This is why fans chanted “Baby Food!” as Norchad Omier led UM to 87-61 win over FAMU
University of Miami power forward Norchad Omier walked off the court at halftime Tuesday night wearing a huge smile. He had just scored 15 points on 7-of-7 shooting against Florida A&M and a group of students near the tunnel were chanting “Baby Food!”
Omier began doing a rock-the-baby motion. By the end of the night, Omier had racked up 21 points and seven rebounds to help lead the Hurricanes to an 87-61 win over the Rattlers. Omier was 10-of-12 from the floor.
UM guard Jordan Miller went 8-of-11 for 19 points with nine rebounds. Wooga Poplar added 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting and Bensley Joseph had 12.
A night earlier, the UM athletic department posted a video of Omier’s teammates doing impersonations of him saying “Baby food” and explaining that it is what he shouts to teammates when he sees a mismatch under the basket and wants the ball. It is his way of saying, “Feed me.”
Asked after the game about the origin of the phrase, he said he first used it at the first practice after the freshmen arrived on campus. He was being guarded by freshman Danilo Jovanovich. “I was like, `This is a mismatch,’ and I just yelled `Baby Food!’ I don’t even know why. And they just stuck with it since then.”
Don’t be surprised if fans start showing up at the Watsco Center with jars of baby food as the season goes on. Omier, a transfer from Arkansas State, has boundless energy, an infectious smile, and has quickly become a fan favorite and a positive influence in the locker room.
The 6-7 and 250-pound Nicaraguan has also proven to be a valuable addition on the court. Entering Tuesday’s game, Omier led the ACC with 13 rebounds per game. He grabbed 10 rebounds in the first half of his debut against Lafayette and finished with 15 in that game to go with 11 points.
“He’s just a monster,” guard Isaiah Wong said of Omier after that game.
“He’s brought plenty of energy, he’s very exciting to watch, he’s an animal on the glass, plays really hard and that’s what we preach here as a team,” Joseph said, speaking of Omier. “Coach L loves guys that play hard and are all about the team and Norchad is the perfect example of that and I’m very grateful to be playing with this dude.”
Coach Jim Larranaga, asked about Omier’s offensive production after the game Tuesday, said: “The defense was spread out tonight and the first two games the defense was packed in, so it was very difficult to get to the rim. Tonight, teammates found Chad inside, and he was the recipient of several lob passes.”
Omier said he urged teammates to throw him some lob passes, and they delivered. Wong had a few of them, and finished with seven assists.
Omier, the first Nicaragua native to play Division I basketball, is delighted to be back in Miami, where he spent one year playing at Miami Prep. He said he feels “en casa” (at home) amongst the large Hispanic community in South Florida and on the UM campus.
The third-year sophomore was the Sun Belt Player of the Year last season at Arkansas State and decided to enter the transfer portal to play in a more competitive conference.
Joseph also had a memorable game Tuesday, scoring a career-high and making his first collegiate dunk. Harlond Beverly had stolen the ball, found Joseph on a fast break, and the 6-2 guard soared and slammed it in to give UM a 64-46 lead. He didn’t even realize he was fouled on the play until he was instructed to go to the free throw line.
“It felt amazing, credit to my team for finding me,” Joseph said. “I didn’t know it was an and-one until after. Adrenaline was pumping. Jordan (Miller) said `Oh my god!’ My head was in a million places. I said the same thing. Very exciting moment.”
Miami beat FAMU 86-59 when the teams met early last season and the Hurricanes hit 10 three-pointers in that game. The result was the same this time around, but the Canes dominated in the paint (50-26), including eight dunks. Four of them were by Omier, each one an exclamation point announcing his arrival to the UM program.
The Rattlers turned the ball over 22 times and the Canes scored 24 points off those turnovers. Miami had the edge on fast break points (23-3) and steals (15-6). The Hurricanes combined for 22 assists.
“I was very happy we were able to force 22 turnovers, get a double-digit lead at the half, and get it up into the 20s,” Larranaga said. “Wooga Poplar had a terrific game, some of those fast-break dunks were clearly amazing, very high level. Jordan Miller was terrific. Norchad was very, very good. And Bensley Joseph played an excellent game.”
He also was pleased the freshmen came in and contributed in the closing minutes.
After opening the season with three home games in a row, the Hurricanes head to Uncasville, Connecticut this weekend for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. They play Providence on Saturday at 4 p.m. and then play either Maryland or Saint Louis on Sunday afternoon.
This story was originally published November 15, 2022 at 8:55 PM.