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Countdown to Tipoff: Miami Hurricanes

Jim Larranaga, Miami Head Coach

Jim Larranaga begins his second season at Miami after a successful first year in which the Hurricanes finished 20-13 overall and posted their first-ever winning record in ACC play with a 9-7 league mark ... Larranaga came to Miami after serving as the head coach at George Mason for 14 seasons. He guided the program to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including an unprecedented run to the 2006 Final Four that captured the nation's attention, defeating Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State and UConn along the way ... following that run, he was selected the 2006 Clair Bee Coach of the Year ... Larranaga built the Patriots' program into a perennial contender in the highly regarded Colonial Athletic Association, winning more games than any other coach in program and conference history (273) en route to three conference titles ... a two-time CAA Coach of the Year honoree, Larranaga earned the accolade in 2011, leading the Patriots to a 27-7 overall record and 16-2 conference mark en route to the CAA regular-season title and their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance under his leadership ... in 2006, Larranaga became the first coach at a mid-major school to take his team to the Final Four in 27 years and earned an at-large berth for a CAA team for the first time in 20 years ... the native of Bronx, N.Y., previously served as the head coach at Bowling Green for 11 seasons (1986- 1997) and at Division II American International for two seasons (1977-79) ... a 1971 graduate of Providence College with a degree in economics, Larranaga was a four-year letterman for the Friars ... his assistant coaching positions included a stop at Virginia (1979-86), during which time the Cavaliers won an NIT title and reached two NCAA Final Fours ... Larranaga enters this season 10 wins shy of 500 for his career.

Returning players

Durand Scott, Sr., Guard
A three-year starter, Scott was All-ACC honorable mention and one of two ACC players to lead his team in both scoring (12.9) and assists (3.1) in 2011-12 ... has averaged in double figures in each of his first three seasons and leads all active ACC players with 1,217 career points ... was seventh in the ACC in assists (3.1) and 10th in free throw percentage (.795)

Kenny Kadji, Sr., Forward
A third-team All-ACC selection in 2011-12 after averaging 11.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game ... led or tied for the team lead in scoring 11 times ... started 28 of Miami's 32 games ... led the Hurricanes and was sixth in the ACC in blocked shots (1.6) ... had four double-doubles, including two in ACC play.

Reggie Johnson, Sr., Center
Played in 23 games a year ago, including 22 starts ... averaged 10.0 points and a team-high 7.2 rebounds per game ... honorable mention All-ACC as a sophomore in 2010-11, Johnson has led the team in rebounding in each of the past two seasons and is third among among active ACC players with 660 career rebounds.

Shane Larkin, So., Guard
Earned first team All-ACC Freshman team honors after averaging 7.4 points and 2.5 assists per game ... played in 32 games with 19 starts ... led the team and was fifth in the ACC in steals (1.6) ... scored in double figures 10 times and shot .857 from the free throw line ... averaged 12.0 points and 3.8 rebounds over the final four games.

Rion Brown, Jr., Guard
Started the last three games of the 2011-12 season, averaging 15.7 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting .471 from the floor over that span ... scored in double figures 10 times.

Trey McKinney Jones, Sr., Guard
Averaged 7.0 points and 3.5 rebounds ... played in all 33 games with 12 starts ... had 14 games with 10-or-more points including a season-high 13 points against Maryland (twice) ... shot .585 from the floor the last eight games.

Garrius Adams, Sr., Guard
Averaged 4.5 points and 2.1 rebounds despite missing 14 games last season with a lower extremity injury ... had surgery on Jan. 19 and returned to the court Feb. 18 ... averaged 7.3 points in 24 starts as a sophomore in 2010-11.

Erik Swoope, Jr., Forward
Started eight of the first 10 games of the season ... played in 23 games, averaging 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds ... shot .500 (23-46) from the floor ... had a season-high 11 points in a 69-58 win over Tennessee Tech (N11).