well for right now i could really use a few tips for max canceling
Max canceling?
are you sure you don't mean BC mode?
BC mode is officially called MAX mode you know..
Anyway, 2k2UM requires use of MAX mode a little less since you can do SDM's outside of MAX mode. Really, first learn the game, only then start worrying about comboing into max mode. It's generally not considered worth it to go into MAX mode without comboing into it.
But if you insist t try some stuff, you can try like:
Kusanagi: df+D hcb+BC (that activates BC and does hcb+B) cancel into qcf+K,K > qcb,hcf+P. Only works in the corner, but it's a nice hitconfirm of a really quick low normal into good damage.
K': cr.BB then "plink" cr.C~BC (this'll activate BC and immediately give you a crouch C) > 2xqcf+P. Good hitconfirmable damage of a low normal into good damage midscreen.
I don't ever see these BC combos in actual play, but they're easy to do so nice to get a feel of them.
Another bit more common combo as a punish with whip:
cr.C BC cr.C > SDM. Though really in 2k2UM you can just go from cr.C > SDM (wasn't possible in Vanilla 2k2).
A lot of 'real' BC combos though, need you do a close C BC cancel, run in and do another close C. Those are pretty hard to execute, don't worry about them if you're just getting into kof2k2.