THE GOOD NEWS
Miami will return four starters next season, including top scorer Jack McClinton, to a team that now has the confidence of knowing it can compete in the ACC. Two top reserves also are back, and 6-9 Cyrus McGowan, a transfer from Arkansas, will be eligible after sitting out this season.

THE BAD NEWS
The Hurricanes are going to find it tougher getting to the top tier in the ACC than it was to get out of the basement into the midpack. They lose Anthony King, a force in the middle, and Raymond Hicks, who provided depth up front off the bench. Five of their ACC wins were by three points or fewer, so they didn't exactly dominate the league on their way to fifth place. A half-dozen plays turned another way would have resulted in a much different season.

KEY RETURNEES
Jack McClinton, of course, is the most important returnee. He averaged a team-best 17.7 ppg and scored 56 points in the two NCAA games. Lance Hurdle took over ball-handling responsibilities, and James Dews also can shoot the three, giving Miami a set backcourt. Dwayne Collins returns up front and should be a more consistent performer as a junior than he was this season as a sophomore. Jimmy Graham finished strong. Brian Asbury kind of disappeared but could be a big contributor as a senior.

ROSTER REPORT

--Jack McClinton has scored 1,085 points in two seasons and should easily move into the top 10 career scorers for Miami before he is finished. With one year left, McClinton is within 392 points of 10th-place Guillermo Diaz. The school record of 2,298 points held by Rick Barry is well out of reach, but McClinton could become the leader in 3-point shooting. He has 186 with one year to go. Steven Edwards holds the record with 265.

--Anthony King, who had two blocked shots in the win over St. Mary's in the NCAA tourney, finished his career with 219 rejections, third most in school history since Miami started keeping records for blocks in the 1985-86 season. Constantin Popa holds the record of 263, and No. 2 is Tim James with 224.

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