Canespace

Sweet Sixteen Is A Sweet Emotion

The fifth-seeded University of Miami men’s basketball team defeated fourth-seeded Indiana, 85-69, Sunday night at MVP Arena to claim a second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. 

Fourth-year junior guard Isaiah Wong scored a game-high 27 points for No. 16/15 Miami (27-7, 15-5 ACC) to help the team defeat No. 21/19 Indiana in a top-25 NCAA Tournament second-round showdown.

The Hurricanes jumped out to an 8-0 lead after just 2:13, connecting on four straight field goals after an opening miss. That helped Miami build an early 10-point edge, 13-3, after only 4:02, as it started 6-of-8 from the floor and Indiana (23-12, 12-8 B1G) opened just 1-of-6.

Aided by back-to-back 3-pointers, the Hurricanes extended their lead to 13 points, 28-15, with 9:52 on the first-half clock. The Hoosiers then scored 10 straight points in 99 seconds to close within three, 28-25, with 7:17 left in the frame. Miami countered with a 10-3 run, including eight points by Wong, to go back up by double digits, 38-28, with 3:05 to go.

Indiana eventually scored the final five points of the frame, including a buzzer-beating corner 3-pointer by fifth-year senior forward Miller Kopp, to make it 40-35 at the break. Miami shot 55.2 percent (16-of-29) in the opening 20 minutes and notched an 8-2 margin in fast-break points.

The Hoosiers scored the opening eight points after halftime and, after never leading in the first half, gained their first advantage with 18:37 to go and upped it to 43-40 with 17:42 left. Miami, though, quickly recovered and soon logged a 16-2 surge in 4:49—it scored nine straight points in just 2:05 to end it—to go back up by a dozen, 63-51, with 8:15 remaining.

Indiana closed back within seven, but never got any closer. Miami eventually drilled back-to-back 3-pointers in the closing minutes to go up by 15 points, 75-60, with 3:26 to play. Although the Hoosiers made back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers, the Hurricanes continued to score at the other end, making their final seven shots and scoring the last eight points to win by 16 points, their largest margin of the night.

Miami finished with a 48.6 percent (34-of-70) clip from the field, including a 39.1 percent (9-of-23) ledger from 3-point range. The Hurricanes posted a dominant 48-31 margin on the glass and compiled more offensive rebounds (20) than Indiana had defensive rebounds (19). Head coach Jim Larrañaga’s team totaled a 29-11 cushion in second-chance points, 14-0 tally in bench points and a 46-28 ledger in paint points.

Wong’s 27-point performance, good for the co-fourth-most by a Hurricane in the NCAA Tournament, came on a 9-of-17 shooting from the field, including a 4-of-6 mark from deep, along with a perfect 5-of-5 line on free throws. The ACC Player of the Year also grabbed eight rebounds in the win.

Fifth-year senior guard Jordan Miller amassed 19 points on 9-of-16 shooting, adding five rebounds and two blocks. Third-year sophomore guard Nijel Pack, an Indianapolis native playing against his home state school, scored 12 points in the win. Third-year sophomore forward Norchad Omier scored seven points and pulled down a game-high 17 rebounds to break the program’s NCAA Tournament single-game record he set two days prior and post the top total by a Hurricane in any regulation game since November 2018.

Fourth-year junior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, a First Team All-American, paced the Hoosiers with 23 points, eight rebounds and five blocks, finishing 7-of-10 from the field and 9-of-11 at the line. Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino scored 19 points, but Miami held him to 8-of-22 shooting, including a 3-of-11 clip from deep. Redshirt senior forward Race Thompson added 11 points.

Up next for Miami, which led for 33-plus minutes in Sunday’s victory, is a matchup with top-seeded Houston, ranked No. 2/1 nationally, Friday at 7:15 p.m. at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., live on CBS.

The U Can't Go Wrong With Wong

For the second time in program history, a member of the University of Miami men’s basketball team is the ACC Player of the Year, as Isaiah Wong claimed the award Monday night.

Wong joins 2012-13 honoree Shane Larkin in program record books. He also received First Team All-ACC distinction, becoming the second Hurricane, alongside Jack McClinton, to earn three postseason All-ACC honors.

In addition, Jordan Miller claimed Second Team All-ACC plaudits and Norchad Omier garnered Third Team All-ACC accolades. This is the third time three Hurricanes have earned first-, second- or third-team status in the same year, including just the third time in the ACC era, alongside 2015-16, 2012-13 and 2001-02 (BIG EAST).

“I am so proud of all three of our All-ACC honorees. Isaiah, Jordan and Norchad have all had amazing impacts on the court and in the locker room,” Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga said. “They are tremendous basketball players who helped lead us to a share of the ACC regular season title, as well as fantastic representatives of both our program and our University.

“I want to especially commend Isaiah on winning ACC Player of the Year, an award he most certainly deserves. He is one of the hardest-working players I have ever coached and I am overjoyed for him to receive this recognition.”

A fourth-year junior guard, Wong received 30 votes for ACC Player of the Year, seven more than second-place Tyree Appleby of Wake Forest. His 337 points in All-ACC balloting also led all players, putting him 13 above second-place Armando Bacot of North Carolina. Wong, Larkin and James (1998-99) are the only Hurricanes to win conference player of the year in any league, with James doing so in the BIG EAST.

The Piscataway, N.J., native is the fourth First Team All-ACC designee in program history, joining Kameron McGusty, McClinton (2007-08 and 2008-09) and Larkin (2012-13). He is the sixth Hurricane, regardless of league, to earn first-team status, as Tim James (1997-98 and 1998-99) and Johnny Hemsley (1998-99) did so when Miami was in the BIG EAST. Additionally, Wong, McClinton (2007-09), James (1997-99) and Darius Rice (2002-04) are the only three-time all-league honorees in any conference in program history, with the latter two doing so in the BIG EAST.

The 6-foot-4, 184-pounder is averaging team highs in points (15.9), assists (3.4) and steals (1.4) per game. He is also third on the team in rebounding (4.4), while shooting 44.2 percent from the floor, 38.1 percent beyond the arc and 82.9 percent at the line.

Wong owns the highest single-game point total in the league this year (36 vs. Cornell on 12/7/22) and is a two-time ACC Player of the Week. He ranks sixth in the ACC in made free throws (121), eighth in steals per game and free-throw percentage, co-eighth in 20-point games (nine), No. 11 in points per game, No. 13 in field-goal percentage and No. 14 in assists per game.

A fifth-year senior guard, Miller is just the eighth Hurricane to receive first- or second-team All-ACC status, joining Wong, McClinton, Larkin, McGusty, Sheldon McClellan (2015-16), Kenny Kadji (2012-13) and Guillermo Diaz (2005-06 and 2004-05). Only four others—James, Rice, Johnny Hemsley (1998-99 and 1999-200) and John Salmons (2000-01)—did so in the BIG EAST era. Miller finished ninth in All-ACC balloting with 148 points.

Hailing from Middleburg, Va., Miller is averaging 15.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game, all second-best on the team, in a Miami-high 34.5 minutes per outing. He is shooting 54.0 percent overall, second-best among Hurricanes, as well as 35.4 percent on 3-pointers and 80.0 percent from the stripe. He owns two double-doubles, four 20-point showings and a co-team-high 27 double-digit scoring performances, including 24 in a row, this season.

 

Hurricanes Get Infusion Of New Blood

University of Miami head football coach Mario Cristobal Wednesday announced the hiring of Lance Guidry as the Hurricanes defensive coordinator.

Guidry spent the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Marshall University, where his defenses proved to be among the nation’s elite units. Marshall’s defense ranked in the top five nationally in FBS in several key statistics, including third down defense (first), stop rate (second), pass efficiency defense (third), defensive efficiency (third), yards per play (third), turnovers gained (fifth) and rushing defense (fifth).

In a dominant 2022 campaign, the Thundering Herd also finished the season ranked sixth in scoring defense (16.0) and passes intercepted (18), eighth in total defense (294.5), ninth in first down defense (200), 12th in defensive touchdowns (3), 16th in team sacks (2.92), 19th in red zone defense (76.7) and 22nd tackles for loss (6.9) and fumbles recovered (11). Both redshirt juniors Owen Porter and Micah Abraham were selected to the All-Sun Belt First Team, while four other standouts earned all-conference honors under his watch.

In his first season in the position with the Thundering Herd in 2021, Guidry’s defensive squad led the conference and placed among the top 30 nationally in passing efficiency defense (12th – 117.56), sacks (18th – 3.08) and tackles for loss (30th – 6.6). Nine of the team’s defensive players were recognized by the C-USA in their end of the season awards.

Prior to arriving at Marshall, Guidry spent a year working as the safeties coach at FAU. In 2020, his unit contributed to the 16th-best pass defense in all of FBS. (188.2) The unit ranked No. 24 in total defense in the NCAA and also finished as the second-most difficult unit to score in the conference (17.4 points per game, the ninth-best mark in the FBS).

Guidry, who spent the 2019 season at Southeastern Louisiana, served six seasons for McNeese State, his alma mater, the last three as the head coach of the Cowboys. All told, Guidry spent 12 seasons at McNeese State during which the team compiled a 98-45 overall record, including a 60-24 mark in Southland Conference play. During his most recent stint in Louisiana, he mentored Southland Defensive Players of the Year BJ Blunt (2018) and Wallace Scott (2015)

Guidry was part of McNeese staffs that helped the Cowboys to four Southland Conference championships and six appearances in the FCS playoffs, including a trip to the 2002 FCS championship game.

Guidry’s consistently dominant defense were highlighted by his units in both the 2015 and 2017 seasons. The 2017 Cowboys led the nation and set a new Southland record with 54.5 rushing yards per game allowed – the seventh-lowest average allowed in FCS history. Guidry’s 2017 McNeese defense propelled the Cowboys to a 9-2 record, ranking in the top 10 nationally in third down conversion defense (1stt – 23.8), first downs allowed (2nd – 150), defensive touchdowns (3rd- 5), total defense (5th – 262.5 ypg.), red zone defense (6th – 63.0 percent), turnovers forced (6th – 26), interceptions (7th – 16) and tackles for loss per game (9th – 8.2). That season, the Cowboys held five teams without an offensive touchdown, including Southeastern Louisiana in a 13-3 McNeese victory in Lake Charles. That year’s Lions’ offense averaged 428.1 total yards, 283.1 rushing yards and 34.8 points per game. In 2015, McNeese won the Southland Conference title and finished with a perfect regular season record thanks in large part to rankings of No. 12 nationally in total defense, third in scoring defense and fourth in rushing defense.

Prior to his stint at McNeese, Guidry was the defensive coordinator for two seasons at WKU and served as the interim coach for the Hilltoppers in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl – the program’s first bowl appearance. At WKU, he coached three NFL draft picks in defensive end Quanterous Smith, linebacker Andrew Jackson and safety Jonathan Dowling. His 2012 defense led the Sun Belt Conference in total defense, sacks, pass defense efficiency and first downs allowed.

Before coaching at WKU, Guidry was defensive backs coach at Miami (Ohio) for two seasons. The 2010 RedHawks were 10-4 and won the GoDaddy.com Bowl over Middle Tennessee, 35-21, with Guidry serving as interim head coach.

Guidry also had local high school coaching stops at Leesville and Carencro High School. A 1995 McNeese graduate and two-time All-Conference strong safety, Guidry helped McNeese to a pair of conference titles and playoff appearances during his collegiate playing career (1990-93).

University of Miami head football coach Mario Cristobal Thursday announced the hiring of Shannon Dawson as the Hurricanes’ offensive coordinator. Dawson’s hire is pending completion of a standard University background check.

Dawson spent the past four seasons at the University of Houston, including the last three as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He joined the program as tight ends coach at Houston in January 2019 after three seasons as offensive coordinator at Southern Miss.

In Dawson’s three seasons as quarterbacks coach with the Cougars (2020-22), Houston quarterbacks combined to throw 87 touchdown passes (13th nationally) behind a 65.3 completion percentage (19th nationally) and 10,008 passing yards (21st nationally). Dawson tutored signal caller Clayton Tune to a record-setting career. In 2022, Tune set the American Athletic Conference single-season touchdown passes record (40). The first-team all-conference honoree ranked third nationally in passing touchdowns, third in total offense (355.2) and fifth in passing yards per game (313.4).

Dawson’s Cougars ranked eighth nationally in passing offense (314.0) this past season. Houston wide receiver Nathaniel Dell led the nation in receiving touchdowns (17) and receiving yards (1,398) while Matthew Golden set a Houston true freshman record with seven receiving touchdowns.
Houston ranked 15th nationally in scoring offense (35.6), 22nd in first downs offense (314), 23rd in passing offense (271.6) and 25th in red zone offense (.891).

In his final year at Southern Miss (2018), Dawson helped guide the Golden Eagles as the No. 3 team nationally in completion percentage, completing 69.2 percent of their passes. Sophomore quarterback Jack Abraham ranked third in the league and 22nd nationally with an average of 260.8 passing yards per game while leading the nation with a completion percentage of 73.1 percent and ranking fourth nationally with 24.8 completions per game. Sophomore receiver Quez Watkins earned first team All-Conference USA honors after finishing second in the league with nine touchdown receptions while true freshman center Trace Clopton earned FWAA Freshman All-America honors.

Despite missing his starting quarterback for three games and in limited action in two more contests in 2017, the Golden Eagles were still able to amass 424.6 total yards per game, just behind league champion Florida Atlantic and West Division champ North Texas. His efforts also helped former Golden Eagle Ito Smith become just the 10th running back in FBS history to rush for over 4,000 yards and collect at least 1,000 receiving yards.

In his first season with Golden Eagles, Dawson mentored Nick Mullens in his senior season, who ended his career first in passing yards and touchdowns thrown. Mullens signed a free-agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers heading into this season. Southern Miss also set a school record for total offensive yards in a game with 702 against Rice.

Dawson also helped build some of the nation’s most prolific offenses at West Virginia, where he spent four seasons, including his last three as offensive coordinator. In his last season in Morgantown, WVU ranked 12th in the nation in total offense, averaging 499.8 yards per game, and was ninth nationally in passing offense at 317 yards per contest. The Mountaineers averaged 33.5 points per game and set a school record by scoring at least 30 points in eight consecutive games. WVU also averaged more than 182 rushing yards per game.

A native of Clinton, La., Dawson played his college football at Wingate (N.C.) University as a quarterback and wide receiver. He began his coaching career as receivers coach at his alma mater in 2002.

Dawson linked up with former Kentucky head coach Hal Mumme in 2003-04 to help revive a program at Southeastern Louisiana that had been dormant for 17 years. He also coached with Mumme at New Mexico State in 2005.

Dawson went to Millsaps College as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2006-07. The Majors won the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship both years, the first back-to-back titles in school history, and quarterback Juan Joseph was two-time SCAC Offensive Player of the Year. Millsaps played in the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2006.

Dawson moved to Stephen F. Austin University as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2008-10. With the Lumberjacks averaging only 16 points a game during a winless 2007 season, Dawson helped orchestrate an amazing turnaround in SFA’s offensive fortunes. In his first season, the Lumberjacks ranked third in the nation in passing offense, 13th in total offense and 14th in scoring offense.

SFA won or shared the Southland Conference championship the next two seasons, advancing to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs both years. In 2009-10, SFA led the nation in passing offense while ranking in the top six nationally in total offense and scoring. Quarterback Jeremy Moses was a two-time All-American, two-time Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year and won the Walter Payton Award as the FCS National Player of the Year. Wide receivers Dominique Edison and Contrevious Parks went on to play in the NFL.

Larranaga Leads Canes Past Clemson

The University of Miami men’s basketball team snapped ACC-leading Clemson’s 15-game home winning streak Saturday evening with a 78-74 victory in a top-25 matchup at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Third-year sophomore guard Nijel Pack paced No. 23/21 Miami (18-5, 9-4 ACC) with a game-high 20 points in the road win over No. 20/19 Clemson (18-6, 10-3 ACC).

The Tigers raced out to a 10-4 lead after just three-and-a-half minutes, but Miami countered with a game-tying 8-2 burst in just 93 seconds on the way to building a 30-25 edge with 4:57 on the clock. Clemson later used a 7-0 surge to go up, 35-31, with 2:42 left in the half, but the Hurricanes scored the final four points before the break to level the score at 35 through 20 minutes.

The Hurricanes conceded zero first-half offensive rebounds, but Clemson shot 6-of-12 (50.0 percent) from 3-point range and 5-of-6 (83.3 percent) from the line. Miami, meanwhile, had six offensive boards, but just 3-of-12 (25.0 percent) and 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) respective clips before the break.

Four different Hurricanes hit 3-pointers in the first five minutes of the second half, sparking a 17-7 run that also included an old-fashioned three-point play and put Miami ahead by 10 points, 52-42, with 14:29 to go. It then extended the cushion to a game-best 12, 56-44, with 11:10 remaining.

The Tigers responded soon thereafter with another 7-0 run, this one in just 70 seconds, to make it a three-point margin, 61-58, with 6:06 to go. Miami scored the next five points and went back up by eight, 66-58, with just 4:39 in the game.

Clemson then made three straight shots, along with a free throw, and trimmed the deficit back to three, 68-65, with 2:51 left. After a Miami basket, the Tigers again got it down to three, 70-67, with 1:26 on the ticker, but the Hurricanes scored the next three points from the line to take a six-point edge, 73-67, with only 27 seconds to go.

The home team again closed within three, but Pack hit two free throws with 4.8 ticks left to make it a five-point cushion. The Tigers hit a 3-pointer with exactly one second to play, slicing the advantage to two, but Pack made two more free throws three-tenths of a second later to ice the team’s second top-25 victory in as many chances this season.

The Hurricanes return home now for a “Big Monday” showdown at 7 p.m. against Duke, live on ESPN from the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla.

To keep up with the University of Miami men’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Doing Good In The Neighborhood

Miami Athletics captured first place in the annual NCAA Team Works Community Service Competition powered by Helper Helper, the NCAA announced Wednesday.

Miami earned the Division I award, with 100 percent of its 450-plus student-athletes participating in at least one community service activity. Pittsburgh and North Dakota finished second and third, respectively. This is the second time Miami has captured the NCAA Team Works Community Service Competition – the Hurricanes also took top honors in 2018.

“I am incredibly proud of our student-athletes and our student-athlete development staff for working together to win the NCAA Team Works Community Service Competition for the second time in four years,” Vice President/Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich said. “It speaks to the culture of service that lives here at UM, which our student-athletes have continually taken to heart.”

NCAA Team Works, which coordinates community service efforts at NCAA championships, and Helper Helper, a volunteer management and tracking platform, launched the community service competition to recognize student-athletes and schools who give back to their communities. This was the 10th year of the competition, which ran September 1 through December 15, 2022, and is based on the number of service hours completed and the number of participating student-athletes. Helper Helper tracks the school participation data throughout the competition.

Miami’s community service efforts during the 2022 Challenge included its Pen Pal program matching 86 student-athletes with students at local elementary schools; a Day of Giving when the football team delivered Thanksgiving meals to the Miami-Dade Foster and Adoptive Parent Association; an Operation Christmas Child drive for gifts to send to children in need overseas; and the swimming team giving free lessons for children at the South Miami Community Center.

“I am beyond proud of the work we have put into community service and student-athlete engagement here at the University of Miami,” said Shirelle Jackson, Executive Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development. “I am thrilled for our student-athletes, the communities we serve and our Canes Connect team. Our student-athletes continue to be receptive to our outreach opportunities, which has had an incredible impact on both our student-athletes and our surrounding communities.”

For schools that opted into the challenge, their total service hours were 218,594 hours, more than double last year’s total. The estimated economic impact of those service hours was $6.5 million, based on the calculation by the organization Independent Sector of the national value of a volunteer hour.

Duke Holds On To Beat Miami By Two

The University of Miami men's basketball team fell by two at Duke, 68-66, Saturday afternoon at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Fifth-year senior guard Jordan Miller registered a game-high 19 points, including 13 in the second half, for No. 17/16 Miami (15-4, 6-3 ACC) in its first defeat against the Blue Devils in league play in exactly three years.

The Hurricanes used a late 12-3 run, including a fourth 3-pointer in five attempts by third-year sophomore guard Nijel Pack to retake the lead, to grab a 36-32 edge with 3:13 on the first-half clock. Duke (14-5, 5-3 ACC) hit two 3-pointers in the closing two minutes, sandwiched around a Miami basket, and the teams went into the locker room even at 38 apiece.

Miami shot 5-of-9 from 3-point range, including hitting five of its first seven attempts, and 9-of-10 at the line in the opening 20 minutes, while the Blue Devils went 5-of-11 and 3-of-7, respectively.

Coming out of the break, an early 8-2 personal surge by Miller put the Hurricanes ahead by two. However, Duke used a 10-0 run in 4:28, started with two shot-clock-beating 3-pointers, to go up by eight, 55-47, with 11:48 to play.

Miami, buoyed by a trio of 3-pointers and a three-point play, closed within one, 64-63, with 2:54 remaining. Despite holding Duke to 2-of-16 down the stretch, including zero field goals in the final five-plus minutes, the Hurricanes could not level the score or regain the lead, as the Blue Devils held on for the home win.

The Hurricanes finished the day shooting just 34.9 percent (22-of-63) from the floor, but their 47.6 percent (10-of-21) ledger from 3-point range and 80.0 percent (12-of-15) total from the line kept them in it throughout. Miami, which had just six giveaways, also posted an 8-2 edge in points off turnovers and an 11-0 tally in fast-break points, but Duke logged a 26-11 margin in bench points.

Miami continues play Tuesday at 7 p.m., when it squares off with Florida State at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, Fla., live on ESPNU.

Too Many Turnovers

The University of Miami men’s basketball team rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to take a four-point lead Saturday afternoon at PNC Arena, but dropped an 83-81 overtime decision against NC State.

Fourth-year junior guard Isaiah Wong paced No. 16/15 Miami (14-3, 5-2 ACC) with a game-high 25 points, including 18 after halftime.

“I thought that was a very entertaining college game. Both teams played very hard and, I’d say, very well, for the most part. It comes down to the overtime,” Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga said. “We just had too many turnovers for the game. We only have five assists with 17 turnovers. I would prefer the opposite.”

After the teams played evenly through 15-and-a-half minutes, NC State (14-4, 4-3 ACC) closed the frame on a 14-4 run to take a 42-32 lead into the locker room. Miami shot 56.0 percent (14-of-25) before the break, including start 10-of-15, but committed nine turnovers and forced just three.

The Hurricanes opened the second frame on an 8-0 run to pull within two, 42-40, with 17:43 to go. NC State countered with an 11-2 burst to go back ahead by nine, 53-44, just 2:20 later, but Miami answered right back with an 19-6 surge to go in front by four, 63-59, with 8:20 remaining.

The Wolfpack retook the edge, 65-64, exactly four minutes later after a 6-1 run, but Miami scored four points in a row to go up, 68-65, with 3:46 on the clock. NC State answered again, this time with an 8-2 burst to go up, 73-70, with 55 ticks left. Miami fifth-year senior guard Jordan Miller then drilled a game-tying 3-pointer with 27 seconds to go and the Hurricanes got a stop at the other end to force overtime.

Miami took an 81-78 edge with 2:13 on the overtime ticker, but NC State scored the next five points to go ahead by one, 82-81, with 30 seconds to go and added a free throw 18 seconds later to double the advantage. It then forced a turnover at the other end to claim the home win.

Round Ball Rules

The University of Miami men’s basketball team jumped eight spots to No. 14 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll this week. In addition, the Hurricanes moved up six places to No. 16 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. 

For Miami (12-1, 3-0 ACC), the rise comes after knocking off then-sixth-ranked Virginia, 66-64, Tuesday night at the Watsco Center. Head coach Jim Larrañaga’s team went from 208 points in the AP Poll to 658 this week and from 150 points in the Coaches Poll to now 290, an increase of 140-plus in each.

The Hurricanes’ No. 14 AP ranking is their highest since placing sixth on Dec. 18, 2017, and their first top-15 position since coming in at No. 15 on Jan. 1, 2018. Meanwhile, Miami’s No. 16 spot in the Coaches Poll matches its spot on the final 2021-22 list after its run to the Elite Eight.

Isiah Wong of the University of Miami men’s basketball is the ACC Player of the Week for the second time this month, as announced Tuesday afternoon by the league office. Wong, who was also named ACC Player of the Week on December 12, led Miami to a 66-64 win over then-sixth-ranked Virginia last week.

A fourth-year junior guard, Wong scored 24 points and added six rebounds and five assists in the win over the Wahoos. Wong, whose 24 points marked a game high, became the first Hurricane to post four straight 20-point games since Jack McClinton did so in January 2009.

The New Jersey native forced a turnover on the final play to deny Virginia a shot at the Watsco Center as the game clock expired. Wong became the second high-major player in the last decade to record four straight games with at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. He finished 7-for-13 from the field, 2-of-3 from 3-point range and 8-of-9 from the free throw line in the victory.

University of Miami head men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga is a first-time nominee for the prestigious Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as announced Wednesday afternoon.

Larrañaga is one of nine first-time North American nominees, alongside three other coaches (John Beilein, Gregg Popovich and Stan Spirou) and five players (Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Dwyane Wade and John Williamson).

“I am incredibly honored and humbled to be named a nominee for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. To be considered alongside some of the giants of our game was beyond my wildest dreams when entering this profession over 50 years ago,” Larrañaga said. “I’d like to deeply thank each of my assistants, staff members and players throughout the years. This recognition would not be possible without them and it demonstrates not what I’ve accomplished, but what we have all done together. I’m so grateful to the administrators and fans who have supported us along the way. I also want to especially thank my wife, Liz, and sons, Jay and Jon, for being by my side through all the highs and lows. I’m excited to continue coaching here at Miami and look forward to further elevating this tremendous program.”

Among the most accomplished coaches in NCAA men’s basketball history, Larrañaga is in his 51st season as a college coach, including his 39th leading a program and his 12th at Miami. He owns 708 victories as a head coach, good for No. 33 all-time on the DI leaderboard, including ninth among active coaches.

Larrañaga began his coaching career as an assistant at Davidson College from 1971-76 and then served as a player/coach for Geronemo Basketball Club in Belgium the following season. The Bronx, N.Y., native returned to the college level in 1977, taking a job as the head coach at American International College. He led the Division II program for two seasons, posting a 27-26 record.

Sign Me up!

Expected Miami Commits:

• 7:41 a.m. - 4-star LB Raul Aguirre signed his NLI

• 7:45 a.m. - 3-star OL Tommy Kinsler signed his NLI

• 8:09 a.m. - 4-star RB Mark Fletcher signed his NLI

• 9:08 a.m. - 5-star OL Samson Okunlola signed his NLI

• 9:35 a.m. - 4-star TE Riley Williams signed NLI

• 9:30 a.m. - 4-star RB Christopher Johnson

• 9:30 a.m. - 4-star DB Antione Jackson

• 9:30 a.m. - 4-star WR Robby Washington (NLI signed at 8:19 a.m.)

• 9:30 a.m. - 4-star LB Bobby Washington (NLI signed at 8:19 a.m.)

• 10:00 a.m. - 5-star CB Cormani McClain

• 10:00 a.m. - 3-star DT Joshua Horton (NLI is in at 7:54 a.m.)

• 10:00 a.m. - 3-star DB Kaleb Spencer (NLI is in at 8:39 a.m.)

• 11:00 a.m. - 4-star DL Rueben Bain (NLI is in at 8:17 a.m.)

• 11:00 a.m. 4-star LB Malik Bryant (NLI is in at 8:10 a.m.)

• 11:30 a.m. 4-star WR Nathaniel Joseph (NLI is in at 7:15 a.m.)

• 12:00 p.m. 4-star OL Antonio Tripp (NLI is in at 9:20 a.m.)

• 12:00 p.m. 3-star LB Marcellius Pulliam (NLI is in at 7:45 a.m.)

• 2:30 p.m. 4-star CB Robert Stafford (NLI is in at 7:33 a.m.)

• 3:00 p.m. 3-star OL Frankie Tinilau (NLI is in at 7:03 a.m.)

• 5:00 p.m. 3-str TE Jackson Carver (NLI is in at 8:14 a.m.)

• TBD - 4-star DE Jayden Wayne (NLI is in at 7:55 a.m.)

• 4-star DL Collins Acheampong: (NLI in at 10:21 a.m.)

• 3-star QB Emory Williams: "At the crack of dawn" (NLI in at 10:40 a.m.)

Miami Targets Include:

• 11:45 a.m. 4-star ATH Edwin Joseph

• 1:00 p.m. 5-star WR Hykeem Williams (FSU commit)

• 3:15 p.m. 4-star CB Damari Brown (ESPN)

• TBD - 4-star DB Conrad Hussey

Round Ball Round Up

The University of Miami men’s basketball team ascended three places in this week’s national rankings.

Miami (11-1, 2-0 ACC) jumped from No. 25 to No. 22 in both the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.

The Hurricanes went from 100 points in the AP Poll to 208 this week and from 55 points in the Coaches Poll to now 150, an increase of 95-plus in each.

Miami’s No. 22 position in the Coaches Poll is its highest by that outlet since placing No. 19 on Jan. 8, 2018.

The Hurricanes continue competition Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. with a top-25 matchup against sixth-ranked Virginia, live on ACC Network from the Watsco Center.

To keep up with the University of Miami men’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

The Miami Hurricanes are No. 8 in Collegiate Baseball’s Fabulous 50 NCAA Division I Pre-Season Poll, the publication announced Tuesday morning.

The Hurricanes garnered a top-25 preseason ranking for the ninth time in the past decade. Miami is the lone ACC program to earn a top-10 preseason mark from Collegiate Baseball in three of the last four years, trailing only four-time pick and SEC power Vanderbilt, nationally.

The complete Collegiate Baseball Fabulous 50 NCAA Division I Pre-Season Poll can be viewed HERE.

Miami is one of 10 teams from the ACC in the annual Collegiate Baseball preseason poll. The Hurricanes are joined by No. 6 Louisville, No. 10 Wake Forest, No. 11 North Carolina, No. 16 Virginia, No. 23 Georgia Tech, No. 28 Virginia Tech, No. 30 NC State, No. 32 Florida State and No. 42 Clemson.

In 2022, head coach Gino DiMare’s fourth season, the Hurricanes earned a national seed and hosted a regional for the first time in six years. Miami tallied a 40-20 overall record, leading the ACC with 20 conference victories. The Hurricanes were ranked as high as No. 2 nationally and notched a 14-game winning streak, the program’s longest since 2014.