University of Miami center Reggie Johnson is back healthy and fully confident in his team’s ability to have a big season.
“We will win big,” Johnson said Wednesday. “I’m sorry if I sound cocky or whatever it sounds, but I think we will win big,”
Asked what winning big meant, the 6-10, 292-pound senior said: “[The NCAA] tournament and make noise. I definitely want to make the tournament. There is no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Forget the NIT. Forget all of that. I’m going to tell you right now, and some of you (the media) might think, ‘oh, he’s crazy,’ but I’m telling you right now what it’s going to be for this upcoming season.”
The Hurricanes’ last NCAA tournament berth was in the 2007-08 season. UM finished 20-13 and narrowly missed out on an NCAA berth last season in Jim Larranaga’s first year as Miami’s coach, then was ousted in the second round of the NIT by Minnesota.
Johnson missed the first two months of last season while recovering from knee surgery and also served a one-game NCAA suspension for accepting impermissible benefits. He came on to average nine points and seven rebounds per game.
The Hurricanes begin practice for the 2012-13 season at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
• Guard Durand Scott will miss the first three games of the season while completing his NCAA suspension for accepting impermissible benefits. Scott will be eligible to make his season debut Nov. 24 against Detroit.
• Forward Garrius Adams had knee surgery in early September and is likely to miss the early part of the season.
[Correspondent Christopher Stock contributed to this story.]
About the Author
