Miami: 21-11, 10-8 in the ACC
Head coach: Jim Larrañaga (6th season)
Players to watch: Davon Reed (15.0 PPG, 39.9 3PT%); Ja’Quan Newton (13.4 PPG 3.4 APG); Bruce Brown (11.9 PPG, 45.8 FG%)
Season recap: After losing three starters that had the Hurricanes among the ACC’s elite for a few years, many wondered how head coach Jim Larrañaga’s club would fare in a loaded ACC. But Larrañaga has proven his mettle as one of the most underrated coaches in the country yet again, molding a defensive-minded unit that allows just 63.7 points per game. With veterans Ja’Quan Newton and Davon Reed making enough plays to keep Miami in contests and freshman Bruce Brown coming on late in the year, Miami only lost to Iowa State and Florida—two top-25 teams that look dangerous heading into March—in nonconference play.
The Hurricanes then overcame a 2-4 start in ACC play by winning eight of their next 10 games, including wins against North Carolina, Virginia and Duke, marked by Miami’s stifling defense. Although the Hurricanes dropped close road games against Virginia Tech and Florida State as the conference season wound down to fall into the No. 9 seed for the ACC tournament, they have demonstrated the toughness needed to hang with just about anyone in the country, as long as they can get a few shots to fall.
Brown will be a player to keep an eye on—the freshman torched the Blue Devils for 25 points Feb. 25 and managed 21 in the ACC tournament quarterfinal loss to the top-seeded Tar Heels. The 6-foot-5 guard has improved steadily as the year has gone on. As the player who will likely command Miami’s offense for years to come, he will look to impress throughout the postseason.
How they make a run: The Hurricanes shake opposing offenses out of rhythm to return to the Sweet 16 for the second straight season. And behind a defense ranked 22nd in the nation, Miami finds a way to pull an upset to make the Elite Eight for the first time in Larrañaga's tenure.
How they falter: Miami's offense proves unreliable as it did against North Carolina in the ACC tournament quarterfinals—with limited scoring options, the Hurricanes cannot put up enough points and top teams attack their defense to knock Miami out.
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