NCAA Tournament 2023: One X-factor to watch from each Final Four team

Miami: G Jordan Miller

Isaiah Wong is the biggest star on the Miami Hurricanes roster, but Jordan Miller has become unstoppable during the NCAA Tournament. Perhaps he’s not as unheralded as some other X-factors, but he will be critical to the program’s success.

Miller demonstrated his vast abilities against the Texas Longhorns in the Elite Eight, destroying them on his own. He scored 27 points and didn’t miss a single shot from either the free throw line or the field.

There’s probably no chance Miller can emulate his Christian Laettner-esque performance again in the Final Four. The mere threat of it, however, could change the way UConn chooses defend him and his fellow Hurricanes.

For the tournament, he’s been averaging more than 16 points per game and shooting greater than 62 percent from the field. He’s emerged as the linchpin of the offense.

Miller is also a capable defender, able to guard players both big and small with his size and quickness. He’ll get some tough assignments against the Huskies.

Jim Larranaga has been singing the praises of Miller all season. While those who closely watch the sport have known about him all along, his performance in the past couple of weeks has made him a household name, worthy of the pedestal his coach puts him on.

Miller’s got a chance to prove it on the biggest stage this weekend.