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NCAA Tournament 2023: Ranking each of the Final 4 teams – who is No. 1?

By Joey Loose

Mar 26, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Members of the Miami Hurricanes dump confetti on head coach Jim Larranaga as they celebrate defeating the Texas Longhorns at the T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Members of the Miami Hurricanes dump confetti on head coach Jim Larranaga as they celebrate defeating the Texas Longhorns at the T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Tournament Miami Hurricanes Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Tournament Miami Hurricanes Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Miami (5-seed)

Miami wasn’t supposed to be here either, but they were certainly the team that most proved that they belonged in the Final Four. The Hurricanes were one of the great teams in a bad ACC this season and put together a star-studded lineup after a surprise Elite Eight run last year. This team didn’t look like a national contender at times this season, but here they are on the biggest stage after an incredible two weeks of games.

The Hurricanes trailed 12-seed Drake by 8 points with less than 5 minutes left before storming back in the final minutes; this run was almost over before it even got going. The Hurricanes then beat three teams seeded higher than them, with the next two games not really close at all. Miami took care of 4-seed Indiana in the second round and got a big upset win over 1-seed Houston in the Sweet Sixteen with one of their best offensive performances of the season. Down double-digits in the second half, the Hurricanes rallied past 2-seed Texas in the Elite Eight to make the first Final Four in program history.

Miami boasts a pretty incredible starting five. Isaiah Wong was instrumental on last year’s Elite Eight run and won ACC Player of the Year this year. Jordan Miller was at times an even better player and was perfect from the field in their upset of Texas on Sunday. Norchad Omier, averaging a double-double, has been one of the best bigs in the country after transferring from Arkansas State. Nijel Pack came over after starring at Kansas State and has also been an instrumental piece of this lineup.

Jim Larranaga is responsible for much of Miami’s basketball success since arriving at the school in 2011. Having led George Mason to a Cinderella run to the Final Four, he’s now led multiple programs into the Tournament’s third weekend. This team effectively used NIL deals to build a better roster and that roster is winning these games with their best play at the right time. Miami’s defense has been a weak spot at times this season, but they’ve done more than enough to get them into this Final Four.

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