No. 2 Seed Miami to Face NC Central in NIT

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team has been selected as the No. 2 seed in the Richmond Quadrant for the 2015 Men’s Basketball National Invitation Tournament. 

“Our players were very hopeful that we would get into the NCAA Tournament, and I’m sure the players are disappointed that we did not, but I made it clear to them that if we were good enough and we won enough games we would have been in there,” said head coach Jim Larrañaga. “We needed to win one or two more games to get into the field of 68. Now we are in the NIT and we play on Tuesday. We have very little time to prepare and very very little time to feel sorry for ourselves. We have got to get ourselves emotionally ready to play a great game on Tuesday night.”

The Hurricanes will face NC Central at the BankUnited Center on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The game will be aired live on ESPN2.

“We were actually better on the road than we were at home,” added Larrañaga. “We won 11 road games and lost only six. We were 10-6 at home. Being at home, we don’t have that great home court advantage like some teams do. I told our guys we need to start dominating at home like a lot of the best teams in the country do.”

Season ticket holders may purchase reserved seats in sections 101 or 112 for $10 each. To buy tickets, log into your online account by clicking here.

Seats outside of sections 101 and 112 are general admission and are available now for only $9 each. Click here to purchase tickets.

Student admission is free.

NC Central is 25-7 overall this season, with a perfect 16-0 mark in the MEAC, winning its second-straight regular season title.

UM has now been selected to play in the postseason 15 of the past 20 years, and eight times in the last 11 seasons. The Canes are 7-11 overall in the NIT, playing in the Quarterfinals in 2011 and 2006, a trio of Second Round appearances in 2012, 2009 and 1963, and six First Round games in 2005, 2001, 1997, 1995, 1964 and 1961.

The Hurricanes will make their 12th appearance in the NIT. Miami returns to the NIT after posting a 1-1 record in the event in 2011-12, Coach Jim Larrañaga’s first season at The U. That season Miami defeated Valparaiso, then lost to Minnesota, both in Coral Gables.

As a head coach, Larranaga has coached in seven NITs, three of which were at George Mason (2009, 2004 and 2002) and a trio at Bowling Green (1997, 1991 and 1990).

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PROGRAM HISTORY
Postseason Record: 13-18 (6-7 in NCAA Championship)
NCAA Appearances: 7 (1960, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2013)
Last NCAA Appearance: 2013 (Sweet 16)
NIT Appearances: 11 (1961, 1963, 1964, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012)
Last NIT Appearance: 2012 (2nd round)

TEAM INFORMATION
2014-15 Record: 21-12
ACC Record/Finish: 10-8/6th

COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Jim Larranaga (Providence, 1971)
Record at Miami:  87-48 (4th season)
Career Record: 557-382 (31st season)
Postseason record: 10-14 (13 appearances)
NCAA Appearances: 6 (1999, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013)
NIT Appearances: 7 (1990, 1991, 1997, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2012)
Assistant Coach: Eric Konkol (Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 2000)
Assistant Coach: Michael Huger (Bowling Green, 1994)
Assistant Coach: Chris Caputo (Westfield State, 2002)