Jim Larranaga compliments Miami, Nijel Pack after 'workman-like' win over Notre Dame

Following a tough loss at Kentucky in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Tuesday evening, Miami rebounded strong with a home win over Notre Dame to kick off their conference slate.

The loss in Lexington was a high-scoring affair between two offenses that averaged well above 80 points per game, but Sunday’s matchup vs. the Irish was far slower-paced and featured far less fireworks. But Jim Larranaga is indifferent to whether the wins are flashy or sloppy, because he knows the Hurricanes need to be capable of thriving in either type of ball game.

After the win, he commented on The CW’s broadcast on the grind-it-out nature of the victory.

“Yeah, that was a workman-like game. We didn’t shoot the ball great, we didn’t defend them great, but you see we only gave up 49 points. We’re used to scoring in the 80s but we only scored 62. But the style of play dictated that,” Coach Larranaga explained. “It was a little slower, the pace, with fewer possessions and we’re going to have to learn to play that way, too, because each game is different.”

Despite the double-digit-margin win to open ACC play and bounce back from the first loss of the season, the Miami coach still has a slew of areas where he wants to see the ‘Canes get better.

“We need to improve. Our defense is not where it needs to be. Our rebounding is not where it needs to be. But hopefully, during this month of December, we’ll get better.”

Larranaga was specifically asked about the play of guard Nijel Pack in the Notre Dame win. Pack struggled in the Kentucky game, and while he didn’t shoot all that well vs. ND, Pack did lead the charge on offense with seven assists and was aggressive in getting the offense going all day long.

“He just has to be aggressive,” Pack’s coach said of the veteran guard. “When you’re in attack mode, you’re gonna get in the paint, kick it out for threes, you’re gonna make some runners and floaters. And if he comes off the ball screen like he did tonight, and they’re icing and dropping and the big man doesn’t come out to contest, he’s gonna go up and shoot the jumper.

“I don’t know what he shot tonight, it wasn’t a great percentage, but you know, I like that he was aggressive. He’s such a good player, such a good kid, I like when he plays well.”

Conversely, Jim Larranaga explained that Miami’s goal defensively was to try and force opposing point guard Markus Burton out of his comfort zone. The sub-six-foot freshman is carrying a bigger load than a player of his age should, but regardless, he’s the most productive player in the Fighting Irish lineup and Miami did a nice job limiting him.

“Yeah, that was the whole game plan to try to keep him from going to his right hand,” said Larranaga of Burton. “He’s such a quick player, driving right is his major asset. We let him go, each time he went right, he scored or dished for a three. So, we wanted to keep him from getting in the paint and creating for himself and others. Bensley Joseph did a nice job on him. Nijel Pack guarded him some, and the two of them slowed him down.”