From the Desk of Dan Radakovich
First and foremost, I want to extend many thanks to our men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes and coaches for an incredible March Madness season.
Our men’s basketball team advanced to the first Final Four in school history before falling to Connecticut this past Saturday night in the national semifinals in Houston. It was a remarkable season, one that saw the Canes not only tie a school record with 29 wins but also saw Jim Larrañaga and his players capture the hearts of America with the joy and passion they displayed on and off the court.
There were nearly 74,000 spectators at NRG Stadium and the loudest cheers were coming from the Miami sections. Thank you to all our supporters – especially our students — who made the trip to the Lone Star State. I hope it was an experience you will always treasure.
Our women’s basketball team made history as well, advancing to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history before falling to eventual national champion LSU. The Canes won three games against higher seeds, including a 17-point comeback over Oklahoma State in the first round, a last-second triumph over top-seeded Indiana in the second round and a down-to-the-wire finish over Villanova in the Sweet 16. Katie Meier’s squad is a relentless and tenacious group, and the future looks bright for her program!
Four of our swimmers and divers earned All-America honors at the NCAA Championships in March. Diver Mia Vallée, a 2022 NCAA champion in the 1-meter, earned All-America accolades in both the 1-meter and 3-meter. Mohamed Farouk was an All-American in the platform, while Max Flory was a honorable mention All-American in the platform and 1-meter. Tara Vovk earned honorable mention All-America honors in the 100-yard breaststroke.
Our 23rd-ranked baseball team (19-6 overall, 8-4 ACC) is coming off an impressive three-game sweep of Florida State at The Light. The Canes outscored the Noles 27-6 over the series to record their first weekend sweep of FSU since 2001. Our crowds were terrific throughout the weekend, and we will need more of that energy as we head down the stretch with a tough ACC slate. Click here to purchase your single-game tickets!
Our track and field squads are off to great starts in outdoor competition as our women’s team is ranked seventh nationally and Décio Andrade currently owns the third-best hammer throw mark in the country. We host the Hurricane Alumni Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Come out to Cobb Stadium to watch some of the country’s top programs and cheer on the Canes!
Our women’s tennis team (11-5 overall, 6-3 ACC) is ranked 11th in the country, and Alexa Noel – ranked 11th individually — has won eight of her last nine matches at No. 1 singles. Our men’s tennis team (13-6 overall, 4-4 ACC) is on a five-match winning streak after sweeping Clemson and Georgia Tech this past weekend.
Our golf and rowing squads are also in action during this busy month of April. You can keep up with all our teams by signing up to receive our weekly Miami Athletics Report. Click here to sign up!
The Canes have completed nine spring football practices and the energy and excitement on Greentree is palpable. Mario Cristobal and his staff are pointing towards our annual Spring Game, which will be held at DRV PNK Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale on Friday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. There will be giveaways, food trucks and a live DJ at the game. Click here for to claim your free tickets and we hope to see you there!
We have seven home games at Hard Rock Stadium this fall, including visits from Clemson and Texas A&M. You can renew your season tickets by calling 1-800-GO-CANES or purchase season tickets by clicking here. We can’t wait to see you cheering on the Canes at Hard Rock all season long!
We have the opportunity to elevate our athletic department to even greater heights in this new era of Name, Image & Likeness. NIL opportunities can help all Hurricane student-athletes maximize the value of their brand and learn valuable entrepreneurial skills during their time at Miami. One way you can support our student-athletes is by contributing to the Canes Connection collective. Canes Connection builds valuable partnerships with local businesses and connects those businesses with our student-athletes. Click here to learn more!
The 53rd annual University of Sports Hall of Fame banquet will be held on Thursday, May 4, at Watsco Center. This year’s inductees are Kevin Brown (baseball), Lela Cannon (women’s golf), David Gil (baseball), Jim Larrañaga (men’s basketball), Aaron Moser (track and field), Doris Glenn Easterly-Richards (women’s diving), Vinny Scavo (athletic training), Todd Sievers (football), Willie Smith (football) and Riquna Williams (women’s basketball). Please click here for ticket information.
Our Canes Community remains stronger than ever thanks to your continued support. We hope to see you cheering us on throughout the spring season. Go Canes!
Dan Radakovich
