El Perez-idente!: Hurricanes Ready for Storm

In case anyone has missed it, something special has been brewing in South Florida.

The University of Miami men's basketball team--for years the laughingstock of both the city and the school--has stormed onto the national scene.

In four short seasons, the Hurricanes have gone from being one of the sorriest excuses for a basketball team in the country--going 0-18 in Big East play in 1993--to jumping into the Associated Press top 25 for the first time since 1960. And now that Miami has secured a No.2 seed in the East bracket of the NCAA Tournament, you can consider the comeback complete.

The road back was anything but easy, however.

The University of Miami basketball program reached the height of its popularity and success in the 1960s under the leadership of future NBA great and Hall-of-Famer Rick Barry. But soon after Barry's departure, sagging attendance and declining interest led the university to abolish the program in 1971.

Not until 1985 would there be college hoops for the Hurricanes. And the return of basketball was not met with great enthusiasm as detractors claimed that Miami, a notorious football town, could never support a college basketball team.

And for a while it seemed as if they were right.

Miami simply couldn't compete on the national level. While Hurricane baseball and football were competing for, and winning, national championships, basketball struggled to reach .500, and the lack of fans at games had people questioning whether it was worth having a team at all.

Furthermore, the lack of a decent on-campus arena, a fanatical crowd or a basketball tradition eliminated Miami's chances of landing top-notch recruits.

In spring 1990, however, Miami made the first step in its college basketball turn-around by hiring Leonard Hamilton, then coach at Oklahoma State. Hamilton had rebuilt the Cowboy program to respectable levels, and had also assisted on some of the great Kentucky teams in the 1970's.

What lay ahead was the unenviable task of building a program from scratch. But with an incredible work ethic and an unmatched interest for each individual athlete, Hamilton began to lure some solid talent to Miami.

The Hurricanes still struggled to compete--especially after joining the basketball-rich Big East conference--continually finishing under .500. They were still thirsting for a bona fide star to take a chance and join the team.

Then, in 1994, Hamilton and the Hurricanes found the answer to its prayers--local high school star Tim James.

Upon graduating from Miami's Northwestern High School, the 6'7 James was one of the most sought after athletes in the nation. He was a First Team All-State selection in Florida, as well as a "Parade Magazine" Third Team All-American, finishing as the school's all-time leader in points (2,358), rebounds (1170) and blocked shots (714).

James' exploits were not limited to the basketball court, however. This super talent also earned First Team All-State honors in track with a high jump performance of 6'10 his senior year. James also jumped a state record 7'2 during his junior year.

Despite receiving numerous scholarship offers from schools rich with basketball tradition such as Connecticut and Syracuse, James surprised everyone by deciding to stay at home and join a UM team that had just completed an 0-18 Big East season.

Little did anyone know this 18-year-old's decision would be the catalyst for the program's stunning ascent to its spot among the college basketball elite.

By playing Hamilton's brand of basketball--tenacious defense and all-out energy and hustle--and by improving each season, James has led the Hurricanes to a remarkable swing in his four years.

Before his arrival, the Hurricanes were a combined 17-55 in league play through its first four years in the Big East. Since then, however, Miami has gone 44-30 in conference games, including four consecutive winning seasons.

And this season has marked the culmination of many years of hard work. With a record of 22-6 (15-3 Big East), victories over UConn, St. John's (twice) and Syracuse and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Miami has had its most successful season in its history.

This young team has surprised all, rising into the top ten of both polls, by using a stifling defense that allows opponents less than 40 percent shooting from the field.

And at long last, the Hurricanes are receiving the respect they deserve.

Hamilton was recently named Big East Coach of the Year for the second time.

Additionally, the Hurricanes were the only team to have two starters on the First Team All-Big East Team, with James and junior guard Johnny Hemsley earning the honors. James also earned co-Big East Player of the Year honors with perhaps the best player in the nation, UConn's Richard Hamilton. Hemsley was named the conference's Comeback Player of the Year.

The team has clearly come of age and is now gearing up for a strong showing in the tournament. Few give Miami a chance to advance to the Final Four, let alone win the national title, especially with the seemingly unstoppable Duke in its bracket.

Miami remains unfazed, though, as the position of underdog is nothing new to them.

"I'm just foolish enough to believe is Miami football can win national titles, if our baseball teams can win national titles, then men's basketball can win national titles," Hamilton said in an interview with The Miami Herald.

With his determination and the Hurricanes' talent and desire, he may not to be the foolish one after all.