The Miami Hurricanes beat the Texas Longhorns 89-81 in the Elite Eight. Miami was down double digits in the second half, but the team pulled through to come out on top. The Hurricanes have defeated higher seeds in the past three games, and they will face the University of Connecticut in the Final Four. Here’s a quick recap of Miami’s comeback win over Texas.
Jordan for the Win
Jordan Miller played his best game today, finishing with 27 points on perfect shooting. The three guards Miller, Nigel Pack, and Isaiah Wong combined for 56 points. In fact, all starters finished with double digits.
The Longhorns’ defense did a good job of limiting Pack and Wong early on, but the effort and heart from the Hurricanes turned up a notch halfway through the second half. Miami shot 90% from the free throw line as well, which was needed down the stretch.
Norchad Omier almost finished with a double-double. He was a force on both the offensive and defensive ends, but his pick-and-roll play alongside Wong really helped Miami get back in the game.
Could Miami Win It All?
This will be the Miami Hurricanes’ first ever appearance in the Final Four. That’s also the case for two other teams: Florida Atlantic and San Diego State. Miami is undoubtedly capable of winning its next two games for the title, but those wins won’t come easily.
Against an opponent like Connecticut, the Hurricanes will need to come out strong in the first half. The small guards will need to be assertive and attack inside to allow Omier and Miller to feed off their game. Jim Larranaga has been to the Final Four before with George Mason University, but this year presents a different challenge.
The biggest question now is how will Miami fare as a ‘favorite’? In terms of talent, the Hurricanes likely have the best team remaining. Still, that doesn’t equate to a championship unless they come to play. Thankfully, the ride is still on!