The Malibu Barbie Cafe pop-up in Wynwood transports visitors to 1970s Malibu, California. The pop-up is open now through April 21. Photo credit: Courtesy of Bucket Listers
“Hi Barbie! Hi Ken!” is what guests are greeted with as they walk into the Malibu Barbie Cafe, a pink-covered wonderland in Wynwood.
Entering the new pop-up dining space set up by Bucket Listers will have attendees feeling the “Kenergy.” Open now until April 21, visitors can reserve a ticket for 90-minutes from Wednesday-Sunday.
Visitors are instantly transported to Barbieland with an outside patio sporting a life-sized Barbie box, pink garden swing and Malibu Beach lifeguard tower.
Past the entrance lies the Impala skating rink, which is available to skate around in after donating at least one dollar to Girls, Inc., a nonprofit organization that hosts after-school programs for young girls in the area.
The Impala skating rink offers the ability to rent a pair of roller skates just like the ones from the movie. Iconic California tracks play in the background, giving the rink a retro feeling.
Across from the skating rink is the outside patio bar, which serves refreshing “Think Pink” Strawberry Margaritas and a “Groovy” Arnold Palmer, the latter of which can be served as a mocktail.
Next to the bar is the Barbie shop where guests can buy all sorts of exclusive Barbie merchandise.
Inside the restaurant and past the “sunsational” pink Barbie boombox is the entrance into the official diner where most of the seating is. A pink bar takes center stage while surfboards surround the walls above along with a mural that gives a history of Barbie.
Several photo ops with beach backgrounds transport visitors to the dreamhouse they might’ve had or dreamed of as a kid.
The menu, curated by Chef Becky Brown, includes Barbie-themed options like the Make Waves Avocado Toast and the Beach Burger. Photo credit: Courtesy of Bucket Listers
The menu was set up by Becky Brown, a skilled executive chef, restaurateur and culinary consultant who received national recognition as a finalist on FOX’s “Masterchef” in 2012. Since then, she has helped open up other culinary experiences including ones based on “Family Guy” and “Mean Girls.”
For as low as $29, the menu comes with a choice of an entrée, side item and cake pop. The 90-minute reservations give full access to the Malibu Barbie Cafe experience with additional drinks, shared plates and desserts available for purchase.
Attendees at the cafe’s opening were treated to a variety of options including Beach Burger sliders, Live Your Dreams grilled cheese, Good Vibes beet hummus, Follow The Sun fruit skewers, french fries and cake pops.
The sliders, fries and cake pops — especially the lemon one — are the way to go for a quality culinary experience.
The grilled cheese, hummus and skewers were either average or slightly above, and they all left more to be wanted from this experience.
The cafe is a must-try experience for everyone visiting the Wynwood area.
Malibu Barbie Cafe Miami is located at 301 NW 23rd St., Miami, FL 33127.
For the twelfth year in a row, the Asian American Students Association and Chinese Students and Scholars Association held a joint Lunar New Year Festival on Feb. 9 ahead of the official Lunar New Year on Feb. 10.
Festivities began at 6:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Patio, where students received a passport to be stamped by at least five organizations before getting in the food line. The free dinner included Chinese food such as dumplings and kung pao chicken.
In addition, several student dance and taekwondo groups performed on the Lakeside Patio stage starting at 7:45 p.m.
Organizations represented at the festival included the Filipino Student Association, Muslim Students of the University of Miami, Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, Council of International Students and Organizations, Delta Epsilon Psi and Anime Club.
For more information on their upcoming events, follow AASA and CSSA on Instagram at @aasaum and @umiamicssa.
U KNOW MIAMI
Miami schools face backlash after requiring parental consent for participation in Black History Month event
On the evening of Feb. 12, Chuck Walter, the parent of two children at the Coral Way K-8 Bilingual Center, posted a photo of a permission slip on X that his first-grade daughter brought home, asking for parental permission for students to listen to a book written by a Black author.
This permission slip was sent to families as a result of the Parental Rights in Education Act , commonly known as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, which requires parents to be notified about certain school activities. However, Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Jose L. Dotres stated that a permission slip was not necessary for an event of this nature.
“Florida does not require a permission slip to teach African American history or to celebrate Black History Month. Any school that does this is completely in the wrong,” said Manny Diaz Jr., the Florida Commissioner of Education, on X.
A similar incident occurred earlier this month at iPrep Academy, a Miami-Dade magnet school.
Marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum dies at age 24
Kenyan long-distance runner the marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum died in a car crash in Kaptagat, Kenya at age 24 after veering off a road on Feb. 11.
Kiptum broke the world record for the fastest time running a marathon at the 2023 Boston Marathon, where he ran the entire 26.2 mile track in 2 hours and 35 seconds, beating the previous record-holder Eliud Kipchoge by 34 seconds.
According to the British Broadcasting Company, Kiptum was planning to attempt the first-ever sub-two hour marathon finish in history.
Kiptum also holds the record time for the fastest debut marathon completed, running the 2022 Valencia Marathon in 2 hours, 1 minute and 25 seconds.
Gervais Hakizimana, Kiptum’s coach, was also in the car accident and died at the scene of the crash. A third passenger was severely injured in the crash.
Four men who visited Kiptum’s home a few days before his death have been arrested and are being held in police custody while Kiptum’s death is investigated.
Kenyan President William Ruto has arranged for a house to be built in honor of Kiptum, which is expected to be finished by his family’s 40-day mourning period.
J.D. Arteaga started his first three games as the ‘Canes new head coach with three wins. Here’s what happened as Miami swept the opening weekend against NJIT.
The season started in dramatic fashion, with Miami blowing a five-run lead through three innings. After being knotted up at seven apiece, Carlos Perez walked off the game with an RBI single. A doubleheader Saturday featured two dominant performances from Miami, as it took care of business, 19-1 and 16-0. The final game of the series was canceled due to inclement weather.
Here are three takeaways from UM’s opening series sweep.
The Newcomers
The biggest question mark heading into the 2024 Miami season was how the 20 newcomers would be implemented into the team, and through three contests, a plethora of new guys stepped up.
Wake Forest transfer Lucas Costello got comfortable batting in the two spot, going 4-for-9 and making some nice defensive plays. The well-experienced Tampa transfer, J.D. Urso, proved to be a consistent fielder, and third baseman Daniel Cuvet was the player of the weekend, going 9-for-13.
The new Miami pitchers got settled in quickly. Miami Dade transfer Henrick Hernandez started on Sunday evening and pitched a magnificent six innings, which included no hits and 10 strikeouts. Seven new players came in from the bullpen for Miami throughout the series, and zero runs were let in.
The Replacements
Two of Miami’s best players from last season’s squad, third baseman Yohandy Morales and first baseman C.J. Kayfus, are no longer with the club. Their replacements, however, came out the gate swinging.
The freshman Cuvet looks to be a star in the making, as he hit two deep home runs and drove in seven runs throughout the weekend.
New first baseman Jason Torres hit a .472 batting average in 18 games as a freshman last season. The right-handed hitter finished his weekend with two home runs, eight RBI’s and two doubles.
If Miami can be confident with its guys on both corners going forward, the team can produce another elite offense this season.
Bullpen Near Perfect
The Miami bullpen was the strong point throughout the entire weekend.
After game one starter Gage Ziehl gave up seven earned runs through four and ⅔ innings, the bullpen was called upon to step up but never wavered.
A group consisting of Julian Hernandez, Chris Scinta, Nick Robert and Drew Dwyer closed out game one, allowing a combined one hit and one walk on the way to the 8-7 win.
New pitchers Slaide Naturman and JT Caruso closed out game two strong. Caruso looked especially encouraging. Two of the New York native’s four strikeouts had batters swing and miss on pitches in the 60s.
Freshman Brandon Olivera and South Florida State transfer Myles Caba gave up a combined three hits for no runs in the final three frames of game three.
“That kind of showed you a little bit of what our team is all about,” Arteaga said regarding Miami’s first game of the season. “There was never any panic in the dugout. We just kept chugging along and playing our game. Just a great team win.”
Despite the mid-game scare in game one, Arteaga could not have asked for a better start to his first season. While the expectation is that the roster could switch around as the year moves forward, the Hurricanes seem to have a strong core.
The Hurricanes have a few days off before they welcome in a cross-state matchup with the UCF Knights at Mark Light Field on Wednesday. The game is set for a 5 p.m. first pitch.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Rockstarr Music Festival
Amidst the female rap beef between Meghan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj, Trina Rockstarr’s second annual Rockstarr Music Festival fostered a fresh, supportive atmosphere on Feb. 3.
Food vendors and small business owners sprinkled throughout the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition site in hopes of sharing their goods with the community.
Breaking into the music industry, let alone the rap game, can be extremely difficult in the over-saturated, competitive market. For a rap legend like Trina, sharing the spotlight and giving big and small artists the opportunity to shine is legendary.
The Miami native was discovered in the late 90’s by Trick Daddy, a former member of the infamous South Florida rap group- 2 Live Crew. Carrying on and embracing this tradition of uplifting local talent, Trina created the festival last February, and this year’s showcase did not disappoint.
Upcoming artists Bri Biase and Pretty Porcelain were handpicked by Trina to perform.
Biase, also known as the Millennial Missy Eliott, is an upcoming female rapper from Atlanta. With hits like “Nobody Told me” and “Dear Heavenly Father 2,” Biase emphasizes having fun with her lyrics while steering away from rap beef and talking about body parts, as she discusses in an interview with Rolling Out.
Not only is Pretty Porcelain a powerhouse, Miami-based rapper, but she is also a model who has walked at events like Miami Swim Week. She uses her talents to raise awareness for albinism.
“Seeing an event in the industry made by someone that I used to watch as a little girl looking up to…[her] reaching out to me like I need to come do her show, it just feels great,” Biase recalled.
Pretty Porcelain shared her thoughts on her after-effects of being exposed to the world by successful artists.
“I’m hoping my career can take off,” Porcelain said. “I hope for it to go up. I have been blessed and honored to be in this position, so I’m gonna take the reins of it and do my thing.”
These ladies rocked the stage with confidence, leaving with a roaring audience to end the night. Hopefully, the future will see more support in the music community among Black women. Trina has set the pace, and fans are excited to see who will follow.
Usher Raymond in September 2015. Photo credit: celebrityabc via Flickr
Usher’s Super Bowl LVIII performance on Sunday, Feb. 11 left many fans disheartened. Perhaps the 2000s legend peaked 20 years ago.
Keep reading to find out if Usher’s 2024 halftime performance lived up to the hype.
Act I
Between the flashing cameras, the arrangement of performers on the football field and the many contortionists wearing extravagant costumes, the set-up looked like a scene from “The Greatest Showman.”
Usher kicked off his performance with the song “Caught Up,” creating a subtle, yet captivating introduction that heightened the crowd’s anticipation for the chart-topping classics to come later in his performance.
Rather than wear an early 2000s style, Usher opted for a refined, classier approach, adorning himself in a sophisticated 70’s disco look.
Usher shocked audiences with his Michael Jackson dance moves, and even more so when he whipped out rollerblades and started gliding around the stage.
When Usher started singing “U Got It Bad,” the stunts became too excessive and nearly took away from the musical experience of the show.
“When did the Super Bowl halftime show become the Magic Mike show?,” said junior healthcare administration major Corinne Soffer.
Maybe Usher tried to overcompensate by showing the world that he is more than his 2000s hits.
“He thinks he’s the sexiest man in the world and wants everyone to think the same,” said Caroline Mueller, a junior legal studies major.
If his intention with headlining the Super Bowl were to show off his dancing, maybe “Dancing with the Stars” would have been a more suitable option.
The sound team
Who hired Usher’s sound team? Even after rewatching the halftime show on full volume, it was difficult to hear half of it.
The poor sound quality took away from his performance. Maybe it was an intentional choice to direct more attention toward his dancing but if not, his team did him dirty.
The halftime show is about giving people what they want, so audiences were disappointed after the singer only performed a couple of his greatest hits. Ushers’ show was supposed to be a nostalgic trip back into the Y2K era, but his show barely went there.
“Where was ‘DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love?’” said Murphy Degan, a junior communications major. “I don’t know how his team let him miss that.”
Maybe these songs don’t resonate with Usher anymore, but people will remember him as one of the greatest artists of the early 2000s.
Final thoughts
Usher saved hits “Yeah” and “Get Low” for the finale, building up anticipation. However, just as the excitement peaked, the show abruptly came to an end. What seemed like a crescendo turned out to be the end of a swift, anticlimactic halftime show.
Usher’s music choices may have been due to his new album release and the desire to stray away from his 2000s image. However, his 2000s image is what made Usher, Usher. Once you become the face of the 2000’s, there is no going back.
Swedish House Mafia perform from an elevated platform at Ultra Miami 2018. Photo credit: HollywoodAdam78, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
As the weekend of Ultra Music Festival approaches, anticipation mounts among Miami’s EDM enthusiasts for the imminent arrival of the cherished annual gathering held from March 22-24.
The annual festival will once again touch down at Bayfront Park for their 24th edition with a plethora of headliners that you won’t want to miss.
Over 160,000 people come to Miami to partake in the main event of Miami Music Week, with millions more tuning in from home.
For years, Ultra’s RESISTANCE stage has been the place for attendees who want a more immersive EDM experience. It features up-and-coming DJs that are looking to make their mark on the music scene.
Read more about the Ultra DJs that will feature the loudest, most-talked-about sets of the weekend.
Calvin Harris is the must-see spectacle returning to the ULTRA Main Stage. Since his last appearance in 2013, Harris has dropped some of the best albums of his career, including 2014’s “Motion” and 2017’s “Funky Wav Bounce Vol 1.”
These albums carry hits such as “Blame,” “Outside,” “Summer,” “Slide” and “Feels.” Harris has also dropped hit singles such as “One Kiss,” “This is What You Came For” and “How Deep is Your Love” in that time, cementing himself as one of the best, well-known DJs worldwide.
Ultra veteran and EDM legend Tiësto is set to return for a headlining set on the main stage. No stranger to the ULTRA stage, the Dutch DJ has played 6 times in the past decade, bringing his “Club Life” atmosphere to the 305.
For over two decades, Tiësto has brought trance and house into mainstream music, with collaborators stretching from Karol G to Icona Pop and Post Malone. His set delivers every year, so don’t miss out on this iconic DJ who is still delivering some of the best music in today’s scene.
During his 2023 Ultra set, Garrix told the crowd, “10 years ago, I was where you’re at,” providing context on how he’s dominated the live festival scene for the past decade. The festival circuit icon has dominated the scene since 2014.
With his influential EP “Gold Skies” and chart-toppers like “Animals” and “Turn Up the Speakers,” Garrix has left an indelible mark on EDM. His performances are a testament to his prowess, captivating audiences with his signature sound and infectious energy.
What’s more to love than an EDM act named after a Bruce Willis’ line in “Pulp Fiction?” Since coming into the mainstream EDM scene, Zeds Dead has produced multiple hits like “Alive,” “Stars Tonight,” “Neck and Neck” and their remix of “Eyes on Fire.”
The deep house duo has promised to create an exclusive audiovisual experience for those attending ULTRA Miami, especially for their fans who last saw the Deadbeats on the main stage in 2022.
South-Korean born, Berlin-based DJ Peggy Goud has been making moves in the past year, with her biggest hit named “(It Goes Like) Na Na Na.”
Guo’s unique take on techno, alongside collaborations with artists like Lenny Kravitz and Kylie Minogue, has helped bring the genre back to the forefront. Having played on stages at Coachella and Berlin’s Berghain club, Guo has more than proven that she’s in demand.
Add the co-signs from artists like The Blessed Madonna and Virgil Abloh, and it’s no surprise that she’s been built up to be one of the most in-demand DJs and anticipated acts on ULTRA’s Resistance stage.
Acclaimed deep house maestro Oliver Heldens continues to captivate audiences with his infectious beats and distinctive sound.
Between his syndicated weekly radio show Heldeep and high-profile remixes, Heldens has established himself as a global sensation. From ULTRA Europe to Coachella, his performances are a testament to his enduring popularity and undeniable talent.
Afrojack has been in the game for more than fifteen years. With his legacy, he’s headlined countless festivals over the years, and now he lands again on Miami’s shores to bring something special to Ultra.
Playing the festival eight times in the past decade, his sets have been a consistent hit. His staple hits include the Pitbull-assisted “Give Me Everything” and “Maldito Alcohol,” as well as “Hey Mama,” his collaboration with French mega-producer David Guetta.
Afrojack has continued to push boundaries and break down walls, landing him among veteran DJs.
RL Grime and Knock2, two titans of Bass and Trap, unite for a monumental b2b set at ULTRA Miami. With their ground-shaking beats and infectious energy, they promise an unforgettable auditory experience, captivating audiences with their unparalleled musical prowess and dynamic performances.
Excision is on a mission to bring his Bass sound all around North America, driving it down to Miami for this year’s edition of ULTRA. The Canadian DJ is known for creating festivals such as Lost Lands, Bass Canyon and Paradise Blue.
His Nexus Tour is his latest ambitious attempt at captivating audiences with his cutting-edge stage design and dubstep bass in the Magic City this March. Early reviews of his Nexus tour call it one of the best audiovisual experiences available.
Having 17 years under his belt and an objective to bring tracks like “Codename Reckless,” “Dinosaurs From Outer Space” and “Feel Something” to life, Excision is a set that you won’t want to miss.
A set fit for Florida nightlife, Fisher and Chris Lake have taken over multiple festivals including Coachella and the Electric Zoo in New York. It was only a matter of time that we would see the dynamic duo hit the biggest stage in Miami. Under Construction has seen a massive boost in popularity in recent years due to their b2b sets taking over.
The crowds and energy at these sets are always off the chain as the set goes on for as long as three hours. They understand what the audience wants to hear and have created a space for themselves in today’s crowded scene.
As the countdown to Ultra Music Festival Miami draws to a close, anticipation reaches fever pitch for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend. For EDM enthusiasts, it’s not just a festival — it’s a pilgrimage, a celebration of music, unity and the electrifying spirit of Miami.
As the regular season closes, each game becomes increasingly crucial, especially for a team that has spent much of the season on the tournament bubble, like Miami. However, the Hurricanes’ disappointing season continued as they dropped two must-win games on the road against Clemson and Boston College (BC), extending Miami’s overall losing streak to a season-long four in a row. During this two-game road stretch, a handful of storylines that have defined Miami’s season persisted.
Miami must win the ACC to earn a tournament bid
With a 6-9 in-conference record and matchups with Duke and North Carolina approaching, the ‘Canes have all but played themselves out of contention for an at-large bid. Last season’s ACC regular-season co-champions have already nearly doubled their loss total from the previous year.
The losses of stars Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller to the NBA have not helped, but the talent on the roster is much better than the team’s record indicates. Juniors Norchad Omier and Nijel Pack have continued their stellar play from years past, but the Hurricanes as a unit have struggled to get on the same page this season.
As it stands now, the ‘Canes have one path to the NCAA tournament: run the table in the ACC tournament to earn an automatic bid. Crazier things have happened in college basketball, but with the strength of the ACC and Miami suffering a losing streak at the worst possible time, any tournament hopes for the Hurricanes are slim-to-none.
Injuries and lack of depth continue to plague Miami’s season
UM had all five starters active for its game against the Tigers, but Pack missed the matchup with BC due to a knee injury, continuing Miami’s unfortunate injury trend this season. All of Miami’s starters have missed time this season because of injuries, and it seems that in each game, there is always one key player out.
This has made it difficult for the ‘Canes to gel together, as everyone has been in and out of the lineup throughout the season.
However, it is a long season, and every team deals with injuries to some extent. The bigger issue is the lack of bench depth for the Hurricanes. When a star player such as Pack or Omier has missed time, their production has not been picked up by others in a large enough capacity to help the ‘Canes win.
The eight-man rotations that Miami usually runs put an immense amount of pressure on the starters to perform, even more so when one or more of these starters is inactive. The lack of production from Miami’s bench gives the Hurricanes a much smaller window for error than most of their opponents, so if a few starters play poorly, the ‘Canes stand little-to-no chance in many cases.
Injuries have helped to derail Miami’s season, but to avoid situations like this, bench depth must be addressed in the offseason.
Late-game offense falters in back-to-back games
The Hurricanes mustered only three points over the last five minutes in their loss to Clemson, as the Tigers eventually pulled away by 17 in what was once a tightly contested game.
Similarly, against Boston College, the two teams traded blows for much of the game, exchanging leads before Miami’s offense went ice cold down the stretch again. The Eagles closed the game on a 13-4 run, forcing turnovers and highly contested looks for the ‘Canes.
Last season, Miami’s explosive offense carried them all the way to the Final Four, but this year has seen UM struggle with consistency on that side of the ball. While there are still flashes of what made the offense so unstoppable last year, far too often the Hurricanes’ offense is stagnant, with many possessions ending with a poor shot or costly turnover.
Many times, these inconsistencies emerge in the closing minutes of games, as seen against Clemson and Boston College. Going forward this season and next season, the ‘Canes must offer more consistency on the offensive end to be successful.
The Hurricanes will now look to gain momentum going into the ACC tournament as they return home to gear up for a matchup with the No. 9 Duke Blue Devils. Tip-off at the Watsco Center is slated for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, with the game airing on ESPN.
It seemed as if the Florida State (FSU) Seminoles were just one step ahead.
“When they haven’t played well, they have not shared the ball like that,” said Miami (UM) Hurricanes head coach Katie Meier following the 74-68 loss to the Seminoles. “They were willing to share it tonight because this game meant a lot to them.”
The final score was reminiscent of the first matchup between the rivals, where the ‘Canes (16-9, 6-8 ACC) fell 75-68 in Tallahassee. However, the contextual difference between these two games is considerable.
For one, Miami didn’t lead going into the fourth quarter; in fact, UM didn’t lead past the 2:48 mark of the second quarter. After a strong first frame where the ‘Canes went on a 7-0 run, out-rebounded FSU 25-8 and led 16-12, the Seminoles (19-8, 10-5 ACC) fought back quickly.
After a pair of free throws from junior forward Makayla Timpson to put her team up 31-30 with 2:48 in the second, Florida State never looked back.
Before inbounding the ball, junior Latasha Lattimore, sophomore Zee Spearman, juniors Lashae Dwyer and Shayeann Day-Wilson, and graduate student Jaida Patrick huddle together and talk about their strategy against FSU during the six-point loss. Photo credit: Charisma Jones
This was despite outstanding performances from transfer guard Shayeann Day-Wilson and junior forward Jasmyne Roberts.
The pair combined for 36 points, with Day-Wilson and Roberts scoring 21 and 15, respectively. Day-Wilson had her first 20-point outing as a ‘Cane, building on a now 11-game streak of double-digit scoring. Roberts added 13 rebounds to her statline, registering her first career double-double.
“At a certain point we were calling [Jasmyne], [Shayeann], [Jasmyne], [Shayeann],” said Meier.
Rebounds came in bunches for the ‘Canes, as they grabbed 51 on the night. This was a season-high for the ‘Canes on a night where Miami took the rare loss when out-rebounding its opponent, falling to 11-2. For all the effort, just six points came out of 21 offensive rebounds.
Missed opportunities, combined with turnovers and mounting frustration, are hardly a recipe for success.
“You can’t have those empty possessions that are turnovers,” Meier said.
Even so, Miami kept the game within striking distance. After FSU’s O’Mariah Gordon extended the lead, 72-61, with two and a half minutes remaining, the ‘Canes responded, bringing the score to 72-66 with a tick under 40 seconds to play. It was about as close as UM would get.
Miami converted on its next possession, but not after burning half the clock. Then, a failure to foul quickly resulted in Seminole Ta’Niya Latson at the foul line with 1.9 seconds to go.
Latson was virtually unstoppable, dropping a game-high 29 points on an efficient 13-of-22 from the field.
“We played hard … and generated some opportunities in special situations to make it a game. That’s what Miami does and if there’s a second on the clock I’m still thinking we’re winning the game,” Meier said. “I really … need my team to pick up on that spirit and that confidence.”
Before concluding the first half down 32-38, Head Coach Katie Meier coaches her team on defense during the narrow loss against FSU. Photo credit: Charisma Jones
A key storyline circulating not just in this game but throughout Miami’s season is the loss of transfer guard Lemyah Hylton. The sophomore underwent season-ending surgery for a lower-extremity injury she suffered against Clemson on Feb. 8.
Earlier this season, against FSU, Hylton scored 15 points off the bench.
“She was a spark off the bench,” Roberts said. “We really could’ve used her tonight and we miss her a lot being on the floor…her energy, her personality, her charisma.”
Miami is on a two-game skid and looks to rebound on the road against Virginia on Thursday. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
Miami welcomes in a familiar face as Mario Cristobal is expected to hire former Marshall co-defensive coordinator/cornerbacks coach Chevis Jackson as UM’s new cornerbacks coach, according to Matt Zenitz.
The hiring of Jackson comes after former Hurricanes secondary coach Jahmile Addae left the Hurricanes to become the new Buffalo Bills defensive backs coach after serving the same role for Miami in 2022 and 2023.
Jackson has a close connection to Miami defensive coordinator Lance Guidry. Guidry was the defensive coordinator for Marshall in 2022, and that defense was considered one of the best in the nation, mainly the secondary.
Led by Guidry and Jackson, the Marshall secondary finished with 17 interceptions and third in pass efficiency defense. They also had the No. 1 third-down defense in the country and finished fifth in yards per play.
Before his coaching career, Jackson played a successful college football career as an LSU cornerback from 2004-2007. Named all-SEC in 2007, Jackson held a significant role for the national champion Tigers.
Jackson has a strong coaching track record and adds something to the recruiting field. Before his time at Marshall, Jackson was named the 2017 MAC recruiter of the year and spent three seasons at Kansas, three at Ball State, one at LSU, and two at South Alabama.
Jackson’s hiring marks the second offseason hire for the Miami staff. USF associate head coach and running backs coach Matt Merritt is headed downstate to Coral Gables after spending a season on coach Alex Golesh’s staff in Tampa.
Gearing up for his third season at Miami, only co-defensive line coach Joe Salave’a and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal remain from Mario Cristobal’s original Miami staff.
It would be a surprise if Miami makes another move on the coaching staff. The only two moves they have made seem to pass the eye test as the Hurricanes head into spring ball in the next few weeks.
In the second game of a doubleheader, with members of the 1999 National Championship team in attendance at Mark Light Field, pitcher Herick Hernandez and the Miami Hurricanes put on a show, defeating the New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders (NJIT) 16-0.
The Hurricanes dominated all facets of the game Saturday night, with Miami-Dade transfer Hernandez controlling the bats against the NJIT offense.
In his first start of his Hurricane tenure, the lefty allowed zero hits, zero runs, three walks, and struck out ten batters in six impressive innings of work under the lights.
It wasn’t until the 7th inning that NJIT’s Kevin Putsky put the Highlanders in the hit column after stroking a double into the left field gap off Miami’s Brandon Olivera. The away team finished the evening with three hits while failing to produce much offense with runners on.
UM, however, continued to flex their muscles on the attack, scoring a staggering 16 runs against the NJIT pitching staff. The Hurricanes have now scored at least eight runs in their first three games against the Highlanders and finished Saturday as a whole with 35 total runs of offense.
In his first at-bat of the season, catcher Jack Scanlon sent a rocket to right center field and over the fence for the team’s first home run of the game. The backstop’s two-run shot allowed the Hurricanes to jump to an early 3-0 lead.
Miami took advantage of the pitching woes of the Highlanders, smashing 14 hits while batting .400 with runners in scoring position.
NJIT starter Brandon Peterson struggled against the ‘Canes firepower, allowing five runs and walking three batters on six hits in only four innings of work. The Highlanders were forced to rely on their bullpen throughout the game.
Wake Forest transfer Lucas Costello had the best performance of his young Miami career, crushing his first home run as a ‘Cane deep into the Miami night. Costello finished the night going 2-3, tallying four RBIs and a walk.
The corners of the infield for the Hurricanes dominated this afternoon, leading the way for a day filled with offense. In two games Saturday, sophomore first baseman Jason Torres tallied seven hits, five RBIs, and 15 total bases, including two long home runs in the 1st game of the doubleheader.
Trying to fill the hole left by former ‘Cane Yohandy “Yo-Yo” Morales, freshman third baseman Daniel Cuvet stepped right into the shoes of the former All-American infielder. In the doubleheader today, the rookie flexed his power, hitting two home runs and tallying seven hits and seven RBIs to power the Hurricanes into another blowout.
Cuvet would deal the finishing blow to the Highlanders, hitting a towering grand slam over the right field wall to seal the deal for Miami. The former top third base prospect’s home run extended UM’s lead to an insurmountable 16-0 score.
The Hurricanes try to go for the four-game sweep Sunday against the Highlanders of NJIT. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 PM at Mark Light Field.
Despite a strong overall effort, it just was not enough for the Miami Hurricanes, as they fell 85-77 to the Boston College Eagles in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Conte Forum was packed on a Saturday night to watch this matchup. The inflated final score tells a deceiving story about the game. The Hurricanes battled and made this a tightly fought game until the end.
A high-scoring first half saw Miami tie the Eagles at the break. Boston College led by as many as 11 early in the first, but the ‘Canes were able to battle back and keep the game neck-and-neck till the end.
Juniors Matthew Cleveland and Norchad Omier both scored 20 points, but it was not enough, as the Eagles’ top scorers outdid Miami’s. Guard Mason Madsen led all scorers with 25 points, and forward Quinten Post was able to add another 23 for Boston College.
The injury bug struck again for the ‘Canes, as junior guard Nijel Pack was out for this game. Listed with a lower-body injury, Pack is expected to return in the coming weeks after scoring zero his last time out.
Freshman Paul Djobet contributed 20 solid minutes to Miami’s rotation while adding eight points off the bench. This was a rough performance for first-year guard Kyshawn George, as he only played 15 minutes, contributed zero points and fouled out.
Unlike in past performances, Miami shot the ball very well. The team shot 53% from the field and shot a whopping 50% from three-point range. UM was just never able to have a consistent defensive effort.
This loss only reinforces the thought that Miami will not play in the NCAA tournament this season, which is a disappointing reality for a team that had such high preseason expectations.
Miami gets another tough test against the Duke Blue Devils next Wednesday at home in the Watsco Center. Tip-off for this game is set for 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN.
The J.D. Artega era is off to a strong start in Coral Gables as Miami picks up its second win of the season in a 19-1 rout.
After the Cardiac ‘Canes came back to win 8-7 last night, the new Hurricanes head coach is 2-0 after Miami got the win against the NJIT Highlanders in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader.
Junior Rafe Schlesinger started his first game as a Hurricane. After giving up an earned run in the first inning, the lefty locked in for his remaining four innings. Schlesinger struck out nine batters in five innings, giving up five hits for one run.
Junior Rafe Schlesinger throws a total of 90 pitches in five innings, only allowing five hits and one run during the 19-2 win against NJIT in the first game on February 17, 2024. Photo credit: Charisma Jones
The Miami bats came alive in a big way early. A six-run first inning powered by home runs from sophomore Blake Cyr and catcher Carlos Perez set the tone.
In the second inning, freshman Daniel Cuvet hit a ball 460 feet to left field to take an 8-1 Miami lead. The following inning, first baseman Jason Torres hit a solo home run to right field, and Wake Forest transfer Lucas Costello got his first RBI as a ‘Cane as Miami stepped in the driver seat, leading 10-1.
NJIT starter Joe Georgini struggled early, giving up five earned runs in two innings pitched. Four other Highlander pitchers entered the game, but Miami’s offense could not be slowed down.
Austin Francis led the NJIT offense in hits with two.
Miami’s bullpen had its second straight shutout outing. Gulf Coast State transfer Slaide Naturman gave up no hits in two innings pitched. Freshman JT Caruso passed the eye test with four strikeouts in two innings pitched.
In only the second game of the season, Miami’s offense might have found its replacements from last year’s stars.
During the second game against NJIT, senior Carlos Pérez scores a total of two runs and three RBIs in his two at-bats in the 19-2 blowout win. Photo credit: Charisma Jones
With tough shoes to fill at first base and third base following the departure of Yohandy Morales and C.J. Kayfus, Miami’s best hitters today were its first and third basemen.
After a home run in last night’s contest, Daniel Cuvet went 4-of-4 with a home run, two doubles and two RBI’s. Jason Torres finished his day going 4-of-5 with two home runs, two doubles and five RBI’s.
After the second game of the Saturday doubleheader, Miami finishes up its four-game series against NJIT at Mark Light Field on Sunday at 1 p.m.
