Miami’s Jim Larranaga Uses a New Defense to Turn Things Around

Posted by Brad Jenkins (@bradjenk) on January 22nd, 2014

It’s often said that the best way to measure a coach is to look at how his teams perform relative to its talent level. Miami head coach Jim Larranaga has always been well-regarded by using that method of evaluation, and not that anyone should be surprised, but Larranaga is doing it again with his 2013-14 Hurricanes. Back in October, the ACC media tabbed Miami as the 12th best team in the conference. After a shaky 5-5 start to the season, the Hurricanes have now won five of their last seven games, including a solid 2-2 league mark in that stretch. In fact, Miami now looks like it is well on its way to topping its preseason ranking, and the Hurricanes now also have legitimate hopes of reaching postseason play. Let’s take a closer look at how Larranaga has managed to turn things around.

Jim Larranaga is Using a Stingy Zone Defense and Slower Pace to Make Miami Very Competitive. (Photo: Steve Mitchell / USA TODAY Sports)

Jim Larranaga is Using a Stingy Zone Defense and Slower Pace to Make Miami Very Competitive.
(Photo: Steve Mitchell / USA TODAY Sports)

It was obvious that this was going to be a rebuilding year after losing five seniors along with ACC Player of the Year Shane Larkin from the greatest Hurricanes team ever. And we also knew that with only four returnees from the 2012-13 ACC champions, it would take them a while to figure out how all the pieces would best fit together. The first 10 games of the season got off to a rocky start with an overtime home loss to St. Francis (NY) and closed with another overtime home loss, this time to league bottom-feeder Virginia Tech. It was at that point when Larranaga decided to try a new defensive game plan in switching to a zone. As a coach who had primarily taught man-to-man defense during his long career, the 64-year old decided to call on a couple of his old coaching buddies for some help. Former Pittsburgh head coach Ralph Willard and Syracuse assistant Bernie Fine each spent a day teaching the details of playing a match-up zone to the Miami coaching staff.

Read the rest of this entry »

Share this story

RTC Mascot Death Match Champion: Big Red!

Posted by nvr1983 on April 30th, 2009

Just remembered that we never posted the championship results of this year’s RTC Mascot Death Match.  So here goes…

By a resounding margin, Western Kentucky’s Big Red easily handled Cleveland St.’s Magnus the Viking in the final match.   Admittedly, the bigger upset was in the semifinal round when the WKU mascot took out Xavier’s Blue Blob.   So congratulations to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and their mascot, Big Red, for winning the first annual RTC Mascot Death Match!

wku-big-red

This has been fun.  Check back next year during the first week of the NCAA Tournament for the next version, and thanks to everyone who voted over the last month. 

Share this story

RTC Mascot Death Match: Championship Match!!

Posted by rtmsf on April 13th, 2009

And we’re finally down to the RTC Mascot Death Match Championship between the W. Kentucky Big Red (who pulled the shocking upset over Xavier’s Big Blob) and the Cleveland State’s Magnus the Viking.  As always, vote early and often.  We’ll keep this up all week for your final selection. 

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Share this story

RTC Mascot Death Match: Elite Eight Matches

Posted by rtmsf on April 2nd, 2009

Here we go with the Elite Eight matches of Mascot Death Match.  We’ll have the Final Four up this weekend.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Share this story

RTC Mascot Death Match: Sweet Sixteen Matches

Posted by rtmsf on March 26th, 2009

Ok, we’re ready for the Sweet Sixteen of Mascot Death Match.  Things are starting to heat up.  Who is your favorite?  Voting will be open the next couple of days.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic


Image and video hosting by TinyPic


Image and video hosting by TinyPic


Image and video hosting by TinyPic


Image and video hosting by TinyPic


Image and video hosting by TinyPic


Image and video hosting by TinyPic


Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Share this story

RTC Mascot Death Match – Second Round (Sunday Matches)

Posted by rtmsf on March 23rd, 2009

Continuing on into the second round of the Mascot Death Match…  you can continue to vote on these throughout the early part of this week, and we’ll have the Sweet Sixteen Matchups up on Thursday. 

For the 2d Round Saturday Matches, click here

Image and video hosting by TinyPic


Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Read the rest of this entry »

Share this story

RTC 2009 Mascot Death Match – Second Round (Saturday Matches)

Posted by rtmsf on March 22nd, 2009

We’re back with the 2nd round of the Mascot Challenge. Be sure to vote for your favorite mascot so he/she can advance toward the championship game.

For the 2d Round Sunday Matches, click here.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic


Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Read the rest of this entry »

Share this story

RTC 2009 Mascot Death Match – First Round (Friday Matches)

Posted by rtmsf on March 18th, 2009

Welcome to the RTC 2009 Mascot Death Match!  We’ll post each round of games as they come available, so check back Friday for Saturday’s Round 2 matches and so forth.  Voting will close at the end of each day’s matches.

MIDWEST: DAY 2
Image and video hosting by TinyPic


Image and video hosting by TinyPic


Image and video hosting by TinyPic


Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Read the rest of this entry »

Share this story

RTC 2009 Mascot Death Match – First Round (Thursday Matches)

Posted by rtmsf on March 16th, 2009

Welcome to the RTC 2009 Mascot Death Match!  We’ll post each round of games as they come available, so check back tomorrow for Friday’s Matches, and on Friday for Saturday’s Round 2 matches, etc.  Voting will close at the end of each day’s matches.

Thursday Matches: WEST
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Cosmo the Cougar wins by default.

Read the rest of this entry »

Share this story