Talk CanesToday: CFP National Championship, Miami WBB, Preview Miami-Louisville, and More
Good morning, CT readers, and thank you for spending some of your free time on the internet with us again today. We appreciate it anytime you stop by. I have yet another Monday morning rundown of notes for you, although this one is busier than some of the past. We have a new ACC basketball game to get ready for and a weekend to recap. But we’ll start with the biggest story of the day, the final game of the 2023 college football season. A new national champion gets crowned tonight.
Michigan or Washington?
At 7:30 p.m. tonight, Michigan and Washington kick off in the College Football Playoff National Championship in Houston. Michigan is a 4.5-point favorite in the desert, but Washington has been proving the desert wrong all season with Michael Penix Jr. and the nation’s best-passing offense. How will the Huskies perform against our nation’s second-best passing defense?
We’ll find out together tonight in the rare championship game without an SEC team. I took Washington and the points, hoping we get a thriller with a close outcome. It’s each team’s first appearance in the game since the 1990s, so both programs and their fan bases are fired up and hungry for new hardware.
Miami hosting Louisville in ACC home opener tomorrow
Miami Basketball enjoyed the weekend in Coral Gables, winning a top-ranked game straight game over the Clemson Tigers in the Watsco Center, tomorrow the Hurricanes return to Watsco Center to host Louisville.
Wednesday., Jan. 10, 7:00 p.m. ET, Watsco Center (Coral Gables, FL), ESPN
- Record: 9-3
- AP/Coaches Poll: NR/NR
- NET: 259
- KenPom: 205
- BartTorvik: 223
Louisville has eight losses thus far in the season, The Cardinals lost to Chattanooga, Texas, Indiana, Virginia Tech, DePaul, Arkansas State, Kentucky, and Virginia. Their best wins are over New Mexico State, and UMBC.
There aren’t many positives when it comes to the Louisville Cardinals. Aside from scoring 25.2% of their points from the free throw line, the 12th most nationally, and being very good on the offensive glass, there isn’t much they can hang their hat on. The struggles continue on the defensive side of the ball for the Louisville Cardinals. Their man-to-man defense provides very little resistance to opponents attacking the basket.
KenPom: Miami 87, Louisville 71 (93% chance of victory)
BartTorvik: Miami 90, Louisville 70 (95% chance of victory)
Miami WBB Blast Wake Forest to a 77-to-44 Win
On Sunday afternoon at the Watsco Center, Miami women’s basketball got off to a very, very hot start.
To end the first quarter, Canes led the ‘Deamon Deacons 20-9 as the Canes were 4-14 (28.6%) Additionally, both teams had five turnovers apiece after the first 10 minutes of play. However. Coming out of the break Miami was more of the same.
All the momentum swayed in favor of the ‘Canes.
Wake Forest went for an 8-0 run over a three-minute stretch, cutting the game down to a single-digit contest with 6:19 to go in the second frame. UM quieted the Demon Deacons with a 5-0 run, holding Wake Forest without a field goal on five-straight attempts to create a 27-19 lead with four minutes left in the second quarter. Roberts ended the half with 14 and Shayeann Day-Wilson became the fourth Canes player with a three-pointer, giving UM a 34-26 lead at the break.
Five different Canes players scored within the first five minutes of the third quarter, putting UM on a 16-4 run to blow the game open and create a 50-30 lead. The Canes outscored Wake Forest, 24-11, in the third frame and held the Demon Deacons scoreless for nearly five minutes during the fourth as UM cruised to a comfortable win.
Defensive Line is a Position Group to Watch in Spring Practice
In the recent run of winning seasons for the Miami football program, quality play in the trenches has had a lot to do with the rise of the Big Orange and Green under head coach Mario Cristobal.
the defensive line is legit.
The Miami defense got hit with a bombshell last month when it was reported that starting nose tackle Lenoard Taylor has decided to enter the NFL Draft. Now it was no surprise there, but defensive coordinator Lance Guidry and defensive line coach Jason Taylor will need to find a new starter at nose tackle.
At zero technique, the Canes have had a good recent run. Both Jaelan Phillips (Miami Dolphins) and Gregory Rousseau (Buffalo Bills) are making plays on Sundays after productive careers in Coral Gables.
Last month, Miami completed the transfer portal for Middle Tennessee defensive lineman commit Marley Cook. The three-star prospect with excellent physical traits (6-foot-3) and good film. That was significant because it was another solid recruiting win for this position room. The Hurricanes also added four-star DL commit out of NC State C.J. Clark.
Since the class of 2020, Miami has inked thirteen top-500 high school defensive line prospects. The Hurricanes have also gone to the transfer portal and added a pair of former blue-chip recruits. There is also roster balance. UM will enter the 2024 season with two seniors, one junior, four sophomores, and six true freshmen. The coaching staff is consistently recruiting the defensive line well and stacking quality depth at a very important position.
Miami has also found a cornerstone piece to be a star.
Four-star signee Rueben Bain was outstanding as a true freshman in 2023 playing over 500 defensive snaps and becoming a full-time starter at outside tackle. The Miami (FL.) Miami Central product led the defensive line in sacks (8) Bains tape against Clemson, Virginia, and Rutgers flashes big-time potential as a pass rusher and the young player is already stout against the run in multiple playing spots along the defensive line. The sophomore should be a very popular talking point in Charlotte at ACC Media Days in July. Expect the hype train to get rolling this summer for Miami’s defensive star.
Don’t be surprised if this becomes one of the best position groups on the team in 2024. The pieces are in place and Miami could make a run again at being a top-15 defense due to what is available in the trenches. Defensive coordinator Lance Guidry has stability with a high ceiling on the line of scrimmage. That could go a long way.
Trinton is the owner of CanesToday. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, he is a freshman in high school and wants to graduate from the University of Miami
