack Collins, second-team ace Andy Suarez and second-team reliever Bryan Garcia. Returning 2014 All-ACC selections include Collins, Garcia and Suarez, as well as outfielder Willie Abreu.

Collins was named 2014 Baseball America National Freshman of the Year after a prolific first season, Suarez was the highest-drafted college player to return to school nationwide (second round, Washington Nationals), while Garcia earned All-America honors after delivering a dominant season as the team's closer. 

Bryan Garcia was named a Preseason All-American along with Zack Collins

 

The Hurricanes begin their season February 13th with a four game series against Rutgers.

Projected Lineup & Rotation

1.       LF- Carl Chester, Fr. (Altamonte Springs, FL)

2.       3B- George Iskendarian, Jr. (Transfer from Indian River CC)

3.       C- Zack Collins, So. (.298/ 11 HR/ 54 RBI)

4.       1B- David Thompson, Jr. (.278/ 15 RBI)

5.       RF- Willie Abreu, So. (.277/ 1 HR/ 28 RBI)

6.       DH- Jacob Heyward, So. (.205/ 4 RBI)

7.       SS- Brandon Lopez, Jr. (.233/ 29 RBI)

8.       2B- Johnny Ruiz, So. (.229/ 11 RBI)

9.       CF- Ricky Eusebio, Jr. (.263/ 7 RBI)

 

Fri- Andrew Suarez, Jr. (6-3, 2.95 ERA, 110 IP, 87K 15BB)

Sat- Derik Beauprez, So. (1-0, 0.83 ERA, 22 IP)

Sun- Enrique Sosa, Jr. (0-1, 7.04 ERA, 15.1 IP)

CP- Bryan Garcia, So. (7-4, 1.75 ERA, 51 IP, 15 SV)

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 Jason Klenetsky is a writer for Miami SPORTS & Lifestyle covering the Miami Marlins and the University of Miami baseball team. He will also be featured on Miami SPORTS & Lifestyle Radio. You can follow him on Twitter @JBird2000.

HEAT-Spurs Have Rematch of NBA Finals, Miami Drops Third Straight

 

Chris Andersen and Shabazz Napier connect for an alley-oop against the Spurs

 

by Darrin Williamson | Miami SPORTS & Lifestyle

At least the Miami HEAT tried to hang in there. 

It was a rematch of last year's NBA Finals, but this time Miami was without quite a few players from last year's team.

            Besides not having a LeBron James or a Game 6 Ray Allen, tonight was just another night of losses as Miami had found out before the game that Hassan Whiteside would be sitting the game out because of a sore ankle. 

In that case, you'd say Chris Bosh was due for a monster game, right? 

Yes. It just wasn't going to happen because of the lack of aggressiveness.

            The Spurs seemed to be playing with a chip on their shoulder; Constantly moving the ball, hitting open threes, just playing Spurs basketball.

            Miami showed grit, and toughness, despite getting outplayed for most of the game. Tyler Johnson, who was on his second 10 day contract, had 18 points; Luol Deng added 17 and Chris Bosh had 14 for the HEAT, who were trailing by as much as 20 in a game that wasn't ever close.

            The Spurs had 31 assists on the night, and went 11-29 from the field.

            "I mean, they're making the right play, like every single one, well, like 90 percent of the time," Bosh said. "They're getting wide-open jump shots, they're being aggressive and you just don't know what they're going to do."

 

Breakdown from the Miami HEAT game against the San Antonio Spurs last night

Other Notes

HEAT: F Udonis Haslem left the game in the first quarter after injuring his left wrist. Initial X-rays were negative, but he will be re-evaluated in Miami. ... C Chris Andersen was hit with a technical foul with 5:24 left in the third quarter, but after officials got together the call was altered to a double technical on Andersen and Spurs C Aron Baynes. ... Spoelstra was hit a technical foul with 6:23 remaining after arguing a non-call, in a game that looked way too lopsided. The Miami HEAT are now 21-29, currently 9th in the Eastern Conference standings (out of the playoffs) behind the Brooklyn Nets a half game.

Up Next

Miami host the Knicks on Monday, 7:30 PM - You can watch the game on SUN Sports

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Darrin Williamson is a writer and the radio director for Miami SPORTS & Lifestyle. You can follow him on Twitter @Godschild530.

Hassanity: The Craze That's Took Over South Florida

Hassan Whiteside dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers

by Andrew Powell | Miami SPORTS & Lifestyle

HASSANITY!!!!

                The craze that’s took over Miami and South Florida!

                After LeBron James left for Cleveland back in July, a lot of HEAT fans were left hurt and disappointed. After four straight NBA Finals and two NBA championships, the crash that Miami fans experienced after such a high was something that seemed may take awhile to get over. Yes, the HEAT still had Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but everybody knew the automatic NBA berths were over.

                LeBron’s gone. No more big three. And Miami was forced to move on.

The cover of the Sun Sentinel when LeBron James left Miami to go back to Cleveland

                Most expectations from people, including myself, had Miami between a 3-5 seed this season because of the returns of two All-Stars and the signing of Luol Deng and other key players, but the HEAT started out with inconsistent play full of injuries, chemistry issues due to switching up the lineup every night, no defense nor rim protection, and were suffering from the LeBron effect. Then you had the 23 point lead over the Philadelphia 76ers that was blown that lead to another loss. It brought Miami’s record to a total of 13-16 for the season.

                Then something miraculous happened. 

A seven footer, a rare commodity that’s always being looked for in the NBA, slips through the cracks and into the hands of the Miami HEAT.

And not just any seven footer.

An all-around seven footer that is athletic, defensive, and dunks every ball that is passed to him. Sunday in the Bulls game, the HEAT had made a shot and Chicago passed across the court that lead to what was supposed to be an easy layup. Whiteside transitions down the court, not what seven footers do, and blocks the ball. He had a total of 12 BLOCKS in that game! 12!

Whiteside dunks on Pau Gasol of the Chicago Bulls on national television
 
The Chicago game marked the national presence of Hassan Whiteside, but Miami has been witnessing the greatness for a month now. The game that really set off Miami was against the Los Angeles Clippers when Whiteside put up a stat line of 23 points, 16 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals. Other notable games from this month was the complete of the LA sweep against the Lakers when he scored 15 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and blocked 5 shots; and another double-double against the Brooklyn Nets when he was 11-10 and put up another 5 blocks on the stat sheet. The month of January has been WOW for Hassan Whiteside, but the problem lays in the sample size.

The Miami HEAT organization hasn’t gotten as excited as me and you. Pat Riley says he wants to see 20-30 games of Hassan playing 30 minutes per before really judging what they have. They pay a lot of attention to the sample size, as they should, and realize that it’s only been a month, and he hasn’t been playing many minutes. After all, this guy did get passed on by a lot of NBA teams and ultimately had to go to Lebanon and China to play. So it’s understandable why the HEAT would be cautious.

Then the last game against the Milwaukee Bucks happens to be the first bad game with the HEAT for Hassan Whiteside. Yes, it was a bad game for him, and he still ended the night with 16 points and 16 rebounds. It was just another double-double coming off an incredible triple-double against the Bulls.

Indeed the sample size is small, but it’s getting safer and safer to say that Hassan Whiteside is here to stay.

MY PREDICTION: I feel that sky is the limit for ‘Young Whiteside’. This kid has proven that he can ball, and I see a lot of greatness in his future.

He said on the Dan LeBatard Show the other day that he feels like his career could be like David Robinson: a 10-time All-Star, a one-time MVP, a two-time champion with the Spurs and he also has two gold medals with USA basketball in the Olympics.

And oh yeah, he’s a Hall of Famer.

David Robinson won two titles with the San Antonio Spurs

If Hassan Whiteside continues to put up double-doubles and the occasional triple-double on a nightly basis, who’s to say that Hassan’s prediction for himself will be wrong?

When a bad game is 16 points (50% FG) and 16 rebounds, then what is an elite game for Hassan? Remember, he didn’t play 30 minutes in a game at all this season until last night, so when he has a great game playing 36 minutes, what would it be?

The greatness of 14 points, 13 rebounds and 12 blocks against the Bulls was only 26 minutes long, so if he’s playing that 36 at that level of greatness, what would the final stat line be?

And that right there is why we have Hassanity.

The next few weeks are going to be interesting to see what happens with the progress (or the regress) of Hassanity. Whiteside will be getting minutes in the 30’s, and we’ll be able to see who Hassan Whiteside really is. The past month has already been exciting with the big games, the talk and excitement from fans, writers, and radio hosts;  and Ronnie from NBA 2K raising Hassan’s stats after he famously said after the Bulls game, “I’m just trying to up my NBA 2K rating.”

Hassan Whiteside's famous quote with ESPN after the Bulls game

 They raised his rating from 59 to 77.

I feel really good about this guy, and I see a very, very bright future for Hassan Whiteside and the Miami HEAT. I believe a level of greatness can be achieved to bring multiple championships to the city of Miami...again. I know I’m speaking early, but it speaks volumes about this franchise and what I’ve seen so far from Hassan. The HEAT already had talent to build around, and now they have a legit seven footer to add to the rotation. Miami was planning for 2016, and now they have this, with that summer still ahead.

Oh my…

Hassan Whiteside is just the beginning of what’s to come in the Miami HEAT’s future, and Hassanity will only get bigger in my opinion. With what’s already going on in South Florida and 2016 approaching, there’s no telling how big things really can get for the Miami HEAT.

Get ready, Miami! It’s going to be a Hassane rest of the season, and an interesting next year!

Hassan Whiteside's Triple Double, Franchise Record Frustrates Chicago; HEAT Win

Hassan Whiteside responds when asked what his inspiration was for the game...

by Andrew Powell | Miami SPORTS & Lifestyle

Hassan Whiteside held a block party in Chicago today, and the Bulls didn’t have fun. AT ALL.

                Whiteside was coming back from a sprained ankle that he suffered against Oklahoma City last week and didn’t start the game today. As a matter of fact, he only played 25 minutes for the whole game. He gets called out there by Coach Spo and has an immediate impact.

                Hassan went on the floor and ended up with a triple double of 14 points (off of 60% shooting), 13 rebounds and 12 blocks, which was a career high for him and the Miami HEAT franchise record, the same franchise who once had Shaquille O’Neal.

This was called by the national audience his “coming out party”, but HEAT fans have been blessed to see the greatness of Whiteside for the past few weeks now. Today was another glimpse of the greatness that we’re getting accustom to, especially those five blocks that he got in only seven minutes. He was definitely the player of the game today, getting praise from the coaching staff and all of his teammates.

What made the game for Whiteside even more impressive was the fact that he was going head to head with Pau Gasol. Gasol ended the game with a stat line of 13 points, 17 rebounds, three assists and four blocks; and was still defeated by Hassan.

                Dwyane Wade scored 26 points and Chris Bosh added another 20. Luol Deng scored 15 in his return to Chicago, and Mario Chalmers also added another 15 points. This all contributed to the HEAT wiping out the momentum that the Bulls had built after beating the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks.

                Miami controlled the majority of the game, leading by 10 when halftime had approached, then they were up by 12 when the fourth quarter rolled around. The rest of the game Chicago was never in it, leaving the Bulls fans quiet throughout, and Chicago players frustrated. Miami won the game with a final score of 96-84 while holding the Bulls’ offense to only 35 percent shooting from the field.

                Besides Hassan’s big game and a HEAT victory, this was also Luol Deng’s ‘welcome back’ to Chicago.

The Bulls held a video tribute for Luol Deng for his return back to Chicago

                During a timeout in the first quarter, Luol Deng was honored by the Chicago Bulls where he had spent nine seasons before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Chicago held a video tribute and featured clips of Deng when he played for the Bulls. Multiple emotions and memories had hit Deng.

                “I’m glad that I made a lot of friends here and it’s good to come back because when I left I didn’t say any (good)byes, “said Deng. “It’s taken a lot of energy just seeing everybody. It seems like it was yesterday to be honest.”

                Along with his 15 points, Luol Deng contributed 10 rebounds and four assists in his return to Chicago.

                The Miami HEAT now head back to Miami with a 20-24 record and will take on the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. If you’re not attending the game, you can watch it on SUN Sports. Game starts at 7:30.

                LET’S GO HEAT!!!

Jekiri's Double-Double Carries Miami Over Syracuse, 66-62

by Andrew Powell | Miami SPORTS&Lifestyle

WOW!

    What a game that was between Miami and Syracuse.

                

                The Hurricanes had dominated the whole game, only allowing Syracuse to be up once the entire time. That was in the opening seconds when Syracuse was up 1-0, but Syracuse would never go away and Miami had to earn this victory.

                Every time the Canes would go up by 10, Syracuse would come marching back to be within a few points, even tying it up a few times. They were even tied up 26-26 at halftime, then Miami went up by 10 again when they went on a 16-6 run after the break. Syracuse had come back one last time when they hit a three that made it 60-59 with 52.6 seconds remaining, but Miami would eventually hold on to win after Angel Rodriguez hit two clutch free throws and Syracuse missed the game tying three with 4.4 seconds left to go on the clock. Good ball movement, key shots and missed Syracuse free throws also contributed to the win.

                The player of the game was Tonye Jekiri who had a stat line of 13 points, 15 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 blocks. Other notable stats were: Angel Rodriguez with 12 points, 8 assists and 4 steals; Sheldon McClellan with 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals and Davon Reed with 11 points. Ivan Cruz Uceda also hit his first career three-pointer as a Cane.

                The win today brings Miami’s record to a total of 14-5 (4-2 ACC) and continues their push towards the NCAA tournament in March. Here in late January, wins are starting to get more and more important to the committee, and this was a big win that will help out The U in their eyes.

                Miami goes at it again on Wednesday night at 9:00 PM against Georgia Tech, this time a home game in Coral Gables. You can watch the game on ESPN Full Court/ESPN3.

                Head to Coral Gables or root on the Canes from home! Let’s make the tourney!

The Miami HEAT blow a 20 point lead, win dog fight against Pacers

 by Andrew Powell | Miami SPORTS&Lifestyle

                So here we are in late January and the Miami HEAT are 19-24.

                Miami played the Indiana Pacers tonight and were up by 20 points in the 3rd quarter before eventually blowing the lead. The HEAT were able to pull it out when Indiana missed a game tying shot, but it came after a missed free throw from Wade that left the game wide open for the Pacers. Lady luck was definitely on Miami’s side tonight, but a win is a win, and Miami will take it.

                The player of the game was Luol Deng who had a stat line of 23 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.

                Other notable stats was Chris Bosh with 19 points, 4 rebounds and a steal; Dwyane Wade with 13 points, 4 assists and 2 steals; and Chris “Birdman” Anderson with 13 rebounds. The HEAT shot a total of 48% from the field.

                 One big thing that HEAT fans could take from this win is that it was a win at HOME. The Miami HEAT are 8-13 at home this season, and this win gets even better with the fact that the HEAT struggled in the second half (again) and had to really earn this victory in a dog fight in the last minutes. At the end of the day, if you want to be something great in this league, you have to win the close ones, and Miami did that tonight unlike prior games where leads have been blown; especially the debacle against the Philadelphia 76ers which HEAT fans had flashbacks of tonight when Miami had blew a 21 point lead back in December.

                The Indiana Pacers went on an 11-0 run and that put them right back into the game. Luol Deng, who was returning from an illness, saved the game for Miami tonight. Indiana was only down 77-72 when Deng hit a pair of three’s in the fourth quarter, with the second one bringing them to a 10 point lead. The Pacers kept coming for Miami, but the HEAT never lost the lead. The only Pacers lead in the game was in the opening minutes.

                One of the notable facts from the game was Miami’s 54-37 halftime lead; it was their largest of the season. Miss Universe Gabriela Isler, who is relinquishing her crown in Miami on Sunday, was in attendance. Hassan Whiteside, who is out with a sprained ankle, is back active for the Miami HEAT and warmed up before the game, but did not play. And Chris Andersen’s 13 rebounds was a season high for him.

                Even though the Miami HEAT blew a 20 point lead and had yet another “turd” quarter, the good news is this: Hassan Whiteside is coming back soon. And Miami got a win against a Roy Hibbert team without him, so as long as the HEAT stay healthy with a team of Wade, Bosh and Whiteside, this team could definitely make a strong push for the playoffs. Even Riley said in his press conference yesterday that he sees this team making the playoffs.

                Only time will tell, but the odds are looking good for the HEAT.