The Miami Hurricanes beat the Drake Bulldogs 63-56 to advance to the Round of 32. Now, the Hurricanes will face Indiana on Sunday.
Miami got off to a rough start in this game, but the players’ confidence never wavered. That same energy will be needed for the Hurricanes to make another appearance in the Sweet Sixteen. Here’s a quick recap of Miami’s win over Drake.
First Half Woes
Isaiah Wong’s efforts led the Hurricanes to be one of the best offenses in college basketball this season. However, he struggled to find his rhythm in the first half. The same goes for Jordan Miller, and the starting guard duo combined for one point in the first 20 minutes.
Thankfully, Miami could rely on its perimeter shooting from Wooga Poplar and Nijel Pack to stay in the game. They made some tough shots, and credit goes to Drake’s defense for forcing the Hurricanes out of their preferred style of play. Miami began to rely on isolation ball, and not moving without the ball proved to be the main reason for the Hurricanes’ struggles.
Coming Back Strong
Drake had a good start coming out of the half, but Miami responded well with a full-court press. Jim Larranaga’s decision to apply pressure to the Bulldogs’ ball handlers paid off, and the Hurricanes also got into the bonus quickly. Pack continued to put Miami on his back, finishing the game with a team-high 21 points.
Although Wong was one-for-ten from the field, he still had a role in facilitating the offense. His aggression will surely be needed in the Round of 32, and all guards will have to be shooting well.
The Hurricanes’ defense also tremendously improved in the second half; the energy shown by Miami to end the game shows their potential to be a Final Four team.
Concluding Thoughts
No win comes easily during March Madness, and the Miami Hurricanes certainly saw that against the Drake Bulldogs.
Indiana will be a tough matchup, so Miami will need to come out firing immediately instead of just regrouping in the second half. If the Hurricanes trust their strengths on offense and versatility, they will be tough to beat.