Co-Champions! UM survives Pitt to win share of ACC title for first time in 10 years
Ten years after the Miami Hurricanes won their first ACC title, there they were again, standing on a ladder, cutting down the nets at the Watsco Center after surviving a 78-76 thriller over Pitt to earn a share of the league crown.
The students, who packed both ends of the arena, stormed the court, engulfed the team and belted out “We Are the Champions!”
Few would have guessed at the start of this season that the Hurricanes and Pitt would be playing for first place in the ACC, but there they were Saturday night, putting on a show for the sold-out crowd.
The student tickets were gone one hour after they became available last Sunday, the atmosphere was electric, and the 16th-ranked Hurricanes delivered.
Pitt, which was picked second from last in 14th place in the preseason poll, gave Miami all it could handle, but the Hurricanes prevailed with the help of a career-high six three pointers from sophomore Wooga Poplar. Miami shares the regular season title with Virginia.
“The guy I singled out in the locker room picked the perfect time to be our leading scorer, Wooga Poplar was absolutely great at both ends of the court,” said UM coach Jim Larranaga, still wearing the net around his neck at the post-game news conference. “The rebounds he got were spectacular. He was like 40 inches off the ground, in traffic, showing an incredible amount of toughness.”
Asked what he was feeling as he made three after three, Poplar smiled and said: “I wasn’t feeling anything. I just trying to win and my teammates found me, kept giving me confidence to shoot and I was shooting it.”
Larranaga, who coached many UM games in front of a half-empty arena with few students in attendance, is delighted with the atmosphere that has developed at the Watsco Center this season.
“Our students have been absolutely sensational, sellout crowd, and they cheered us on start to finish and helped us celebrate our championship,” he said. “That made a big difference.”
Jordan Miller had 17 points and eight rebounds. Norchad Omier scored 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Omier’s 196 rebounds this season tied a UM record in league play. Isaiah Wong and Nijel Pack pitched in nine points apiece.
“I’ve played a lot of years of college basketball and this year’s team is just special,” Miller said, adding it was his first time finishing first in any league. “It was surreal to be able to enjoy that moment with teammates, coaches, and everyone on the staff that pours a lot into this. It was so great to see them cut down the nets...This was a nice celebration, but we’re far from done. We have bigger things planned ahead. This was just a token for our hard work so far.”
Omier was equally charged after the win. “I’m just thankful for everyone who had a part in this long journey,” he said.
The game came down to the final possession. Omier missed a free throw with nine seconds to go, Pitt center Federiko Federiko got the defensive rebound, and Blake Hinson had a chance to win with a three, but missed his shot with two seconds on the clock and the Canes protected the ball until the final whistle.
The ball seemed to hang in the air forever. Larranaga -- and everyone in the arena -- was having flashbacks to Florida State’s buzzer beating, game-winning shot last weekend that broke UM’s heart and spoiled its otherwise perfect home record. They won 16 of their 17 home games.
“When they started running down the floor I thought, `I hope it’s not another Matt Cleveland,” said Larranaga, referring to the FSU player who won the game.
With the win, Miami picked up its fourth Top-25 victory to claim a share of the ACC title—the second in program history— and earn the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament. Miami also set a program record for home wins (16), plus tied its top marks for both total regular season victories (24) and ACC wins (15).
“To be a regular conference champion, you’ve got to grind it out every day in practice and every game,” Larranaga said. “That’s the significance.”
The last time the Hurricanes ended the regular season on atop the ACC was in 2013, when the stars of the team were Shane Larkin, Kenny Kadji, Julian Gamble, Reggie Johnson, Durand Scott, Trey McKinney Jones and Rion Brown.
That team, which wound up reaching the Sweet 16, was taller, but otherwise, quite similar to this one. Both teams relied heavily on transfers. Both were made up largely of older, experienced players. And both had the kind of locker room chemistry coaches dream about.
Larranaga said all the players on the 2013 team have a group chat and they continue to stay in touch regularly a decade later.
Both teams loved to share the ball. It didn’t matter who scored, just so long as he was wearing a Miami jersey.
Saturday was the Hurricanes’ Senior Day and that team spirit was celebrated. The seniors honored were Isaiah Wong, Jordan Miller, Harlond Beverly, Anthony Walker, and Filippos Gkogkos. Despite being undersized, Miami outrebounded the Panthers 42-20, including 28 on the defensive end. UM had 25 second-chance points while Pitt had just seven.
“In a two-point game, every one of those rebounds and baskets is huge,” said Larranaga.
Larranaga made it a point to praise Pitt coach Jeff Capel for building a team with veteran players and transfers.
Miami ended the regular season 24-6 overall and 15-5 in the ACC. Pitt is 21-10 and 14-6. Hinson led the Panthers with 24 points and six three-pointers. Nike Sibande scored 16 and Jamarius Burton had 13
The Hurricanes are the top seed in the ACC tournament, get double-bye and open on Thursday at noon at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina. They play the winner of Wednesday’s Syracuse vs. Wake Forest game.
“As the regular season’s a marathon, the tournaments, ACC and NCAA are sprints,” Larranaga said. “Win and advance. Lose and go home. You’ve got to be ready for everyone.”
This story was originally published March 4, 2023 at 8:54 PM.