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Jim Larranaga shares his hope for 2023 roster after winning ACC title

Screen Shot 2024-05-28 at 9.09.17 AMby:Kaiden Smith•03/09/23•

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(Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Jim Larranaga and his Miami Hurricanes squad cut down their nets on their home court last Saturday, as their 78-76 win over No. 25 Pittsburgh secured them a piece of the ACC regular season title. After the win, Larranaga was asked how it felt to be cutting down the nets in Coral Gables once again, making a reference to his 2013 conference championship team.

“We had a podcast this morning, Josh Darrow organized it with Alex, and we had two of our 2013 championship team, Reggie Johnson and Julian Gamble, and we really reminisced. We really talked about what that season was like and how much fun,” Larranaga said.

Larranaga’s 2013 team was his last to win an ACC Championship, as they won the conference outright finishing the regular season 24-6 overall and 15-3 in conference play. There’s no question that the 2013 and 2023 Hurricanes both handled their business on the court, but Larranaga is more proud of the work done off the court by his team.

“And the thing I was happiest about, most impressed with, is Julian told me that all the players on the 2013 team have a group chat and they talk on the group chat four or five times a week. That’s after 10 years,” Larranaga said. “Not losing touch with your teammates and your friends who accomplished something that quite frankly had never been done before.”

The Hurricanes’ bond spanning a decade’s time is truly impressive, and something that Larranaga wants his current championship team to work towards in the future.

“And now I want these players to experience that, to stay in touch, to have a camaraderie, a bond that says hey we’re a part of something special,” Larranaga said.

The 2013 Miami team not only won the regular season ACC title, but won the ACC Tournament as well. Just like this year’s team, the Hurricanes were the No. 1 seed, securing three straight wins to solidify themselves as the kings of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

This year’s Hurricanes team will have the same opportunity, which starts with their first game of the ACC Tournament on Thursday, as they take on Wake Forest in their quarterfinal matchup at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2.