Larranaga Makes History With Miami Basketball Win Over Iowa ...
Miami basketball made history on Monday night as the Hurricanes earned a 79-75 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. With the win, Jim Larranaga became the first coach ever to lead three different schools to the Sweet 16.
The Game
The game was a back-and-forth affair from start to finish, with neither team able to create a significant lead. Miami held a one-point advantage at halftime before Iowa went on a run to take the lead in the second half. But the Hurricanes responded with a 9-0 run of their own to regain control.
The Hawkeyes had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but Miami's defense came up with a big stop to seal the victory. Senior guard Angel Rodriguez led the Hurricanes with 28 points, including two clutch free throws in the final seconds to ice the game.
The History
Jim Larranaga has had an impressive coaching career, leading three different schools to the NCAA Tournament and now the Sweet 16. He first made a name for himself at George Mason, guiding the Patriots to the Final Four in 2006. He then took over at Miami in 2011 and has now led the Hurricanes to the Sweet 16 twice.
Larranaga's success is a testament to his coaching ability and his ability to build strong relationships with his players. His teams always play hard and are well-prepared, and it's no surprise that he has been able to achieve such success at multiple schools.
The Future
Miami's win over Iowa sets up a Sweet 16 matchup with Villanova, the top seed in the South region. The Hurricanes will be underdogs in that game, but Larranaga has shown that he is capable of pulling off upsets with his teams.
Regardless of what happens in the rest of the tournament, Miami basketball has made its mark this year. The Hurricanes finished third in the ACC and have now advanced further in the NCAA Tournament than any other team in program history. With Larranaga at the helm, the future looks bright for Miami basketball.
