CaneSport TV: Miami Hurricanes G Nijel Pack likes way team's progressing ... "I feel we have chance to do something really special"
Guard Nijel Pack arrived at Miami last year from Kansas State and was a key piece the Hurricanes needed for their first-ever Final Four run. With PG Charlie Moore gone Pack stepped in as a capable ball handler and long range shooter, distributing and scoring and meshing seamlessly with fellow starters Isaiah Wong, Norchad Omier, Jordan Miller and Wooga Poplar.
Now the goal is to go even further. But the team will have to do it without ACC Player of the Year Wong and Miller. Miami has added a key piece from the portal, though, in Matthew Cleveland (averaged 13.8 points and 7.7 rebounds at FSU last year).
“(Hard to) forget the past and how much fun that was but trying to get ready for this year and do something even more special,” Pack said.
Pack finished last year averaging 13.6 points and 2.3 assists. He played the 1 and 2 last season and says this year he’s playing the 1 “the majority of the time.”
Pack says he watched replays of last year’s NCAA run “at least 10 times” this offseason and spent “about two weeks” enjoying himself after last year before getting back to the grind.
“I’ll never forget that, but trying to put that behind us – new team this year, new goals, certain expectations, things we want to do as a team,” he says. “Can’t think about the past and what we’ve done. Now we have the future in front of us.”
Pack says he improved several areas of his game this offseason, including learning from scrimmaging with NBA players at UM.
“I’ve continued to become a better player every year,” Pack said. “I try to elevate myself, become better. Not only with the ball in my hands but without the ball, being able to create for my teammates, make them better.”
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Pack said in particular he improved his passing and can attack the basket and get in the paint easier.
“Defensively being able to step up – Bensley (Joseph) has been known for that glue guy type mentality, learned from him the spring time and summer to get better defensively myself,” Pack said. “I feel I’ve grown a lot.”
Pack points in particular to Poplar and Omier as also stepping up their games from a year ago.
“They are really key for us,” Pack said.
As for new young faces that are faring well? Pack points to 6-10 center Michael Nwoko and 6-8 guard Kyshawn George.
“They are going to play really big roles,” Pack said. “Mike’s size and athletic ability is off the charts. I threw a crazy lob pass out of the gym and he went up and got it. His ability to rebound, physicality for us (is key). Kyshawn’s size is a mismatch for guys at 6-8, 6-9 and being able to play point guard. He plays a lot older than he really is. Both those guys are going to see some key minutes for us this year.”
So big picture how is this team different from last year?
“We’re not as old a team like last year, but I feel we have a lot of younger guys who are really good,” Pack said. “It’ll come down to how well we can get them prepared for their moments. A lot of talent, a lot of guys that have to step up their roles to make the team better, but I feel we have the ability to do that.
“I feel we have the chance to do something really special this year.”
