The Miami Hurricanes’ 2023-24 season began with a Final Four banner raising ceremony, a preseason national ranking of No. 13, and great expectations. Their final home game ended Wednesday night with a 67-57 loss to Boston College, their eighth consecutive defeat.
It marks UM’s longest losing streak in 20 years, dating back to the 2003-04 season when the Hurricanes dropped ten consecutive games. Miami fell to 15-15 and is now in second-to-last place in the ACC, with a league record of 6-13 heading into the season finale at Florida State.
Dejected fans filed out of the Watsco Centre before the final whistle.
It was a far cry from the home finale last season, nearly a year ago to the day, when UM won a thriller over Pitt to share the league championship. Jubilant Miami students flooded the court, enveloped the players, and chanted “We Are the Champions!” UM coach Jim Larranaga and his team mounted a ladder to cut pieces of net as reminders of their amazing season.
They advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history.
On Wednesday night, a very unhappy Larranaga watched the game’s final moments from the bench. He was confident about his team’s chances against the Eagles since his complete starting lineup was healthy for the first time in months.
Wooga Poplar and Nijel Pack had missed several games due to ankle and knee ailments. They had an intrasquad scrimmage over the weekend, and Larranaga liked what he saw and remained optimistic when Miami seized a 30-20 lead versus Boston College with five minutes left in the first half.
“I was very happy when we hit 30-20, but Nijel Pack went down and then nothing went right,” he remarked. “It’s kind of been the story all season long.”
The Hurricanes led 32-28 at halftime, but Pack injured an already painful knee late in the first half and never returned to the game. He finished the night 0-for-5 and played only 13 minutes.
The Eagles started the second half with a 15-2 surge, and Miami never recovered. UM shot 29 percent in the second half, including 10 percent from three-point range (1-of-10), and scored only 25 points. The Hurricanes missed 18 of their last 19 three-pointers.
UM had no answer for 7-foot Dutch centre Quentin Post, who led the game with 19 points, nine rebounds, three steals, and three three-pointers. “Especially in the second half, their bigs were kind of hesitant to help on the ball screen because I made a few threes and spread the floor,” Post added.
Larranaga lavished admiration on Post, a graduate student.
“He’s an NBA guy; he probably won’t get drafted because he’s older, but he can shoot the three, he can post up, he’s got a great jump hook, he rebounds and knows how to play,” Larranaga said of him.
“Boston College played terrific, you have to give them a lot of credit, but I think it’s much easier to play offence when the other team can’t make a shot.”
It was Senior Night on Wednesday. Pack and Norchad Omier, fourth-year juniors, were honoured despite the fact that they still have one year of eligibility if they chose to return. Omier, who finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds, stated after the game that he is focused on the remainder of the season and has not made a decision regarding his future. The Pack and Omier families attended the pre-game ceremony. It was not what they had hoped for.
“It’s unfortunate for these guys to have gone through this,” Larranaga remarked. “College basketball players may face more challenges and adversity in the future, but losing so many games in a row is a significant challenge right now.”It’s incredibly difficult, frustrating, and disappointing for everyone.”
So what went wrong? How can a team with the majority of its players returning from the 2023 Final Four lineup find itself in this rut? When asked that question, Larranaga responded, “Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller graduated. The contest boils down to the players. Last year, when we needed a bucket, I went straight to Isaiah or Jordan, and they always delivered. We don’t have that this year. I haven’t for the entire season.”
Several players have expressed interest in playing Wong and Miller, but none have been able to do so due to injuries or other reasons.
“You don’t just score; you must have the ability to consistently put the ball in the hoop. And we simply haven’t had it this year.”
Over the next seven minutes, the coach recounted how injuries to Pack, Poplar, and Omier prevented the team from reaching its full potential and how the team’s collective confidence suffered once the losing streak began.
Omier and Bensley Joseph expressed their disappointment and frustration following the game, stating the squad has promised to turn things around at FSU.
“We didn’t win a game since the beginning of February, and then it’s March, Senior Night, didn’t get the W, we keep dealing with adversity,” Omier went on to say. “We need to retain a positive attitude. We need to bounce back. We need to work together and be a team. We can’t just cry and complain; we need to find a solution.”
Despite the losing skid, Omier managed to smile as he summed up the season.
“It’s been rough, but I still love my teammates and enjoy this ride, even though it’s not the way anyone imagined it,” he told reporters. “I enjoy being at the University of Miami.” “I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
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