UM coaches Larranaga, Meier share special moment as Hurricanes head to historic Sweet 16

This March has been double sweet for the Miami Hurricanes.

For the first time in school history, both the UM women’s and men’s basketball teams are headed to the Sweet 16. Longtime coaches Katie Meier and Jim Larranaga shared a special moment and an embrace Wednesday afternoon as the teams packed their bags and headed out of town for Friday’s games.

The women’s team, in the Sweet 16 for the first time in 31 years, was headed to Greenville, South Carolina, to face Villanova on Friday at 2:30 p.m. (ESPN). The game will draw much attention as the Wildcats roster includes the nation’s leading scorer, Maddie Siegrist, who averages 29.2 points and 9.1 rebounds.

The UM men’s team is making its second Sweet 16 appearance in a row and is bound for Kansas City, Missouri, where the Hurricanes will take on top seed Houston on Friday at 7:15 p.m. (CBS). The Cougars will try to slow down the speedy Hurricanes and contain their high-octane offense, which torched Indiana for 85 points in the previous round.

“I’m really proud of both programs,” said UM athletic director Dan Radakovich, who flew back and forth between Albany, New York, and Bloomington, Indiana, to see both teams play. “The state of the basketball program is fantastic right now, and the excitement around it keeps growing.”

Miami is one of four schools in the nation with both the men’s and women’s teams in the Sweet 16. The others are Tennessee, UCLA and UConn.

“It’s incredible,” Meier said. “Plus, we’re investing in the facility here and the excitement of the students this year. It’s something that’s been a little bit missed in our community. When you understand this is right here on campus, easy access, right off the MetroRail. The excitement about basketball in general has lifted both programs.”

Larranaga, surrounded by reporters and TV cameras, echoed her sentiments.

“Just take a look around to see who’s here to interview me and Katie and know that this exposure is tremendous for us,” he said. “Not only as an athletic department, but as a university.”

He went on to thank the administration for increased support and resources.

“Without the resources and progress we’re making, none of this would be possible,” he said.

Miami forward Destiny Harden said she and her teammates, who upset top seed Indiana in the Round of 32, fed off the energy of the men’s team, which knocked Indiana out of the men’s NCAA Tournament less than 24 hours before.

“If they could do it, why not us?” said Harden, who had just come from the training room, where players from the men’s and women’s teams were reliving the moments that each team clinched its Sweet 16 berth.

Meier called Louisville coach Jeff Walz and other colleagues seeking tips on how to approach the Sweet 16 after an emotionally draining win in the Round of 32.

“I’ll take the advice, what do you do? How do you turn it around?’ Meier said. “They’re all saying, ‘Ride it, it’s what makes your team special.’ We’re not nervous. We’re not intimidated. But emotional? Yeah. Isn’t that great? I’m not going to deny that’s who I am as a coach.

“We stayed calm in the big moments. But when it’s time to celebrate, we’ll celebrate. When it’s time to have fire and passion and fight, we’re going to fight. So, I’m running with it.”

The biggest challenge facing Meier’s team is figuring out a way to limit Siegrist, the all-time Villanova scoring leader for both men and women.

Siegrist is averaging 29.2 points per game and 9.1 rebounds. She has scored 20 or more points in all 36 games, 16 games of 30-points and she put up 50 points in February against Seton Hall.

Asked how to stop her, Meier said: “It’s a big task. If we weren’t known a little bit for our defense and schemes, I’d be worried. But we usually come up with something. My team’s playing with a ton of grit, a ton of tenacity. We’ve got a spine about us. It’s hard to knock us out. That’s a great feeling to have in March.”

The men also enter the weekend riding high in confidence.

“Last year the guys went to the Elite Eight, and they want more,” Norchad Omier said. “I haven’t been part of the Sweet 16 yet, and I want more, too. Everyone has that hunger to win and go farther and farther.”