Miami, FL
Bizarro Heat: Bam Adebayo makes the 3-pointers and Duncan Robinson delivers the assists
![Bizarro Heat: Bam Adebayo makes the 3-pointers and Duncan Robinson delivers the assists Bizarro Heat: Bam Adebayo makes the 3-pointers and Duncan Robinson delivers the assists](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Heat-Pistons-Basketball-6.jpg?w=1024&h=683)
PHILADELPHIA – After all the 3-pointers Sunday in Detroit, including the one that made Duncan Robinson the fastest NBA player to 1,000 career conversions, the moment coach Erik Spoelstra spotlighted afterward was the pass from Robinson for a key late dunk by Bam Adebayo.
That Duncan Robinson can shoot has become a given. That Robinson can pass has opened new vistas for both the Miami Heat and Robinson in his sixth season.
“Just trying to be more of a basketball player,” Robinson said, with the Heat turning their attention to Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center.
Sunday, in addition to his seven 3-pointers against the Pistons, there also were five assists from Robinson, including two in the decisive fourth quarter.
In some ways, it’s almost become Bizarro Heat – Adebayo making a winning 3-pointer, as he did at Sunday’s buzzer at Little Caesars Arena, Robinson making decisive assists.
Averaging three assists this season, Robinson had not averaged more than 1.8 in his previous five seasons.
But that mostly was when he was stationed – almost anchored – at the 3-point. As the two-point attempts have increased this season, to more than twice his previous average, so, too, have the assists grown.
“When you get in the paint, a lot of times the right read just presents itself, depending on the situation,” Robinson said, with Sunday’s assist to Adebayo a perfect example. “So I’m trusting my instincts to just be a complete basketball player.”
Robinson, who turns 30 next month, said there wasn’t a specific goal of upping the assists.
“It’s been more so organically, just trying to be more of a complete player,” he said. “That just kind of tends to happen when you get a little bit more aggressive putting the ball on the ground.”
The irony is that any time Robinson previously bypassed a 3-point attempt, the staff made clear why he was on the court.
Now, there is the view of more than a specialist.
“I think the staff’s done a great job in just trusting me and allowing me to be a complete player,” he said. “And that’s kind of empowered me to explore different vistas throughout the course of the game.
“I think they just trust me a little bit more. And I’m at the point in my career where they just trust my instincts and my ability to be a basketball player and what I feel and what I read out there.”
As the roster has evolved, so, Robinson said, has his menu.
“It’s a combination of things,” he said. “Part of it is just being a little bit of a playmaker, just in the actions that I’m involved in, and not just somebody that comes in and shoots. Part of it is just reading the game, recognizing situations.”
And part of it is paying it forward, appreciating how on-time, on-target passes have benefited him over these six seasons, with a goal of easing the scoring of teammates.
“I’ve been a beneficiary of a lot of unselfish play and good passes and stuff like that,” he said. “Bam and I have a connection that we’ve been working on for a while now.”
That payoff came with the assist for the Adebayo dunk that put the Heat ahead with 5:08 to play in Sunday’s victory in Detroit.
Essentially doing for others as others have done for him,
“I appreciate a good pass, a good on-time, on-target, seams-in-line, shooter’s-pocket pass. I appreciate that,” he said amid this Heat four-game trip that concludes Wednesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers. “So, of course you try to reciprocate that.
“Just having another person out there who can playmake, it’s just going to be a different version of me. I think that’s good for the team.”
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Miami, FL
Charges dropped against rapper Travis Scott after Miami Beach yacht incident
![Charges dropped against rapper Travis Scott after Miami Beach yacht incident Charges dropped against rapper Travis Scott after Miami Beach yacht incident](https://media.nbcmiami.com/2024/08/GettyImages-2167196977.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&resize=1200%2C675)
Rapper Travis Scott is no longer facing charges after police said he drunkenly yelled at people on a yacht in Miami Beach back in June.
The last remaining charge against the artist, a count of trespassing after warning, was dropped Friday, Miami-Dade County records showed.
Prosecutors dropped a disorderly intoxication charge against Scott, 33, in early August. NBC6 reached out to Scott’s publicist for comment at that time, but did not hear back.
Miami Beach Police said they responded to the city’s marina on June 20 and found Scott standing on the dock yelling at people on the ship. Officers told him to sit down, but he kept standing back up and yelling. They could smell alcohol on his breath, police said. The man who called police did not want to press charges, so Scott was allowed to leave.
After being told to leave and coming back to the marina, police said they arrested the rapper.
Bodycam was later released that showed Scott’s conversation with officers.
“I rented this boat, the owners came on this boat. They kicked down my door at 12 o’clock. I don’t know what’s going on, ask him,” Scott tells the officers, adding, “There was no fighting involved.”
At one point, Scott approaches an officer and gets into an argument. He’s then put in handcuffs, with officers telling him that he’s causing a disturbance.
Scott was released from Miami-Dade County Jail after posting a $650 bond. The rapper later poked fun at the arrest after bonding out, posting “Lol” on X and adding sunglasses and earbuds to his mugshot on his Instagram story.
His attorney, Bradford Cohen, said in a statement at the time that Scott was “detained due to a misunderstanding.”
“There was absolutely no physical altercation involved, and we thank the authorities for working with us towards a swift and amicable resolution,” Cohen said.
Miami, FL
Florida vs. Miami: Offensive player projections for Week 1
![Florida vs. Miami: Offensive player projections for Week 1 Florida vs. Miami: Offensive player projections for Week 1](https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/08/30172113/UF-MIAMI-AFI-1.png)
For the first time since 2019, Florida and Miami will renew their rivalry. The two teams will square off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in one of the big games on the Week 1 slate, and the offensive player projections have been set, according to PrizePicks.
Both programs are in their third seasons under their respective coaches. Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes were picked third in the ACC preseason poll, while Billy Napier and the Gators are dealing with plenty of pressure after an up-and-down first two seasons. It adds to the intrigue of Saturday’s matchup.
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Graham Mertz is back at quarterback for Florida after transferring in last season. He was efficient, completing 72.9% of his passes for 2,903 yards, 20 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He has playmakers such as Eugene “Tre” Wilson III and Arlis Boardingham back, along with Montrell Johnson in the backfield.
On the other side, Miami went to work in the transfer portal. The most notable addition came at quarterback as Cam Ward came in from Washington State, and the ‘Canes made a splash by landing former Oregon State star running back Damien Martinez. They both came in as Top-20 players in the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings.
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It’s shaping up to be an interesting showdown at The Swamp Saturday afternoon. Here’s what the offensive player projections look like for Florida vs. Miami, according to PrizePicks.
Graham Mertz, QB, Florida
Pass Yards: 243.5
Pass TDs: 1.5
Interceptions: 0.5
Graham Mertz succeeded Anthony Richardson as Florida’s starting quarterback a season ago, and he’ll look to build on a solid first season in Gainesville. His projection is set at 243.5 pass yards in the season opener against Miami on Saturday, according to PrizePicks.
Cam Ward, QB, Miami
![Cam Ward](https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/07/31100444/Cam-Ward-1024x538.jpg)
Pass Yards: 262.5
Cam Ward arrives at Miami after reversing course on the NFL Draft. He’s coming off two impressive years at Washington State, including a career-high 3,736 yards and 25 touchdowns last season as a senior.
Eugene Wilson, WR, Florida
![Florida WR Eugene Tre Wilson III](https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2023/12/06221459/eugene-tre-wilson-1024x538.jpg)
Receiving Yards: 66.5
Receptions: 5.0
Eugene “Tre” Wilson III put together an impressive freshman season and cemented himself as one of Graham Mertz’s top targets at Florida with 538 yards and six touchdowns. With Ricky Pearsall off to the NFL, he could get even more work, and PrizePicks lists his projection at 66.5 receiving yards in Saturday’s opener.
Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami
![Xavier Restrepo, Miami](https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/08/12114233/Xavier-Restrepo-Miami-1024x538.jpg)
Receiving Yards: 85.5
Receptions: 6.5
Last year’s leading receiver at Miami, Xavier Restrepo proved to be a strong weapon in the passing game. He led the Hurricanes with 1,092 receiving yards, which sets him up to be a top target for Cam Ward in 2024.
Elijhah Badger, WR, Florida
![Alex Gallardo-USA TODAY Sports](https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/04/20113511/USATSI_21881648-1024x538.jpg)
Receiving Yards: 47.5
Receptions: 4.0
One of Florida’s most notable transfer additions, Elijhah Badger arrives in Gainesville after back-to-back impressive seasons at Arizona State. In 2023, he totaled 713 receiving yards and three touchdowns after an 866-yard, 7-touchdown showing in 2022.
Damien Martinez, RB, Miami
![RB Damien Martinez](https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/05/14125218/Untitled-design-69-1024x538.png)
Rush Yards: 73.5
Last season, Damien Martinez cemented himself as one of the best running backs in the Pac-12, and that meant he brought plenty of hype with him to Miami. He’s sure to take on a prominent role, and his projection for the first game is set at 73.5 rush yards, according to PrizePicks.
Treyaun Webb, RB, Florida
![Florida RB Treyaun Webb](https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/08/30171142/treyaun-webb-1-1024x538.jpg)
Rush Yards: 33.5
Although Billy Napier announced Montrell Johnson will be able to play in the opener, Treyaun Webb is sure to get some looks as RB2 after Trevor Etienne’s departure. He ranked third on the Florida roster with 163 yards as a freshman, and PrizePicks lists his projection at 33.5 rush yards for Saturday’s game.
Jacolby George, WR, Miami
![Miami WR Jacolby George](https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/08/30170806/jacolby-george-1024x538.jpg)
Receiving Yards: 60.5
Receptions: 5.0
Last year’s second-leading rusher, Jacolby George is back at Miami and is sure to once again have a prominent role in the offense. He put together a breakout 2023 season with 864 yards, and his projection is set at 60.5 against Florida, according to PrizePicks.
Arlis Boardingham, WR, Florida
![Florida TE Arlis Boardingham](https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/08/30171001/arlis-boardingham-1024x538.jpg)
Receptions: 2.0
Arlis Boardingham was a solid safety blanket for Graham Mertz at tight end last year. He had 26 receptions for 289 yards and four touchdowns as he saw his first full season of action.
Florida vs. Miami is sure to be one of the more intriguing games of Week 1 with so many storylines. The game will also be part of the first day of the SEC on ABC, kicking off in the coveted 3:30 p.m. ET window.
Miami, FL
Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida Gators Prediction: Who Wins, and Why?
![Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida Gators Prediction: Who Wins, and Why? Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida Gators Prediction: Who Wins, and Why?](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_6000,h_3375,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/college_football_hq/01j6j33b5h8v5jyyf8zr.jpg)
Two head coaches both under .500 in two seasons are in need of a statement win early on in this SEC vs. ACC matchup as Miami and Florida meet in college football’s Week 1 action on Saturday.
Mario Cristobal and Billy Napier were heralded as the men tagged to resurrect their respective football programs, but now the Hurricanes and Gators coaches are both facing serious pressure to right the ship and record a needed early W this season.
Florida faces arguably college football’s toughest overall schedule, especially in the second half of the year, so this game means a little more for them, while Miami is hoping to score a win against an SEC team as it makes a case as the next team to beat in the ACC.
What can we expect from the matchup? Here’s what you should watch out for as Miami and Florida square off from The Swamp, with our updated prediction for the game.
How to watch
When: Sat., Aug. 31
Time: 3:30 p.m. Eastern
TV: ABC network
Miami vs. Florida game odds
Miami: -2.5 (-110)
Florida: +2.5 (-110)
Miami to win: -137
Florida to win: +114
Over 54.5 points (-105)
Under 54.5 points (-115)
FPI picks: UF 57.7% | MIA 42.3%
What to watch for
1. The U’s new guys. Working behind a decent line are two top-flight transfer pickups: quarterback Cameron Ward, a dual threat who had 33 all-purpose touchdowns and 3,736 passing yards last season, and tailback Damien Martinez, who posted almost 1,200 yards a year ago and averages 6.1 yards per rush with 16 scores in his career. They could generate momentum against a Gator defense that allowed 6.4 yards per play last season.
2. Testing Miami’s secondary. A relative weakness on the team remains this pass defense after losing some important contributors from a year ago. Florida has the perimeter speed on a receiving corps led by Eugene Wilson to test that alignment, and while quarterback Graham Mertz is efficient, he’s not exactly known for his long ball, either.
3. Battle on the ground. Florida’s backs may struggle finding running lanes against a Hurricanes front seven unit that placed 2nd in the ACC by allowing just under 106 yards on the ground per game last season and only improved after scoring some decent transfer acquisitions. Montrell Johnson leads the Gators’ ground attack, though he’s coming off a knee surgery.
Miami vs. Florida prediction
On paper, Miami has the superior offensive rotation, but it’s not clear exactly how well acclimated the unit will be in the first game of the season. Early stumbles could throw a monkey wrench into the Hurricanes’ momentum early on, something Florida could take advantage of on its home field.
Graham Mertz posted good numbers a year ago, but the Gators quarterback does struggle when it comes to consistently testing the deeper portion of the field. Still, Miami’s relative weakness on the back end could play into his hands and help Florida exploit the deeper passing lanes.
But over time, the Hurricanes have more variety in their offensive skill threats and the superior alignment up front to prevent the Gators from gaining too much rhythm on the ground.
College Football HQ picks…
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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