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NCAA Tournament: Five Reasons the Hurricanes Can Get to the Sweet 16

By Alan Rubenstein

Mar 16, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Jim Larranaga during practice at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Jim Larranaga during practice at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 9, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Isaiah Hicks (4) reacts as the ball goes out of bounds past Miami Hurricanes guard Davon Reed (5) during the first half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sportsat Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Take Care of the Ball

The Hurricanes have had trouble with turnovers all season without a true point guard. Ja’Quan Newton is more of a combo guard and Brown who is a two was forced to be the point when Newton was suspended for three games earlier this season.

The Hurricanes actually finished a fairly respectable 139th in the country in turnovers this season. They struggled early in the season with turnovers but have done a better job later in the season.

Newton is the primary culprit of the Miami turnovers. He is average 3.3 of the Hurricanes 12.7 per game. As Miami’s primary ball handler he is going to have to cut down on the turnovers to get wins over Michigan State and Kansas.

No one on the Spartans averages over 2.5 turnovers per game and Josh Jackson averages 2.8 fir Kansas. That makes Newton significantly higher than any of his teammates or any of his likely NCAA Tournament opponents.

Although the Canes had a relatively low turnover number, they had a negative assist to turnover margin. They committed 407 turnovers while having only 381 assists this season.

Newton has 99 assists to 97 turnovers, Brown has been far better taking care of the ball with 102 assists to just 66 turnovers.

Next: Five Questions With Spartan Avenue

The Hurricanes are attempting to advance to third Sweet 16 in five years and their fourth overall. If they can use this formula they just might get there.

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