The Florida International basketball team actually came into being almost as an response to an opportunity that the college they share the city of Miami with was down.  The Golden Panthers leaped into the abyss which opened when the Hurricanes shut down their program for a minute.  They were D-2 for a second and then were suddenly a D-1 program. They had no idea what they were getting into but boy did they make a wave.  Or at least a ripple as far as their win/loss total and attention they got were concerned.  They may not have ended up with the best record or even had the most supreme talent but they did show that a team can at least stand on the porch with the Big Dogs if it just keeps it mind on the prize.  Coach Bob Weltlich’s team does have a few secret weapons he has been able to bring to Miami for next year.  The once big-time coach (he did not succeed in Austin) was able to bring in a few major ‘players’ who share his heart and desire and are huge gets for this fledgling program.  Being on the southern tip of Florida they do have the advantage of being able to recruit players from anywhere in the Caribbean. Miami itself is a hot bed for young talent especially kids coming from out of the country knowing how diverse of a city it is. As a matter of fact they got one kid who has already made an impact internationally and every team on the East Coast seemingly wanted (though the Midwest was not impressed with his style). The Golden Panthers were about as green and fresh as a team could be and went through some growing pains but they are here now and will be around for awhile. 

Weltlich’s assistant Shakey Rodriquez recruited a bunch of underclassmen (this former Miami High School coaching legend is a heck of a recruiter) with the mindset that they will have a chance at developing a long-term program.  They did not get a lot of blue chippers but they did find some gems. Weltlich wants to fun a fast break and needs a couple of thoroughbreds at forward and that is what they got in sophomores Patrick McDonald and Clyde Corley. Both of these guys can run the court and are athletic and are good passers for forwards but that is where the similarities end with these two. McDonald is nowhere near the offensive player that Corley is but he sure helps on the boards and he is even a better passing forward than his running mate.  He put in many minutes last season and was a stabilizing influence but is not big enough or athletic enough to hang much longer at this level.  ‘Old McDonald’ as his younger teammates refer to the only sophomore who got considerable playing time the entire year would be a terrific role player off the bench but was playing over his pay grade this season in this league.  Still, McDonald is a gamer and unless Weltlich brings in some real talented forwards next season he and Stewart will continue to play together trading off on who gets who this time down?  Because there is not any on the current roster that is even close to this gamer and no one has a chance of knocking a battery off his shoulder.  And no matter who tries to take his job you better bring a lunch!  Because this kid is a fighter!  And that is not all bad for the Golden Panthers in this tough little town with the big old bay!  Corley may be the better of the two at least athletically.  He is a six five wing who can score and helps on the boards and can really run.  Corley has a chance to lead this team in scoring next year even with all of the new recruits, he has that much upside.  He had some work done on his knee over the winter which really slowed him down the last half of his first year here so that might slow him down but he has game.

Sophomore Ronnie Bryant played the point and did okay but will be pushed hard by the super talented kid from Puerto Rico.  He can pass and defend but is nowhere near this kid in talent.  Sylvester Whigham, Diego Garcia and Jerry Nash split up some minutes next to him and like Bailey will be lucky to keep their jobs next year. The back court was kind of a mess last year but that could change dramatically this year with some studs coming to this beautiful city.

This team had size deficiencies (a real lack of a true center) so they usually played a three forward set.  That means these two guys had to guard smaller quicker guys and handle the ball often and then turn around and bang with the big boys down low.  They took turns being the post up guy but usually this offense was in motion and they all obliged with great enthusiasm.  Weltlich, who once was Bobby Knight’s top assistant, does not have a deep bench and will need to get some more talent here.  But the team is loaded at the three so he has much competition.  There is a slew of carryover sophomore big men (and I say that begrudgingly) who all got some minutes either in a real effort or as a mop up duty in some of those numerous blowouts last year.  Hector ‘Chief’ Rodriguez and Carlton Phoenix got some minutes and both can rebound (especially for their lack of size) but do not do much else.  Mark Hollin and Doug Johnson were also in this group and Hollin started a few games at wing. Hollin got his shot early and did appear in way too many games for a kid of his talent. But he is a gamer. Johnson on the other hand should have played more. But he is not. Cory Walker is another kid who did not play enough and a 6’9 wing has some upside. 

Coach Weltlich is trying to build a program in south Florida almost from the ground up. In the first year they came through with mixed results.  For a new program just starting out they did not do too bad. Going 6 and 23 and 2 and 12 as the East Coast representative of the Sun Belt was not exactly the mighty ‘Hilltoppers’ but for a program this green it wasn’t near as bad as they say ‘it could have been!’  Sure, this new program (as of this year, three years competing, two years in D-1 and one in a conference) was thrown as fresh meat to the rabid dogs of the Sun Belt but they did compete and they do have a few kids who can really play. Weltlich and his trusty sidekick Shakey Rodriguez have got some new kids coming to the South Bay and believe this team can turn up the ‘heat’ to make the thermometer rise in the Sun Belt.