1. Should Miami be worried after losing an exhibition to Saint Leo Friday night? Not at all. Even teams that have been projected to go to the NCAA tournament will lose exhibitions. The loss will help Jim Larranaga get the team’s attention. “I believe our guys learned that we have a heck of a lot of work ahead of us before we become the kind of team we’re capable of becoming," said Larranaga Sunday. Trey McKinney Jones led the ‘Canes with 19 points in the two-point loss. The game was the first for Julian Gamble in a year after tearing his ACL. Senior forward Reggie Johnson, who didn’t play in the scrimmage against South Florida the previous weekend, played 13 minutes and scored seven points. Larranaga said he’s fine. The ‘Canes have plenty of time to get their act together before hosting Michigan State in Coral Gables Nov. 28 and going to UMass on Dec. 1.
2. Maryland has a chance to make its mark on Day One by playing the youthful and inexperienced Kentucky at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn Friday night. The Terps have plenty of work to do this week in preparation, according to coach Mark Turgeon. “We’ve got to practice better, get physically tougher, screen better and share the ball," said Turgeon Sunday. “We’re shooting too quick. We’ve got to get better halfcourt defense."
3. Iowa State's guard Bubu Palo remains suspended indefinitely because of a sexual assault charge. On the heels of that suspension, the Cyclones have another player not playing. Senior guard Chris Babb will sit the first three games of the season for violating team rules. The Cyclones are off to a rocky start and the tough games haven’t even started yet (against Cincinnati Nov. 23 in Las Vegas, BYU Dec. 1 and at Iowa Dec. 7).