Nijel Pack shares how past experience with Texas benefits him

Nijel Pack believes his past experiences in the Big 12 against the Texas Longhorns will help the Miami Hurricanes in the Elite Eight.

After spending the previous two seasons with Kansas State, Pack knows a thing or two about his new team’s opponent on Sunday. Speaking with the media ahead of the showdown, the Miami play-maker elaborated on what he’s expecting.

“Playing this team in the past, they have a really good team, especially from the times that I played against them,” stated Pack. “Some really good guard play, especially two guards out of the Big 12 that I’ve also playing against, now they’re teamed up together. At the guard play, they’re really well. They’ve got transitions too.

“We got to do what Miami does best. We’ve got to protect the paint, rebound our ball, and we always seem to do well on the offensive end.”

The last time Pack played against Texas on Jan. 18, 2022, situations were certainly different for both Pack and Texas. Regardless, Pack has the respect of Texas interim head coach Rodney Terry, as he heaped plenty of praise on the Miami guard.

“Nijel Pack is a good player,” started Terry. “He is an All Team Big 12 performer a year ago. He’s a guy that everybody in the league we had to game plan for him a year ago with K State. Really good shooter. Really good offensive player.

“Just a really cerebral basketball player. Knows how to play the game the right way, pays with great pace.”

Alas, Terry didn’t limit his praise for Miami to just Pack though. The Hurricanes made the Elite Eight for the second straight year, and Terry knows it’s more than a one-man show.

“But he’s got other great teammates over there,” Terry added. “That’s a great (team) over there. Their guard play is really good. They share the basketball really well in terms of passing the basketball. Their interior players played really well today against a really physical Houston team. Nothing but respect for Coach Larranaga and what he’s been able to do over the course of his career.

“His teams just win. We know we have our hands full with a really tough Miami ball club.”

With a spot in the Final Four on the line, both Nijel Pack and the Miami Hurricanes, as well as Rodney Terry’s Texas squad will be giving it their all to get to Houston. The game tips off at 5:05 p.m. ET on CBS, and the Longhorns are 3.5-point favorites at the moment.