Jim Larranaga describes what Elite Eight trip means for Miami

The Miami Hurricanes are one of three teams from the ACC to advance to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament, joining North Carolina and Duke. For Miami, it is the first Elite Eight appearance in program history. Hurricanes head coach Jim Larranaga knows just how important that is for not just the basketball program, but the university as a whole.

In today’s day and age, everyone follows March Madness. Teams in the tournament, especially the ones that go on runs like Miami, gain a lot of exposure all across the country. Larranaga knows the importance of that.

“I think everybody knows that college athletics are really an important part of any university because everybody reads the sports pages,” Larranaga said when asked what making it to the Elite Eight means for Miami. “Everybody follows all the teams and there are alumni and boosters – follows it online, they turn on the TV set. There’s a reason that March Madness is probably the best sporting event in the world. So many millions of people follow it.”

Those that have been following the NCAA Tournament have watched Miami go on an impressive run. The Hurricanes earned the 10th seed in the Midwest Region. Miami defeated seventh-seeded USC 68-66 in the opening round, and beat second-seeded Auburn 79-61 in the second round. In the Sweet 16 on Friday night, the Hurricanes defeated Iowa State 70-56.

Larranaga is glad to see Miami getting recognition on Elite Eight run

Entering the NCAA Tournament, Miami was 23-10 overall on the season. The Hurricanes went 14-6 against ACC opponents during the regular season and lost to Duke in their second game in the ACC Tournament.

Now, Miami is winning games on college basketball’s biggest stage, and there are a lot of eyes on the Hurricanes in the Elite Eight.

“And so to be a part of a great university, a top 50 school in the country, great academically,” added Larranaga. “These guys, master’s, two master’s, these guys are great students as well as terrific basketball players. And to represent the university that way, to get that kind of recognition for our brand, for people all over the country to tune in and watch us, I guarantee you, our website is getting a lot more hits than they did before the game.

“And that’s just the way it is. It’s marketing. And we’ve got a great product that we represent and we want everybody to know that. And these guys are great role models for future student-athletes.”

Miami has an opportunity to pull off another massive upset on Sunday, as the Hurricanes face off against Kansas, the Midwest Region’s No. 1 seed, with a trip to the Final Four on the line.