Miami Hurricanes Hoops Ready for Barry in Opener

The Miami Hurricanes basketball team will step on the hardwood to face another team for the first time this season when they host Division Two Barry University on Tuesday in an exhibition opener.

The Hurricanes return five players from last season’s Sweet 16 team Seniors Kamari Murphy and Davon Reed and Junior Point Guard Ja’Quan Newton are the team captains for the 2016-17. Murphy and Reed traveled with Head Coach Jim Larranaga to Charlotte, NC last week for the ACC’s operation basketball, the ACC’s tipoff meeting.

Reed and Murphy are the only returning starters from last season. Miami lost Center Tonye Jekiri and guards Angel Rodriguez and Sheldon McClellan have all moved on to professional careers.

Reed was third on the team last season in scoring, blocks, and assists. He will likely be the ‘Canes number one scoring option this season. Murphy is Miami’s leading returning rebounder and shot blocker.

Newton will be the starting point guard. Sophomore forward Anthony Lawrence and Sophomore Center Ebuka Izundu are expected to join the captains in the starting lineup.

Larranaga is likely to be liberal with minutes for the Freshman and other players off the bench against Barry. It is the Hurricanes only chance to play against an opponent before the true opener November 11 against Western Carolina.

Jim Larranaga landed the best-recruiting classes in school history. The ‘Canes freshmen are rated 15th nationally as a group according to 247Sports. Power Forward Dewan Huell and Combo Guard Bruce Brown were ranked 29th and 30th in 247’s freshmen class.

Huell has indicated he would like to be a one and done player. When asked about it by the Miami Herald, Huell said: “That’s the plan”. He is a freakish athlete at 6’11, but has a lot of work to do on his game according to scouts.

Brown is the number four combo guard in the freshman class and will be counted on as a key contributor off the bench. He is likely to be competing for playing time with transfer Rashad Muhammad who averaged in double figures for two seasons at San Jose St.

Freshman guard D. J. Vasiljevic is also pushing for playing time and is better than expected. The fourth member of the recruiting class is 7’0 258 center, Rodney Miller.

Barry has a very diverse roster. They feature players from seven different countries and three players from Chicago. This will be Miami’s third meeting with the Bucs in an exhibition game. They last played in 2010.

Barry was one of the best teams in Division II last season. They had their best season in school history, finishing 26-7 and reaching the Elite Eight. Getting to the Elite Eight in DII is equivalent to reaching the Final Four in Division I in terms of prestige.

The final eight that advance to the Quarterfinals from the Regional sites play at one location like the Final Four. The Bucs will test the Miami defense, as they led DII in assists last season.