5 things to know about IU basketball's second round opponent, Miami Hurricanes

IU basketball is headed to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2016 thanks to a 71-60 win over Kent State late Friday (really, early Saturday).

Awaiting the fourth-seeded Hoosiers is 5-seed Miami, which beat Drake, 63-56 Friday, by outscoring the Bulldogs by 12 in the second half. IU will play the Hurricanes at 8:40 p.m., Sunday in Albany (TNT).

Here's a few things to know about Miami:

These Hurricanes are no schlubs.

They shared the ACC regular-season title. Yes, it was a down year for the ACC, but tying for a regular-season ACC title is tying for a regular-season ACC title. The Hurricanes led the conference in scoring, averaging 79.4 points per game, and reached the Elite Eight last season. Miami has a tough guard trio with ACC player of the year Isaiah Wong, Nijel Pack and Jordan Miller. And they have a coach, with Jim Larranaga, who has directed multiple teams to greater-than-expected NCAA tournament success.

ACC Player of the Year Isaiah Wong leads the way

Miami has its own All-American in the 6-4 junior guard. Wong averages 16.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, while shooting 45% from the field. He can create his own offense, as well as shots for others. He's the primary reason Miami has a top-15 offense in the country.

That said, Wong scored just five points in Miami's first-round win over Drake, tying his lowest output of the season (Nov. 15 vs. Florida A&M).

Lawrence Central grad Nijel Pack runs the point

Pack's transfer from Kansas State to Miami this offseason was the tipping point for many in signaling the drastic effect NIL could have in recruiting wars. One of the most highly-sought after players in last year's portal, his NIL deal with Miami was trumpeted on social media by LifeWallet CEO and Miami booster John H. Ruiz as, ”The biggest LifeWallet deal to date, two years $800,000.00 total at $400,000.00 per year plus a car."

Speaking with ACC Radio's Chris Spatola, Pack said he didn't know his NIL deal would be made public and become such a big deal.

“Obviously, I saw it kind of how everyone else did over social media. Am I mad? No. Am I upset it happened? Yeah, but obviously it brought a lot of exposure to the school, to my name, to John’s name. There’s nothing I can do about it. It’s obviously in the past now.

“I see it as a blessing. It’s getting me prepared for the next level. When you make it to the next level, people are going to know how much money you make and they’re going to have a certain expectation of you, especially when they know how much money you’re making.”

Pack, a 2020 Indiana All-Star, averaged 13.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game for the Hurricanes. He scored a game-high 21 points, including the go-ahead jumper and a pair of free throws in the final minute, in the Hurricanes' first round win over Drake.

As a sophomore at Kansas State, he averaged 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists and was a first-team All-Big 12 Conference pick.

Miami beat Drake despite not playing its best

The Hurricanes looked disconnected offensively against the Bulldogs, scored a season-low 63 points and was saved, making 23-of-29 from the free-throw line.

“I was like, ‘Man, this can’t be the way how it ends,’” Pack said. “I talked to my teammates. I felt like they felt the same way. We kind of brought some inner energy from within us.”

Do the Hurricanes have a big to matchup with Trayce Jackson-Davis?

Kind of. Forward Norchad Omier, a third-team All-ACC pick who averages 9.7 rebounds a game, is only 6-7. He hurt an ankle in an ACC tournament semifinal loss to Duke but was able to go in Miami's win over Drake. He scored 12 points (8-of-9 from free-throw line) and pulled down 14 rebounds against the Bulldogs.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: March Madness: What to know about Indiana's 2nd round opponent, Miami