NCAA Tournament 2023: Ranking the surprise Elite 8 teams left in the field
By Joey Loose
6. 5 Miami FL
Among the shocking facts and figures behind this year’s Tournament, one of the most surprising is that Miami is the only team that was also in last year’s Elite Eight. Jim Larranaga’s work with this program has been indescribable, leading the Hurricanes to their first two ever trips this far into the Big Dance in back-to-back campaigns.
There were struggles at times this season, especially against a weak ACC, but the Hurricanes held their ground. Their only losses after January were on a buzzer-beater against Florida State and to a red-hot Duke squad in the conference tournament, but it’s the Hurricanes who are playing red hot basketball at the right time. The backcourt of Jordan Miller, Nijel Pack, and Isaiah Wong just might be the most talented one left in the field and Norchad Omier has been a revelation in his first year solidifying Miami’s frontcourt.
The Hurricanes survived a really tough test from 12-seed Drake and have proceeded to make their two upset wins look simple by comparison, running over Indiana and Houston to get back to this point. Shockingly, Miami is the lowest Elite Eight team on KenPom at just 26th, but that offense is deadly, as both the Hoosiers and Cougars found out. The defense of the Hurricanes will need to carry the load at some point in this Tournament, but for now this team looks like a team of destiny, trying to improve on last year’s run and go even further.