After back-to-back overtime games, this was a welcome change, at least for my ticker.

Miami jumped ahead 20-8, and cruised to a comfortable 65-49 win before a seemingly sparse crowd at the BankUnited Center. Miami was led by Reggie Johnson, who led the team in points (15), rebounds (7) and assists (4). Tech was led by their star, Erick Green, with a game-high 17 points on 7-17 shooting.

However, it's what Johnson had that Green didn't that made the difference --- help......

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Opportunity is knocking. Will the Canes answer?

Following a season-changing victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium Sunday, Miami looks to build off of it tonight against the turkeys Hokies in what hopefully will be a run to the big dance. At 2-6 in the ACC, this matchup appears to be one that strongly favors Miami. However, looking at VTech's conference results, it's not a matchup that Miami can take lightly, as the Hokies have been competitive in nearly ever game. Each of their conference losses have been by 4 points or less, with the exception of Duke/UNC.

Tech is led by point guard Erick Green, who is averaging 15.7 ppg and shooting an impressive 38.5% from behind the arc. Hopefully Shane Larkin or Durand Scott, whichever will be on him, can continue Miami's streak of solid perimeter defense.

National audience tonight, as the game is being carried on ESPN2. Go Canes.......

We now take a break to inform you that the Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team has a very good shot at making the 2012 NCAA Tournament. No, really! It may seem impossible considering that up until Sunday the Canes had exactly zero wins of any significance, but a victory over Duke in Cameron Indoor can change all of that around very quickly. The Canes are at least within striking distance, but after bombing in non-conference play (without star center Reggie Johnson, but that's a discussion for when Selection Sunday gets nearer) a lone win over Duke is likely not enough to hang a hat on.

So, let's look at the how the Canes, who at 5-3 in the ACC are sixth in the conference standings, can find themselves in the field of 68 come mid-March.

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With Lamar Miller heading off to play on Sundays, Miami has a big hole to fill in its backfield come September. Miller was one of the closest things to a complete college running back you'll ever see and will be very difficult to replace. Speed, power, vision, home-run-on-any-given-play kind of player. Special. And we really aren't sure what we have with junior Eduardo Clements, who will battle the steady, if not unspectacular Mike James and converted cornerback Dallas Crawford for the starting job.

However, what the Canes lost in Miller, they might have gained in a pair of new signees.

Miami Norland's Randy "Duke" Johnson (and this is the last time I will probably ever write "Randy"), a longtime Miami commitment, comes into Coral Gables this fall with as much hype and expectation as any Hurricane back in recent memory, and we know how ridiculous the Canes' track record of backs has been. He will be counted on to bring explosiveness out of the backfield that the team might seem to lack right now. Conversely, Venice High running back Danny Dillard comes in as maybe the team's biggest tailback right off the bat at 6'2 205 pounds. He's a guy who won't make a lot of defenders miss, but they might not be happy that they didn't miss him when they hit him.

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National Signing day was big for the Canes all around, but the defensive backfield got probably the biggest boost of them all. Not only did we pull in some serious start-right-away talent, but we took a position of need and turned it into one that will be covered for at least a few years. While the existing players are talented in their own right, they were few and far between. The incoming guys will (not should, but will) provide some immediate competition for on the field spots, and will also throw themselves into the backup roles with some authority. Let's take a look!

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Screaming fans, jazz hands, officials, a great coach......all of them be damned today.

For the first time in program history, the University of Miami basketball team entered the hallowed confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium and sent the home fans back to Kryzwewski-ville in a tiffy with a 78-74 nailbiting victory in overtime. Reggie Johnson was the catalyst, going for 27 points and 12 rebounds, and making key baskets late in the second half to help keep pace with a surging Duke squad that overcame three deficits of 16 points. It was nothing short of poetic for a kid from Winston-Salem, NC who got only one ACC scholarship offer coming out of high school.

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