Miami is coming off of a season where they finished 23-10 and lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Texas. They have participated in postseason play in three of the four seasons under current head coach Frank Haith.

The Hurricanes return four starters from a year ago and 83-percent of their scoring, which led to a preseason Top-25 ranking. They enter tomorrow night’s game with a 4-2 record with losses to Connecticut and Ohio State. Their lone quality victory is against San Diego.

Jack McClinton, a 2007-08 All-ACC First Team selection, headlines the returnees and leads the team in scoring and slaps in the face. He has scored at least 10 points in 30 of his last 32 games, which includes the game against Ohio State where he scored 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting from three in just eight minutes before being ejected for slapping Ohio State’s Anthony Crater in the face.

McClinton is simply a pure scorer and one of the best shooters in the ACC. He is a career 91-percent shooter from the line and shoots 43-percent from beyond the arc. McClinton is averaging 15.2 points-per-game to go along with 2.5 assists on the young season.

Their three other returning starters are junior James Dews (6-4, guard), junior Dwayne Collins (6-8, forward) and senior Lance Hurdle (6-2, guard). Dews has started in 39 strait games and after being second on the team in scoring a year ago, he is averaging just six per-game this season.

Their frontline is strong and deep and led by Collins, who uses his 240-pound frame to bang underneath. After finishing third in the ACC in rebounding a year ago, he is averaging a double-double with 12.7 points and 10.2 rebounds. When he gets the ball underneath he usually finishes as he is shooting 61-percent from the field. Hurdle is averaging 9.4 points and shooting 39-percent from beyond the arc.

In Monday’s 73-68 loss against Ohio State, the Hurricanes led 36-22 at half but allowed the Buckeyes to shoot 67-percent in the second half en route to their comeback win. Ohio State’s Jon Diebler and Evan Turner were allowed to score at will.

The addition of McClinton, who missed the second half after being ejected, will make all the difference in the world because when McClinton struggles they struggle. He is the key to their offense and the key to them winning games. Jodie Meeks should have a field day against this defense, as Turner and Diebler did. Miami is pretty thick underneath so look for Meeks to attempt to do most the damage.

This is a big game for the Cats as they face their last real non-conference challenge, not counting the Louisville game. They go for their 6th consecutive win after starting the season at 0-2 and their first win against a Top-25 foe.

Oh and when your team has a lack of basketball history, the best thing to do is get a group of kids together to make a “One Shining Moment” video and make it look like you do. These kids did just that. Check it.