The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Houston Cougars 89-75 in the Sweet Sixteen. Now, Miami awaits the winner of the matchup between Texas and Xavier. The Hurricanes played their best, efficient game on Friday night, and a similar effort will be needed on Sunday to make the Final Four. Here’s a quick recap of Miami’s impressive win over Houston.
Guards Deliver Big
Nijel Pack really decided to step up in this year’s tournament, and he finished with a game-high 26 points. While he is not exactly a huge playmaker, Pack has proven to be productive at all three levels of scoring. Isaiah Wong had another great performance with 20 points and six rebounds. After initially struggling against Drake, Wong made it clear that he’s going to drive the ball and get to the free throw line to get his points.
Norchad Omier finished with a double-double, but the big men will have to play a larger role on offense for Miami to advance. Near the end of the second half, both Wooga Poplar and Pack tended to rely on the three, which could hurt them in the upcoming games. The Hurricanes’ strength on offense is in their movement, and that has to be used on every possession.
Looking Ahead
With the Longhorns’ huge lead over Xavier, Texas is the probable matchup for Miami on Sunday. Texas has a swarming defense thanks to the size of Timmy Allen, Christian Bishop, and Dylan Disu, so the Hurricanes will need to figure out a way to counter that attack.
Miami’s confidence is at an all-time high with recent wins over Indiana and Houston. Since this is only the second appearance ever for the Hurricanes in the elite height, they need to remain hungry and poised to reach their first ever Final Four. Miami will probably face lower-seeded teams from here on out. Still, that doesn’t mean that the upcoming opponents will play with any less desire than the Hurricanes. Like Kevin Garnett said, “anything’s possible!”