Welcome to the Hoos Place 2019 Summer Hoops Refresh, where we review last season and this summer’s personnel moves for all 15 ACC programs in alphabetical order. To read program capsules already complete, you can click here. Today we look at the…

Miami Hurricanes

Last year was easily the worst year of Jim Larranaga’s tenure at Miami. The roster was gutted through NBA losses, ineligibility and discipline concerns, and injury, and the ‘Canes finished in the ACC’s bottom tier for the first time in forever. Larranaga had a busy spring restocking the depth chart for this upcoming year; will it be enough to bounce back?

Coach: Jim Larranaga; 645-431 in 35 seasons overall, 175-97 (80-62) in 8 seasons at Miami.

2018-19 Record: Last season: 14-18 (5-13); ACCT second round (12 seed); No postseason

2018-19 Efficiency:

Roster Roundup:

*Projected starters in bold

2019/20 ACC Opponents:

Outlook:

The ‘Canes entered this spring with only 8 projected scholarship players for the upcoming season, only three of whom played meaningful roles for the team last year, before grabbing a late-cycle recruit and two grad-transfers this offseason. New to the program are a pair of four star guards in Wong and Beverly who will hopefully give good minutes spelling the veterans Lykes and Vasiljevic at the 1 and 2, teaming with promising sit-out transfer McGusty to form the 1-3 rotation for the year. In the post, only stretch 4 Waardenburg returns for Miami, with Gak and Miller combining for just 8 healthy games last year, and Larranaga concerned enough about their potential that he went out and grabbed two immediate-eligible big men transfers in Stone and Brooks. 

The talent and experience isn’t bad. Lykes is a proven ball-dominant PG, even if he’s got some efficiency issues (only 32% from deep last year and a 3.2:2.9 A:TOpg ratio). Vasiljevic is a good off-guard gunner. There are a lot of new pieces to integrate, but at least McGusty had a redshirt year to gel and both the freshman guards are talented and should get up to speed quickly. I’ve still got a few questions, though. The defense was abysmal last year, and Larranaga will need to work quick to get these guys to form a cohesive defensive unit. The Canes also need improvement in 3-point shooting, hoping McGusty used his redshirt year to improve (career 34%) and the freshmen prove capable as well. Lastly, their roster doesn’t lend itself to running a small lineup: McGusty is too small to hold down the 4 and the posts are all more traditional big men defensively (though at least Waardenburg has some pick-and-pop to his game). Beneficial in the modern game to have a verstatile combo forward; Canes had one last year in Lawrence but only 3-star freshman Walker is close to fitting that bill.

Not sure this team will coalesce enough to make the Dance, though certainly some improvement is to be expected, putting them in no worse than NIT territory. If the freshmen surprise, getting into the NCAAT off the bubble is a real possibility.