Podcast: How Miami’s men became Sweet 16 staples. And what the Canes’ women’s run means

Is anyone having a better March than the Miami Hurricanes?

The men’s basketball team is into the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year and Jim Larranaga has further bolstered his legacy as one of the greatest coaches of his generation. The women’s basketball team is into the Sweet 16 for only the second time in school history and Katie Meier has cemented her legacy as of the greatest coaches in Miami history, regardless of sport.

Times are good in Coral Gables and Michelle Kaufman, the Hurricanes beat writer for the Miami Herald, joins David Wilson this week on the Eye on the U podcast to discuss a spring to remember for the Hurricanes.

Miami is one of only four schools in the country with both of its basketball teams still alive in their respective NCAA tournament and neither has to be done this week.

First up is a recap of the men’s run so far and a look ahead to the No. 5-seed Hurricanes’ showdown with top-seeded Houston on Friday. There were good signs for Miami last weekend, from the way it rallied past No. 12-seed Drake with defense Friday to the way it blitzed No. 4-seed Indiana on Sunday. If they play the way they did against the Hoosiers, the Hurricanes can upset the Cougars and maybe eve get to their first ever Final Four next month.

Larranaga’s program has gone up another level and the coach might be one of the best to ever come through South Florida in any sport.

For the women, their upset of top-seeded Indiana on Monday was the biggest win in program history and blows up the region. As a No. 9 seed, Miami is certainly one of the biggest underdogs left in the tournament, but the Hurricanes have held their own against higher ranked foes all year long.

Either way, this is a step Meier’s program badly needed to take after failing to get past the first weekend of the tourney in each of her first 17 seasons at Miami.

As always, thanks for listening and please continue to rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.