
Making History, Making Memories
HOUSTON â Jordan Miller tried to contain his emotions.
He quickly realized it was going to be nearly impossible, not when he looked to the bench.
There, the veteran guard saw that as he and teammates Isaiah Wong and Norchad Omier walked off the court during the final seconds of Miamiâs season-ending loss to Connecticut in the Menâs Final Four, their head coach was waiting for them.
In front of more than 73,000 fans at NRG Stadium and millions more watching at home, Jim Larrañaga enveloped the trio of Hurricanes whoâd helped bring Miami to this historic moment and reminded them that, even in their disappointment, theyâd accomplished so much.
Theyâd led the Hurricanes to new heights, bringing them to the Final Four for the first time in program history. Theyâd won a share of the ACC regular-season title. Theyâd lost just one game on their home floor this season. And over the course of the past year, theyâd created memories that would last all of them â and Miamiâs fans â a lifetime.
Those were all things to celebrate and their coachâs reminder of all that was a moment Miller later said he wonât forget any time soon, even if it prompted a tear or two.
âI was fine until I wasnât fine, you know? I told myself I didnât want to get emotional on national television, but thereâs just too much time weâve all spent with each other,â Miller said with a smile in the Miami locker room late Saturday night. âI love this group. I love this coaching staff. I poured so much into them, and they poured so much into me. And it was just that feeling that it was the end to a journeyâŠI really feel like I made the right choice to come here. I was obviously disappointed, but Iâm proud.â
Their coach was plenty proud, too.
And he made sure his players â and everyone else watching that game â knew it.
âThey got the message that I was so proud of them, that I loved them, and that Iâd really just been on a magic carpet ride with these young men,â Larrañaga said. âTheyâre so much fun to be around, on the court and off the courtâŠTheyâll have great memories of the entire season and some of the great wins we have had. I told them all along these memories last a lifetime. Youâll be telling your grandchildren about it one day.â
Among the stories the Hurricanes can share from the season that was is how they dazzled through most of the NCAA Tournament.
Just last week, as a five seed, Miami rallied from a second-half, double-digit deficit to stun second-seeded Texas and advance to the Final Four. In that game, Miller put together one of the greatest individual performances in program history, scoring 27 points while shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the field and 13-of-13 from the free throw line.
Another story the Hurricanes can share? How before knocking Texas out of the tournament, they eliminated top-seeded, second-ranked Houston out, too â in dominant fashion, to boot.
The Canes can also recount tournament wins over Indiana and Drake. And before that, there were regular-season victories over the likes of Duke, Virginia, North Carolina and Syracuse.
Some of the veterans who were members of last yearâs team will even be able to share the story of how they made program history then, too, by advancing to Miamiâs first Elite Eight.
But as most of the Hurricanes noted in the tough minutes immediately after the loss to UConn, it wasnât just the wins and program-defining milestones that made the season so special.
It was the laughs they shared on road trips. The hours they spent together in the weight room and in the practice facility. The work they put in with their coaches and the bonds they built that brought them closer together off the court and helped them perform better on it.
âIâm going to think about just how much I love the guys,â said fourth-year junior guard Harlond Beverly. âThis is such a really close team, the closest Iâve been on in college. The love between everybody was really genuine and that was the part I appreciated most, I enjoyed the most. The road trips were great because we got to spend so much time together and I know I really appreciate the friendships over the past year.â
Said Omier, âIt was a great year. Transferring to Miami, making the Final Four, making history. Iâm just so proud of everybody in this locker room right now. I love my brothersâŠI think those friendships we had translated so well on the floor. We trust each other so much and we know everybody had each otherâs backs.â
Soon enough, the Hurricanes will start the process of moving forward.
They know Miller â one of their leaders on and off the floor â wonât be back next season after exhausting his eligibility. Others will have to make decisions about their futures and whether itâs time to pursue their professional careers.
Itâs a reality Larrañaga acknowledged the moment he and his team stepped off the bus in Coral Gables on Sunday after they returned from Houston.
But the consensus from all of the Hurricanes is that this season and last, theyâve helped set a new standard for Miami basketball, a standard they believe will only keep rising.
âThe skyâs the limit for this program. You know, each year, the programâs only going to keep getting better,â said third-year sophomore guard Nijel Pack, who was named the Midwest Regionalâs Most Outstanding Player during Miamiâs run. âThereâs a certain expectation for this group now and Iâm glad to be a part of this, be a part of Miami history. It sucks that we werenât able to finish it, but weâve done some great things for this program and now, each year, I expect us to do even better.â
Said Miller, âIt means a lot to have been able to transfer in and just build a foundation for other players to look up to. That bannerâs going to be in the arena forever and the hope now is that the next team that gets this far can win it all. When they do, Iâm sure Iâll be in the stands with a âUâ shirt on and cheering for them, like all the alums were cheering for us.â