Jim Larranaga credits assistant coaches for back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances

The Miami Hurricanes are heading to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for a second season in a row. Last year, Jim Larranaga and the ‘Canes were a plucky 10-seed who barely made the tournament and ruined a lot of brackets by knocking off No. 2 seeded Auburn in the second round before making it all the way to the Elite Eight, where they fell to eventual champion Kansas.

With this year’s team as well as the 2022 group, Miami has won with guard play. Isaiah Wong and Kameron McGusty were a lethal 1-2 punch a season ago and had a veteran point guard next to them in Charlie Moore. Well, Wong came back to lead this year’s team while senior Jordan Miller has stepped up as the No. 2 option in place of McGusty. Along with McGustry, Moore also graduated, replaced by Kansas State transfer and shooting specialist Nijel Pack.

According to head coach Jim Larranaga, it’s finding talents like Pack, Miller and Wong that have led Miami to their tourney success the last couple years.

“I think so much credit belongs to my assistant coaches for the job they’ve done in recruiting these players to Miami and to the players themselves who work so hard,” said Larranaga after the win over Indiana. “We have two transfers and four freshmen. Last summer I saw them bond so quickly, get along so well, on the court, off the court. We just have really enjoyed each other’s company.”

Team chemistry clearly a contributing factor to this group’s ability to come together on the court. The players and coaches are on the same page.

“The coaches have the players over to their house. They hang out together. Coach Courtney is in the gym rebounding with Isaiah Wong in the gym six or seven days. Isaiah wants to shoot on his own in a quiet gym. So he’s there. When you have an associate coach like Bill Courtney, you really appreciate all the little things that he does.”

Apparently, Courtney is the guy who led recruiting efforts in getting star transfers Nijel Pack, Narchad Omier, Jordan Miller and Charlie Moore.

“He was responsible for recruiting Nijel and Norchad and Jordan Miller and Charlie Moore. So got to give credit where credit is due. Great staff. Great players who really bonded. It makes my job very, very enjoyable.”

That’s quite a list of terrific players that Courtney has found through the portal since it became a huge part of roster-building in the last few seasons. All terrific guards that raised the ceiling of the Hurricane program in the last couple years.

Jim Larranaga is making sure the contributions of his staff don’t go unnoticed.