Nijel Pack calls Miami's run to the Final Four 'unreal'

Miami earned their program’s first trip to the Final Four yesterday with their 88-81 win over Texas. Taking the school to that stage for the first time ever is already significant enough. Even so, sophomore guard Nijel Pack says the circumstances around their run to Houston have made things that much sweeter.

Pack talked about the feeling of helping to take the Hurricanes beyond the Elite Eight following the win in Kansas City on Sunday. He said it’s ‘unreal’ accomplishment that’s only intensified considering how the team came up short a season ago and the second-half deficit they faced before their comeback.

“It was a feeling that’s unreal,” Pack said. “To come back from that deficit, especially since some people were starting to doubt could we come back? How hard we fought to get back in this game? And to come back and actually win this game, especially on a stage like this? It was an amazing feeling I can’t even put into words.

“I know how much these guys wanted to win this game. Especially being here last year and then losing the Elite Eight,” said Pack. “And, now, being able to make it to the Final Four for the first time in program history? It’s something special.”

After falling short in the Elite Eight last season, Miami found themselves in a similar spot against the Longhorns. With less than 15 minutes left, they faced their largest deficit of 13 points. Still, they fought back and found such an offensive groove that they were able to tie and take the lead thanks to a 37-17 run to close the game.

This is why Pack, who scored 15 points in 36 minutes in the victory, along with the other transfers like Norchad Omier said they came to Coral Gables in the first place. Miami was a team that was on the cusp in ’22 and needed a little extra push to get across the threshold in ’23.

Now that they’re there, though, Pack says it’s time for the ‘Canes to go after the real prize.

“I know for me and Norchad being transfers and this is our first time in the NCAA Tournament? This is something unreal,” said Pack. “To be with this great group of guys, our coaching staff being great, and being able to make it to the Final Four on your first time making it to the NCAA Tournament? It’s, like, I don’t know what to say.”

“I’m loving the experience so far,” Pack said. “But we’ve still got more work to do.”