NCAA Tournament 2023: Ranking the 8 matchups in the Sweet 16
By Joey Loose
3. 1 Houston vs. 5 Miami FL
Last season, the Hurricanes made a surprise run to the Elite Eight as a 10-seed and they’re trying to repeat the feat in less of a surprise form. A talented roster got even deadlier with the additions of Nijel Pack and Norchad Omier, who have both been impressive for the Hurricanes, but Miami is strong across the board. They held on against a strong effort from 12-seed Drake and overpowered 4-seed Indiana in a 16-point win two days later. A return trip to the Elite Eight is on the line, but what can we expect from a Miami team whose defense has been their downfall at times this year?
Houston isn’t your typical 1-seed, but they’re still alive in the Tournament, unlike Kansas and Purdue. The Cougars were expected to be here and have been at or near the top of the polls for much of the year. Marcus Sasser has had an All-American season after an injury knocked both him and Tramon Mark out last season. That Houston squad still marched to the Elite Eight and this one is even more talented. Dealing with injuries and inconsistent play, they dealt with 16-seed Northern Kentucky in a closer than expected outcome and fought back valiantly against 9-seed Auburn after trailing by double-digits at the half. Is Houston another accident waiting to happen or is this an elite lineup that’s clicking at the right time?
The backcourts on these teams will be fascinating to watch. There will be likely be six extremely talented guards on the floor at all time. The play of those Houston forwards against Omier will be important to watch. The defense of the Hurricanes will be vital, especially if they can catch the Cougars off guard or off their game like they’ve been at the beginning of the last two performances. Don’t be mistaken, Miami can absolutely win this game and it wouldn’t be as big of an upset as it seems: the Hurricanes are really good, but so is Houston.