''This is a great tournament, with the top three teams in the country, and there's no way any regional will be as tough as this,'' Morris said from the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Tuesday afternoon.
``There's a lot of pride to win any title in the ACC, but our guys are probably more focused on the NCAA tournament because of our history in that. They know this tournament is fun, and it's really competitive. But the next tournament is the important one. And I totally agree with them, although I would like to win this one. We have to keep everything in perspective.''
The Hurricanes begin play in their fourth ACC tournament at 1 p.m. Wednesday (Sun Sports) against eighth-seeded Clemson. Top-seeded Miami (43-8, 23-5) will use freshman ace Chris Hernandez against a team that almost missed the tournament, getting in this past weekend.
LITTLE ACC SUCCESS
Miami, ranked third in the nation, hasn't been very good at the ACC tournament, winning just two games there since making its conference debut in 2005. Miami is 2-6 in tournament games, although the lack of success in the ACC postseason hasn't hurt it in the NCAA tournament.
The Hurricanes advanced to the Super Regional round in 2005 and 2006, moving on to the College World Series after winning at Mississippi in 2006. In those two seasons, Miami went 1-4 in ACC tournament play. Miami won one of its three games here (against rival FSU) last year.
''We want to take care of business and make sure we do a good job,'' first baseman Yonder Alonso said. ``This is a great tournament and a great conference, but we're confident. We have a great team with good pitching, defense and hitting.''
Miami comes to Jacksonville looking to rebound from last weekend's series loss to North Carolina. UM, ranked No. 1 in the nation at the time, took the first game of the series to clinch the top seed in the ACC tournament before losing the final two games. North Carolina is now the nation's top-ranked team, but it is the No. 3-seed here, behind Miami and Florida State.
The top seed has won two of the past three ACC titles, with second-seeded North Carolina winning last season.
''We don't like to lose games, and we're hungry for a win after last weekend,'' said Hernandez (10-0, 2.67 ERA), who was named the league's Freshman of the Year on Monday. ``UNC is a real good team. But that made us hungry. We've tried to put it behind us, but we'd like to see them down the road. We want to show that we won't lie down and die.''
The Hurricanes wouldn't face the Tar Heels or Seminoles until Sunday's title game. After playing Clemson, Miami plays Georgia Tech on Thursday and North Carolina State on Saturday. Miami is 8-1 against those teams, outscoring them 86-45.
In the ACC tournament, however, Miami is winless in five games against those teams.
''You want to come out here and show fans and the ACC that we belong in the top spot,'' Alonso said. ``Every weekend has been hard in this league.''
ENDING A DROUGHT
Once Miami is done in Jacksonville, the Hurricanes return home for their regional, and a victory there likely would bring a home Super Regional.
No ACC team since Wake Forest in 1955 has won the College World Series.
Miami has four championships as an independent from 1982-2001.
''We want to win every game and go into things with that attitude,'' second baseman Jemile Weeks said. ``The ACC is great from top to bottom, but if we play our game we can beat anyone.''
