Miami basketball 2015-16 season preview

Overview: The Hurricanes lost the 2015 NIT tournament title game 66-64 against Stanford in overtime and the squad will seek redemption this season. Miami returns four of its five starters from last season’s squad aside from the transfer of point guard Manu Lacomte to Baylor. The Hurricanes’ returning point guard Angel Rodriguez will look to shake off last season’s poor performance in conference play—shooting just 16-of-77 in eight games between Jan. 17 and Feb. 11—and lead Miami to an NCAA tournament berth. Sheldon McClellan will also be a strong presence for the Hurricanes, coming off last year’s campaign in which he gained confidence as the season progressed, averaging 14.5 points per game on 48.4 percent shooting. 7-foot center Tonye Jekiri led the ACC in rebounds last year with 9.9 per game and the Hurricanes welcome transfer Kamari Murphy from Oklahoma State, who led the Cowboys in rebounds and blocks during the 2013-14 season, tallying 199 and 40, respectively. Larrañaga’s experienced starting unit was tabbed fifth in the conference preseason poll but must adjust to new faces on the coaching staff with the loss of two of Larrañaga’s three longtime assistant coaches—Eric Konkol to Louisiana Tech and Michael Huger to Bowling Green.

One thing that needs to go right: Rodriguez finds his rhythm like he did in Miami’s 90-74 win against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium and racks up 20 points or more in conference games, helping the Hurricanes finish better than fifth in the ACC and earn a ticket to the Big Dance.

One thing that could go wrong: Rodriguez remains plagued by his inconsistency and McClellan and Reed can’t step up to compensate, leaving Miami’s veteran squad with a return to the NIT.