Here is how “under appreciated” Sam Waardenburg led Miami Hurricanes to the Sweet 16
Sam Waardenburg is not listed as an assistant coach on the University of Miami basketball roster. But he may as well be.
The sixth-year senior forward from New Zealand is as close to a player-coach as it gets. His leadership is a big reason the 10th-seeded Canes are playing in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 against Iowa State Friday night in Chicago (9:59 p.m., TBS).
UM coach Jim Larranaga said he regularly defers to Waardenburg to gauge the pulse of the team.
“Most recently, and I’m not sure exactly when it was -- I think it was last week -- I said, `Do you think we should practice?’ He said no, and I said okay.
“You have to value the opinions of your players, especially the veteran players who have been around a long time and have the pulse of the team. If we’re tired and we need rest, Sam will say so. If we haven’t worked hard enough, Sam will say, `We need to get up and down today.’’’
Waardenburg, 6-10 and barely 215 pounds, is a perimeter shooter who has been called upon this season to play as a center and often finds himself guarding players who outweigh him by 30 to 40 pounds.
He more than holds his own with his work ethic and basketball IQ. He missed all last season with a foot injury and helped coaches do game reports and scouting reports.
He had three blocks against USC last Friday night. In Sunday’s win over No. 2 seed Auburn, Waardenburg – with the help of forward Jordan Miller – limited future NBA Lottery pick Jabari Smith to 10 points on 3-of-16 shooting. Waardenburg even blocked one of Smith’s shots.
Guard Kam McGusty said Waardenburg is underrated.
“Sam is such an important piece for us, offensively and defensively,” McGusty said. “Everybody always likes to talk about our guard play, but Sam’s the reason why we don’t have any pressure as a unit, just being able to throw him the ball and he can make plays for us, he can stretch other bigs out.
“The stuff he does on defense for us, we’re asking him to guard dudes who are 7’1”, 7’2”, 250 pounds, and Sam comes in every day, brings good energy, fronts them to the best of his ability, plays so hard. I feel like Sam doesn’t get enough credit. We definitely wouldn’t be the team we are today without him.”
Miller called Waardenburg “an extension of the coaching staff” and the team’s best leader.
“If there’s ever any conflict, Sam’s the one to kind of come separate it and just his IQ for the game – he’s just so smart,” Miller said. “And him tutoring these younger players, giving them advice, and keeping us together as a team, I think he does an amazing job. Definitely under appreciated.”