University of Miami basketball coach Jim Larranaga, awaiting word from the NCAA on the appeal to reinstate suspended Dewan Hernandez, vehemently defended his star forward Friday, saying he had been “duped” by his AAU coach.
Larranaga is frustrated by the saga, and feels Hernandez, who has missed all 16 games this season, is being punished too severely.
“This thing started in November,” said Larranaga, whose team plays at home at noon Saturday against No. 13 North Carolina. “We’re talking all of November, all of December, now 18 days in January. So, hopefully, at some point we’ll get good news.