For all those football fans complaining on message boards and radio talk shows Sunday that the University of Miami's 8-3 record isn't good enough, coach Randy Shannon agrees.

But he also reflected that the improvements are palpable, and that the Canes are heading in the right direction as they prepare to meet South Florida (7-3, 3-3 Big East) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Tampa.

When asked if he was happy about UM's 5-3 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference after defeating Duke 34-16 on Saturday in the final ACC game of the season, Shannon didn't hesitate.

``I'm not,'' he said. ``We should be better than that. That's just me, because I'm a competitor. Sometimes I may have unrealistic visions, but you've got to have those types of visions to be successful. If you accept things, then you'll be going through the motions.

``We should be better than what we've done this season,'' Shannon said. ``But you've got to . . . keep looking ahead.

``If you concentrate on what you couldn't get accomplished, then you'll stay that way.''

Shannon also acknowledged that what the Hurricanes do Saturday against the Bulls will set the tone for the yet-to-be-determined bowl game, and what the Canes do in the bowl game will set the tone for spring practice and next season.

`IT'S HUGE FOR US'

``The game coming up will be tough,'' Shannon said. ``For us it's our last game, but for them it's their second-to-last game. It's huge for us because we can end on a good note, and you always want to end on a good note because that's what everybody remembers.''

The Hurricanes rose from No. 21 to No. 19 on Sunday in The Associated Press poll, from No. 24 to No. 21 in the coaches' poll and from 20th to 17th in the Bowl Championship Series. The BCS computers ranked Miami 14th in the nation.

UM has played USF once, in 2005 at the Orange Bowl. Miami won 27-7.

The teams have many connections -- players and coaches. More than 20 Bulls played high school football in South Florida. Even UM athletic director Kirby Hocutt is connected: USF coach Jim Leavitt was the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator for Kansas State in the early 1990s, when Hocutt was a standout Wildcats linebacker.

And former UM All-American defensive end Kevin Patrick is the Bulls' assistant defensive line coach, responsible for the ends.

``I know Jim,'' Shannon said. ``We met a long time ago when I was an assistant and he used to recruit down here. Good guy.''

Among UM's improvements this season, Shannon cited the third-down conversion rate (47 percent) being the biggest. The Canes converted 14 of 21 opportunities against Duke.

HITS AND MISSES

``We've been in some tough third-down-and-15, third-down-and-long yardage,'' he said. ``That's a sign of a team each year getting better.

``If you look at it from the overall big picture, wins are up, conference [wins] are up, third-down ration is up, red-zone [scoring] is up. There are a lot of things we've improved on.''

Shannon said UM's kickoff team production is down.

``When you're watered down with injuries,'' he said, ``those things are going to happen.''

The Canes also are not faring well on kickoff returns, ranking 101st nationally with their average of 19.5 yards per return. Shannon said teams are choosing to squib-kick against Miami to keep the ball away from its return specialists.

Shannon did not address any new injuries, but he did say he expected linebacker Sean Spence (knee) and safety Ray Ray Armstrong (knee) to play more this week.

``They'll be ready to go full speed come South Florida,'' he said, adding that he especially limited Spence against Duke to be extra cautious.