North Carolina held on to defeat Oregon 77-76 in the National Semifinal. They outlasted Gonzaga 72-65 in a foul-filled game for Roy Williams third National Championship.
Loyola’s run to the Final Four was improbable. From the Miami Hurricanes perspective, it shouldn’t have happened. It took the Hurricanes falling apart down the stretch and a Loyola miracle shot to give them the win.
Miami committed four turnovers in the final five minutes and went one for three from the free throw line in the final two in the loss. One of those misses was the front end of a one-and-one by Lonnie Walker. That came with nine seconds left.
Loyola’s Ben Richardson got the rebound. The Ramblers elected not to call a timeout. Donte Ingram wound up with the ball and hit about a 30 footer at the buzzer to end the Hurricanes season.
The Ramblers continued their improbable run in the next two rounds with late-game shots. Clayton Custer hit a runner in the lane with three seconds left to defeat Tennessee. In the Sweet 16, Loyola needed a Marques Townes three-point shot with three seconds left to clinch the victory over Nevada.
Loyola cruised in the South Regional Final over Kansas State 78-62 to advance to their first Final Four since 1963. The Ramblers won their only National Championship with an epic upset over two time defending National Champion Cincinnati. The Ramblers play Michigan next in Saturday’s Final Four.
Next: Jim Larranaga will continue to coach Miami Hurricanes for foreseeable future
With the offseason now a reality Jim Larranaga and his staff next turn to recruiting. Miami has no one signed for next season. The likelihood is that they add transfers. Few if any high school players that are ACC caliber are considering Miami.