A familiar road
Haith's knowlege of ACC helps Hurricanes
By Andrew Joyner / Daily Progress staff writer
January 12, 2005

First year Miami basketball coach Frank Haith is at least one member of the Hurricanes’ traveling party that knows the ins, outs and arenas of the ACC.

As an assistant at Wake Forest for four seasons, Haith has been his team’s tour guide - almost literally - in its inaugural ACC season.

Last week during the Hurricanes’ first ACC road trip to Georgia Tech, Haith helped guide the team bus toward the Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

“I was able to tell our bus driver how to get to Alexander Memorial Coliseum because I knew exactly where to go,” quipped Haith, who spent three seasons as an assistant to Rick Barnes at Texas before arriving in Miami last spring.

Tonight, Haith may need his navigation skills again as his Hurricanes meet the Cavaliers at University Hall in a pivotal league contest for both squads.

While Haith chuckles about his vast knowledge of ACC geography, he has imparted his general knowledge of the league, its fans and its arenas to his players.

“The thing I’ve been able to tell our kids because I’ve been in the league is how passionate, and how enthusiastic this league is,” Haith said. “When you travel and go on the road, you are going to deal with educated fans. They understand the game and cheer for their team. That’s what I can pass on to the them and also that it is tough to win on the road.”

From his experiences, Haith noted he’ll tell his team that it is specifically hard to win at U-Hall.

“You look at teams’ records when they go to Charlottesville and you know that it is tough to win there,” Haith said. “My experiences help but these players played in some tough places in the Big East and they know about tough environments.”

The Hurricanes played well in their first ACC game at Georgia Tech before succumbing 80-69 last Thursday. On Sunday, Miami notched its first league victory with a 67-66 decision over N.C. State at home.

At 10-3, 1-1 in the ACC, the Hurricanes have certainly showed that they aren’t just patsies in their first year. The Hurricanes were projected toward the bottom of the league in the preseason.

“We’ve really gotten better this season. I don’t think people were necessarily wrong where they picked us because if you looked at our team, we lost our leading scorer from last year and our point guard transfers and our top recruit never came,” Haith said. “Everybody had a reason to say we were going to be at the bottom. It’s a long season though and we are still a work in progress.”

Virginia was also picked in the bottom half of the league, but like the Hurricanes of late, the Cavaliers tried to dispel those prognostications earlier on. The Cavaliers opened the season 8-1, including an

18-point victory over Arizona, but have faltered since.

The Cavaliers sandwiched a double-overtime win over Western Kentucky between a 19-point home loss to Wake Forest and a 23-point setback at Georgia Tech. The Cavaliers have played without leading scorer Devin Smith since

Dec. 23 and his presence is missed in both statistical categories and leadership ones.

“Devin wants to play when he’s ready to play. We are trying to get him healthy and get him ready for [today]. We don’t know if he’ll play or not honestly. We’re going step by step,” Virginia coach Pete Gillen said. “We think it’s improving. He wants to get on the court. He has a badly sprained ankle. I thought it might have been broken when it happened. I knew it would be a while.”

This game has obvious significance for the Cavaliers. Already 0-2 in the ACC and with consecutive road trips to Duke and Maryland looming, the Cavaliers don’t want to dig a hole in which may be too deep to recover.

“We are trying to regroup for a very good Miami [today]. Home games are so important because it is so hard to win on the road. The Miami game is a giant game for us,” Gillen said. “When you are 0-2, you have to get the first win.”

Freshman point guard Sean Singletary commented after the Georgia Tech game that the Cavaliers needed to “bring a new attitude” to practice this week. Gillen disputed that somewhat as he claimed that the Cavaliers’ practices have had the proper amount of intensity but are lacking the proper amount of participants.

“They are working hard. You have to understand that our best player is not practicing and few other are hobbled and you need that leadership every day in practice,” Gillen said. “I think they are doing a good job. Can you always work harder? Of course, but they are working very hard. We are 9-3 and not doing too badly. We’ve lost to two great teams. We have to keep working harder.”

Cavs facing must-win game
Suddenly-hot Miami could be U.Va.'s best chance to avoid 0-5 start in conference play
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Jan 12, 2005

Miami was picked to finish 11th - out of 11 teams - in the ACC basketball race. No protest came from Frank Haith. If he'd had a ballot, the Hurricanes' new coach might have voted his team last, too.

"I don't think people were wrong in where they picked us," Haith said this week.

From a team that finished 14-16 in 2003-04, its last season as a member of the Big East, Miami returned only two starters, and neither was a point guard. It had a new coach who'd never run his own program, and little enthusiasm for the'Canes was evident around Coral Gables, Fla.

Three games into the season, Miami stood 1-2, with a loss to South Carolina State. The preseason buzz about the Hurricanes, it appeared, was accurate. But then they started winning, and they've stumbled only once in their past 10 games.

"We've really gotten better since we started practice," said Haith, who was associate head coach at Texas last season.

Miami has beaten such teams as Florida, Massachusetts and, most recently, N.C. State. Its lone loss in the past month came against No. 8 Georgia Tech, which prevailed 80-69 in Atlanta last week.

"We competed, but I didn't want our guys to be satisfied with just competing," Haith said.

Sophomore Anthony Harris has emerged as a top-flight point guard, and Miami's other starters in the backcourt, 6-2 junior Robert Hite and 6-2 sophomore Guillermo Diaz, average 19.4 and 16.8 points, respectively. Center Anthony King, a 6-9, 230-pound sophomore, ranks second among ACC players in blocked shots and third in rebounding.

"The two biggest surprises are the two Anthonys," said Haith, a former Wake Forest assistant.

Tonight, the Hurricanes play in Charlottesville for the first time in nearly 40 years. Virginia (0-2, 9-3) entertains Miami (1-1, 10-3) at 7:30 p.m. at University Hall.

The Cavaliers, picked to finish eighth in the ACC, played in November like a team bound for the NCAA tournament, crushing Arizona and Richmond. Since then, however, they've often looked mediocre, and sometimes worse.

In each of its ACC games, U.Va. stayed close for a half, only to collapse after intermission. Wake Forest whipped the Cavs 89-70 at U-Hall, and Georgia Tech routed them 92-69 at Alexander Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night.

"We're not really sticking together," freshman point guard Sean Singletary said in Atlanta. "We're getting all down on each other, and we can't win like that . . . But it's early. We're going to get it together."

With road games against Duke and Maryland looming, U.Va. desperately needs to win tonight. Lose to Miami, and the Cavs could well be 0-5 in the conference heading into their Jan. 22 game against visiting Clemson.

"Home games are even more important," Virginia coach Pete Gillen said, "because it's so hard to win on the road. The Miami game is certainly a giant game for us. When you're 0-2, you've got to get that first win."

The Cavaliers have been without their best player, senior forward Devin Smith, for the past three games, and he may not play tonight. Smith, who's averaging a team-high 17.4 points and 6.6 rebounds, severely sprained his right ankle Dec. 23 against Loyola Marymount and hasn't suited up since.

"We're just trying to get him healthy," Gillen said.

Recruits find way to hedge their bet
By Shandel Richardson
Sun-Sentinel
Posted January 11 2005

Randy Phillips compares it to a piece of gold.

To him, nothing is more valuable in college football recruitment. It is his prized possession.

Phillips, who just finished playing at Glades Central, is talking about his non-binding commitment to the University of Miami. He values it the way the Belle Glade residents do their soil.

"It's like gold," said Phillips, a defensive back. "It's like once you make that commitment to Miami, everyone is going to want you."

Phillips is no different than any other big-time prospect. They play the recruiting game. Informally commit early to a major program and use it to advantage.

After his pledge to Miami, Phillips said he began hearing from everyone else. Florida. Florida State. Ohio State. All the major players in college football.

They say the NCAA often uses athletes in the time they are in college. Well, the oral commitment game is at least one way for the athletes to strike back.

"It really opens doors for you," Phillips said. "You can use them to get more attention for yourself."

Even though Phillips says Miami is his choice, there's no guarantee. If another school, say Florida State, says he will play next year, then it's possible he could end up with the Seminoles.

As the commitments come in at this busy time of year for recruiting, expect more of the same. Players like Dwyer's Jae McFadden (Wisconsin), Santaluces' Steve Dell (Pittsburgh) and Palm Beach Lakes' Jarrett Brown (West Virginia) have said where they plan to go next year. But it can't become official until Feb. 2, National Signing Day.

So for every player like Courtney Harris of Jupiter, who says he intends to play at Miami, there are more like Phillips who could change their minds.
 

Charlotte bowl finds new sponsor
Erik Spanberg
Senior Staff Writer

Meineke Car Care Centers Inc. has replaced Continental Tire North America Inc. as title sponsor of the annual college football bowl game in Charlotte.

Meineke executives signed a three-year deal this week, renaming the game as the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The pact begins with the next game, which will be played at Bank of America Stadium in December.

Terms weren't disclosed, but industry experts peg the annual value at $1.25 million to $1.5 million.

Continental Tire of Charlotte backed the game through its first three years, including last month's game. The game recorded two sellouts at the 73,250-seat stadium.

Meineke and Continental are based in Charlotte.

"Keeping a local company as title sponsor is tremendous," says Ken Haines, chief executive at Raycom Sports, which organizes and manages the game. "It gives you much better communication and it allows the employees to have a much bigger role in the game and the activities around it."

The game generates an annual economic impact of $10 million to $15 million, local tourism executives estimate.

Deals with the stadium, television partner ESPN2 and participating conferences (the Atlantic Coast and Big East) run through 2005. Organizers hope to extend those contracts later this year or in early 2006.
 

NO CAVALIER ATTITUDE TONIGHT
The Hurricanes, fresh off their upset win vs. N.C. State, won't take unranked Virginia lightly tonight. 'We're still growing, and by no means are we a finished product,' coach Frank Haith said.
BY GEORGE RICHARDS
grichards@herald.com

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - On Nov. 23, the University of Miami men's basketball team lost its first game of the season, a depressing 10-point setback to unheralded South Carolina State.

In the weeks that have followed, the Hurricanes have rebounded nicely. Miami posted an eight-game winning streak that included wins against Florida and Massachusetts, and the Canes have been competitive in their first two ACC games, the latter a win against North Carolina State in front of a sellout home crowd.

Tonight, the Hurricanes can continue their ascent with a win at Virginia.

''We expect to win every game,'' leading scorer Robert Hite said after Sunday's victory against the Wolfpack. ``We just go out there and execute. We're excited, but we have to be ready for Virginia. I think people might be surprised, because we weren't supposed to do anything.

``We just have to continue to show that we are capable.''

When Miami lost to South Carolina State, those who predicted the Hurricanes would finish at the bottom of the super-tough ACC nodded knowingly. Miami failed to make the 14-team Big East tournament last year and looked headed down that same road this season despite having a new energetic coach at the controls.

''One thing I've learned in this business is you can never get too high or too low,'' said Frank Haith, an assistant at Texas last year who replaced the fired Perry Clark.

``We had a moment against South Carolina State that was the low moment of the year. But I wasn't discouraged. I know our players feel the same way. We know there is another challenge ahead.''

Less than a week after the loss, the Canes regained some confidence by playing Xavier tough before losing in overtime, then got on a roll by winning eight straight.

Last Thursday night, Miami earned some respect in the conference by hanging with host Georgia Tech before losing its ACC debut 80-69.

''I think a lot of teams underestimate us,'' center Anthony King said. ``We're two games into the ACC now, and people want to see what we're made of. We're not going to finish at the bottom of the ACC.''

Tonight, Miami goes into a tough setting to play the unranked Cavaliers. A win would make the Canes 2-1 in conference play going into Saturday's game against former UM coach Leonard Hamilton and rival Florida State. After that, consecutive games against Tobacco Road powers Duke and North Carolina await.

That said, Miami isn't looking past tonight's game -- especially with the loss to South Carolina State serving as a symbol of humility.

''We've come a long way since then,'' Haith said. ``We've grown up. We're still growing, and by no means are we a finished product. But we're moving in the right direction, and we're finding ways to win games.

``As a coach, I get enjoyment in going to practice and seeing these guys improve. We've seen it throughout the season.''

Cavaliers should beat Miami, but will they?
Published January 12 2005
David Teel

Virginia plays a pachyderm-large ACC game tonight against Miami. Sounds odd, I know, but trust me. Yes, the basketball season is young, and no, these are not Blue Devils or Tar Heels sauntering into University Hall. But the Hurricanes, who last visited Charlottesville in 1966, are worthy opponents, and the Cavaliers can ill afford to lose.

The consequences of defeat? Residence, likely season long, in the conference's bottom tier; probable NCAA tournament exclusion; a cruel winter for Pete Gillen.

This evening's urgency is rooted in Virginia's teetering ACC start. The Cavaliers (10-3, 0-2) not only lost to Wake Forest at home and at Georgia Tech, but also failed to compete, falling by 19 and 23 points, respectively.

Don't kid yourself. These were not tense games that got out of hand late. These were standard-issue blowouts.

That's weak, no matter an opponent's ranking, no matter the ankle injury sidelining top scorer Devin Smith. Quality teams overcome injuries, and they most certainly don't fold at home.

Stumble at home again tonight, and the Cavaliers are staring at an 0-5 conference crater, their first since 1985. Oh, they could rebound by winning subsequent games at Duke and/or Maryland, but 21 defeats in the last 23 ACC road tests are not encouraging.

The 1985 bunch, by the way, finished the conference season 3-11 and back-doored into the NIT. This season's team needs at least a 7-9 ACC record to earn the program's first NCAA tournament bid since 2001, and 7-9 from 0-5 will be improbable, nay, impossible.

Four consecutive years without an NCAA bid would mark Virginia's longest drought since the late '70s. And such a drought likely would end Gillen's seven-year tenure as coach.

But enough doom and gloom. The Cavaliers should win tonight. After all, they defeated Arizona, Richmond, Auburn and Western Kentucky in nonconference play, losing only at Iowa State by two. They are athletic, capable and playing at home.

Miami (10-3, 1-1) is an ACC newcomer. The Hurricanes lost at home to South Carolina State, only the ACC's fourth defeat against a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent in 142 games. They rank 10th among 11 ACC teams in shooting percentage.

Yet Miami, strong on the perimeter with Robert Hite and Guillermo Diaz, has performed better than Virginia this month. Led by rookie head coach Frank Haith, a former Wake Forest and Texas assistant, the Hurricanes remained competitive throughout much of their ACC debut, an 80-69 loss at Georgia Tech. And on Sunday they posted their first conference victory, 67-66 over visiting North Carolina State.

So no gimme tonight. Half-hearted defense and half-baked offense, hallmarks of recent Virginia games, won't suffice. Specifically, they won't suffice from the team's most gifted players, Sean Singletary and Elton Brown.

Singletary, a freshman, will become a prime-time point guard. But he missed 21 of 25 shots in the last three games while groping to contain the likes of Wake Forest's Chris Paul and Georgia Tech's Jarrett Jack.

Brown, a senior center, is averaging a career-high 9.8 rebounds but shooting a career-low 47.7 percent. In his last three games, he is 12-of-39 from the field, unacceptable for a low-post player.

Compare Brown's numbers to the conference's best big men. Wake's Eric Williams is shooting 63.3 percent, Duke's Shelden Williams 57.8, North Carolina's Sean May 57.7 and Clemson's Sharrod Ford 51.3. Brown needs to join that 50-percent club, and his membership drive needs to commence tonight.

Brown, Singletary and their teammates will benefit immeasurably from Smith's return, whenever that occurs. Perimeter and interior scoring, rebounding, defense, leadership: Smith provides it all.

Smith played through gripping back pain last season, and only the mother of sprained ankles would sideline him. But his availability tonight is questionable, and even if he does return, he certainly won't be at full tilt.

Sorry, no sympathy cards. Stuff happens. Ask the trainers at Duke, N.C. State, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. You need to endure, especially when there's a pachyderm in the house.

Sampson strong in first game as a Butler Rebel
Son of ex-NBA star scores 18 with 18 boards
Saturday, January 08, 2005
By JOHN PRUETT
Times Sports Editor johnp@htimes.com

A spectator intercepted Butler High School basketball coach Jack Doss before the Rebels' game at Johnson High Friday night and asked, "Is the Sampson kid starting tonight?''

"Is it raining outside?'' Doss quipped.

It was. Steadily.

The Sampson kid - 6-foot-10 freshman Ralph Sampson III., son of basketball legend Ralph Sampson - started at center and played most of the game in Butler's tense 76-73 triple-overtime loss to the Jaguars.

Playing in his first game in a Butler uniform after transferring from North-view High in Duluth, Ga., young Samson scored 18 points, yanked down 18 rebounds and blocked four shots.

"I thought he was spectacular,'' Doss said. "For a freshman to score 18 and get 18 rebounds without even really knowing the plays ... What can you say? His future is beyond the 'Sky's the limit.'

"He really has only played one year of basketball. I don't want to go overboard, but this kid has a chance to be the best I've ever seen someday.''

Before the game, Doss said Sampson - who was ruled eligible for competition just this week - was "a little nervous, but he's ready.''

Earlier in the day in the Butler lunchroom, Doss asked Sampson: "How many rebounds are you going to get tonight?''

"I'm thinking about 20, Coach,'' he replied.

After the game, the soft-spoken teenager - who wore No. 50, his father's old number - said he was pleasantly surprised by his performance.

"It was exciting,'' he said. "The experience was a little more than I expected. I played more than I thought I would.''

Sampson scored seven field goals, mostly in the lane, and hit four-of-five free throws.

"He was pretty good,'' said Johnson coach Reginald Sanders. "We'll have to deal with him in the future.''

"He's going to be real good,'' said Johnson guard Jonathan Lampley. "He's a freshman and he played his tail off.''

Sampson's personal cheering section included his mother, Aleize Sampson; his 17-year-old sister Ratchel, also a Butler student; his grandmother, Helen Green of Anniston; and younger siblings Anna and Robert, students at Williams Elementary.

"I'm nervous, but I think he'll do well,'' said Mrs. Sampson, who was a student at Anniston High in the late 1970s when Doss was coaching and teaching there.

"Coach knew both me and my brother,'' she said.

Aleize's brother, Alan Dial, went on to play football at UCLA and later played in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. He is now an attorney in Washington, D. C.

Ralph's father, now 44, was one of the most acclaimed basketball players of his era. A native of Harrisonburg, Va., in the Shenandoah Valley, he was one of the most heavily recruited high school players in history. After narrowing his choices to Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia Tech, he called a press conference in the spring of 1978 and announced his decision: Virginia.

As a Cavalier, he won three consecutive national player of the year awards. In his four-year college career, he averaged 17 points per game, pulled down more than 1,500 rebounds and blocked 462 shots.

Sampson was chosen by Houston with the first pick of the 1983 NBA draft and went on to earn Rookie of the Year honors. He played 10 years of professional basketball and retired after the 1991-92 season, his career cut short by knee injuries. He played for four different NBA teams - Houston, Golden State, Sacramento and Washington.

Sampson now lives in Duluth, Ga.