The Miami basketball team pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the first two rounds when they crushed Auburn 79-61 on Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina. Miami advances to its first Sweet 16 since 2016. The Hurricanes have opened as an early 2.5 point favorite against Iowa State, but have long odds to win the NCAA title.
Iowa State and Miami who play Friday night at the United Center in Chicago are at plus 4000 to win the 2022 NCAA Championship among the 15 teams listed by Wynn Bet. Fifteen seed St. Peters who shocked East number two seed Kentucky and then beat seventh seed Murray State is not listed on the Wynn Bet board.
Miami began the NCAA Tournament at plus 20,000 to win the title. Now after the upset win over Auburn, the Hurricanes will be expected to advance to the Elite Eight. Miami has lost in the Sweet 16 in each of its last three appearances in the regional semifinals. Miami previously advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2000, 2013 and 2016.
The Miami basketball team lost as a six seed to seventh seed Tulsa and then head coach Bill Self in 2000, as a two seed to three seed Marquette in 2013 and as a three seed to two seed Villanova in 2016. Miami enters its game against Iowa State as the higher seed in the regional semifinals for the third time in four appearances.
Miami defeated Auburn as a 7.5 point underdog and USC at plus two. The Hurricanes 18 point victory over Auburn added with the point spread was the largest difference in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. St. Peter’s 85-79 victory over Kentucky was the other 25.5 point difference with the spread added to the margin.
Miami is tied with UCLA over North Carolina as the third-largest favorite in the regional semifinals according to Wynn Bet. There is no point spread listed for the Purdue-St. Peter’s game on Friday night in Philadelphia. Gonzaga who is an 8.5 point favorite over Arkansas is currently the biggest favorite in the regional semifinals.
10-Miami vs. 11-Iowa State will be the first meeting of double-digit seeds in the Sweet 16 since 10-Syracuse beat 11-Gonzaga in 2016. (That was the year when @Smoove2you_ hit a little jumper at the end to win a little something called the national title.)
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) March 21, 2022
Purdue will undoubtedly be the biggest favorite in the regionals. The winner on Friday between Kansas and Providence will likely be favored against the winner of Iowa State and Miami. If Kansas advances as a 7.5 point favorite over Providence expect the Jayhawks to be nearly a double-digit favorite in the regional final.
It has been an amazing season for the Miami basketball team. A win by the Hurricanes on Friday would be the deepest they have ever advanced in the NCAA Tournament. Miami point guard Charlie Moore is returning to his hometown of Chicago to play in the NCAA Tournament. Moore transferred to Miami from DePaul.
Prior to DePaul, Moore spent two seasons at Kansas and his freshman year at California before transferring to the Jayhawks. Led by their guards, Miami will be facing the best backcourt they have played against in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Iowa State is led by Izaiah Brockington who averages 17.1 points per game.