This offseason, the Miami Hurricanes responded to their surprise Elite 8 run by doubling down on their current core, dipping into the NIL waters to get Head Coach Jim Larrañaga some reinforcements.
Chief among them was Nijel Pack, a dynamic guard who’d previously starred for the Kansas State Wildcats. Could’ve made a pretty interesting storyline if K-State had advanced past FAU, and the ‘Canes had … you know what, not worth worrying about.
Clearly, there are more pressing matters afoot.
Despite being blown out early in the second half, Miami was able to recover in their Final Four battle against the UConn Huskies, closing a 19-point lead all the way down to eight.
In other words, they really could’ve used Pack. Unfortunately, his shoe busted midway through the second half, and a fleet of scrambling team managers couldn’t seem to find an additional pair that fit, no matter how many times they scuttled across the sidelines.
CBS reported that Nijel Pack, Miami's key point guard, broke his shoes and did not have a backup pair. He's waiting on the bench for a replacement. How could this happen in such a big game?
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 2, 2023
Maybe Miami needs an NIL shoe deal.
Miami Hurricanes star Nijel Pack lost his shoe vs UConn in the Final Four
“Hopefully, the slipper still fits,” quipped Jim Nantz, at the exact perfect time.
How many shoe companies are lining up with NIL deals for Nijel Pack right now? Scramble drills in sneaker war rooms! #FinalFour #MarchMadness
— Michael Collins (@MCFanSided) April 2, 2023
Despite not having quite the same star power and heft behind it, this moment might end up having the same level of negative effects as the Zion Williamson Nike shoe bust on national television against the North Carolina Tar Heels.
No, Pack isn’t Zion. But that wasn’t the Final Four, either. And the Duke/Zion moment was accompanied mostly by gasps. Was he hurt? Would he return? Would Nike bounce back? This Final Four disaster was greeted mostly by laughs, which might be worse.
Losing it at Miami’s season hanging on this guy, who is more nervous than he has been or ever will be, running around trying to find some shoes. pic.twitter.com/xU17HV1cnr
— Kyle Koster (@KyleKoster) April 2, 2023
Let’s all give it up for nervous shoe guy! Unfortunately, the Huskies regained their confidence after seeing their lead reach single digits, and Pack and his frazzled manager friends had probably hustled for naught.
It’s gotta be the shoes.