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Takeaways from Miami’s loss to NC State

Carter Lutz
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Takeaways from Miami’s loss to NC State

Miami headed into its week ten matchup against NC State, hoping to build off a two-game ACC winning streak. Instead, the Hurricanes were no match for the Wolfpack in a close-knit 20-6 loss.

“We know we can be a really good football team,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “We’ve shown it in spurts. We have to make sure we do our best job as an organization to get better.”

The loss puts Miami at 6-3 and 2-3 in conference play before heading into the season’s last three games.

While Miami’s ACC championship hopes dwindle, the loss gives Miami a chance to look back at some of the team’s flaws before the big rivalry game in Tallahassee against Florida State this upcoming Saturday. Let’s get into the takeaways from last Saturday’s defeat.

Miami outplayed their opponent but still lost again.

The biggest takeaway from last Saturday is that Miami lost a game they should have won, and not for the first time this year.

NC State made the big plays when they mattered most, and Miami did not. There have been multiple games where the Hurricanes have complete control but can’t put down the hammer. On Saturday, Miami had more total yards, more first downs, and 19 first downs to NC State’s 12. The defense stepped up when needed, and the offense put themselves in a position to score but couldn’t finish the job on most drives.

Turnovers are what cost Miami. Other than a late interception when the game was out of reach, the other three turnovers either surrendered points for Miami or led to NC State getting on the scoreboard.

Multiple times this season, Miami’s had the opportunity to take controllable leads but have failed to do so due to the inability to finish off drives and costly errors. In a low-scoring game where mistakes matter most, Miami made too many mistakes.

The defense should keep up their production

The Hurricane’s defense has had its ups and downs this season, but Saturday was a much-encouraged outing. The first three quarters were dominant, and in total, the Wolfpack only had 231 total yards and went 3 for 11 on third down.

The defensive line has stepped up since the bye week, led by the play from true freshman Rueben Bain Jr. The unit added two more sacks against the Wolfpack, and overall, the defense has improved each week, with the young players continuing to get better.

The offense has lost its rhythm

The formula for success on offense was clear and worked for Miami in the first half of the year: Establish the run, get the ball out quickly to playmakers in space, and mix in some deep passes. New offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson also brought a sense of unpredictability within the play calling, which wasn’t seen last season and benefited the offense this year. Most importantly, Miami was finishing off drives with cementing touchdown runs or long passes. Since the game against Georgia Tech, that same magical flow deemed dominant is now somewhat lost.

While Saturday was the worst the offense has played, the past five games are a small sample size of the big problems happening within the unit. Tyler Van Dyke has not done much, but don’t put all the blame on the gunslinger because, overall, the offensive as a whole has been questionable.

“I think it’s not just pointing a finger at [quarterback] Tyler [Van Dyke]. I think, offensively, there are things we need to do better. The passing game certainly hasn’t been what it needed to be, especially when we started the season so strongly. … Sometimes, the routes are covered, smothered a little bit. Protection has been fairly good for the most part. … It’s a little bit of everything. We’ve got to coach it better. We’ve got to get our guys to perform better. We’ve got to design a couple things that might help us see things a little bit more clearly. But it’s a little bit of everything,” coach Cristobal said regarding the offense.

And Cristobal is correct; it does feel like a little bit of everything. The offense has been underproduced and has a different spark than it did. But these next few weeks can allow Dawson’s unit to find its identity again. If Miami can get back to establishing the run and mixing in the past, they will discover more future success.

The Tyler Van Dyke we saw early in the season is nowhere to be found.

In a spot where Tyler Van Dyke needed to lead the team, the quarterback threw 21 for 38, no touchdowns, and three interceptions in his worst game of the year. Van Dyke is 1-3 in his last four starts and has thrown at least two interceptions in each game. Compared to the beginning of the year, where Van Dyke threw for five touchdowns 374 yards on 70% completion, his second half has been a disaster.

Whether it is a confidence thing or a scheming issue, it may be time for the Hurricanes to move on from the Tyler Van Dyke experiment. While Van Dyke may have the tools to be a successful college quarterback, he hasn’t been able to put all the pieces together at Miami and is just not getting the job done.

If Van Dyke can regain confidence and return to where he was, the offense should stick with him. But a change of pace might be suitable for this team, and Emory Williams could be a safer option.

Miami has their two biggest games of the season coming up against No. 4 Florida State and No. 11 Louisville, and no doubt these will be the most challenging teams they have faced. Meanwhile, there can be a lot of positives that can come with the final stretch. Miami can benefit from dealing with adversity, and the loss to NC State will be a wake-up call. Their next game against FSU will take place Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium, with kickoff at 8 p.m.

Miami women’s basketball coming off historic season, expectations remain high

Benjamin Gerkin
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Miami women’s basketball coming off historic season, expectations remain high

Head coach Katie Meier and the Miami Hurricanes shredded brackets last year after advancing to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history. The Canes check in at No. 25 in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll and are projected to finish at No. 6 in the ACC Conference.

With the departure of points leader Haley Cavinder (12.2), rebound leader Destiny Harden (5.9) and blocks leader Lola Pendande (0.7), Meier and her staff dug into the transfer portal to revamp this UM roster.

Coming from within the ACC is junior Duke transfer Shayeann Day-Wilson who broke out as a freshman for the Blue Devils and proved to be a top guard in the conference throughout her two years with the franchise. Day-Wilson earned All-ACC Freshman Team honors following the 2021-22 season and was tabbed as the ACC Freshman of the Year by the conference’s head coaches.

Meier was also able to grab graduate transfer in Jaida Patrick, who arrived in Miami from Columbia. Patrick averaged 12.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists during her senior season with the Lions, with her contributions earning her All-Ivy League Second Team honors.

To extend upon Meier’s loaded backcourt this season is junior transfer Ally Stedman out of Pepperdine. As a sophomore with the Waves, Stedman averaged a whopping 15.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest but missed 11 games due to injury.

Sims: New faces of Miami men’s basketball

Luke Sims
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Sims: New faces of Miami men’s basketball

College basketball teams go through a transition process every year. Whether it’s the NBA, the transfer portal, or graduation, no team is the same back-to-back years. Miami is no exception. Miami does have something that not every team has, a Final Four appearance to follow up.

Jim Larrañaga and his Hurricanes lost their two leading scorers from last year, Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller, to the NBA. That’s over 31 points per game and an invaluable defensive presence that the ‘Canes will have to replace. Miami also lost depth big Anthony Walker to the transfer portal, as he’ll suit up for the Indiana Hoosiers this season.

While there were losses, Miami was able to prime in talent to try and replenish what was left. With a trio of exciting freshmen and one big transfer, Miami is in a good spot heading into the season.

The three freshmen that Miami is getting have the versatility to play all over the court and come from all over the world. The ‘Canes don’t have an incoming freshman that is from the United States. The trio of players coming to Coral Gables also all stand at 6’7” or above.

Kyshawn George, from Switzerland, stands at 6-foot-8 and has the skills of a guard. George plays in the mold of Wooga Poplar, who he started for during an exhibition game. The lanky guard has tremendous athleticism and is really able to move. In the exhibition game, George showed off his smarts and basketball IQ.

The freshman was able to find soft spots in the defense and kept his cool in his first collegiate game. George also has range to cover a plethora of sports on defense. The freshman seems comfortable guarding almost every position on the floor. The semi-professional experience that George got during his time playing in France seems to be paying dividends early. The moment does not seem to be too big for him.

Another freshman guard joining Jim Larrañaga’s back court is Frenchman Paul

Djobet. The 6-foot-7 guard was productive in limited playing time, scoring seven points in eight minutes. It may take Djobet a little more time to adjust to the speed of the collegiate game. In terms of the rotation that Miami employs, Djobet may find himself on the outside looking in for the time being. Playing time could be hard to come by for Djobet during his first year in Coral Gables.

Last but not least of the recruited freshman class is big man Micheal Nwoko. The 6-foot-10 freshman from north of the border showed out in the ‘Canes first action of the year. Nwoko came off the bench to deliver 16 points and seven rebounds in just 16 minutes of game time.

The Canadian was engaged on both ends of the floor. Offensively he was efficient, and defensively he was aggressive, fighting for rebounds. If Nwoko can prove to be an impact player right away, he could provide valuable depth at a position Miami is weak in.

Miami men’s basketball received a single transfer player this upcoming season: the big ticket from up-state, Matthew Clevland.

Miami fans may remember Cleveland from his time at Florida State University (FSU), when he capped off FSU’s miraculous comeback against the ‘Canes last season. Cleveland put home a three-pointer as time expired to secure a victory for the Seminoles.

The junior comes in with the ability to start immediately. Cleveland’s 13.8 points per game would have been third on the team last season. Cleveland started in the exhibition game and should fill the role that Isaiah Wong played for Miami last year.

The Atlanta native is looking to make a jump in his third collegiate season. Cleveland improved his offensive game drastically from his freshman year. Cleveland’s three-point shooting percentage jumped from 17.6% to 35.0%. The transfer’s free-throw percentage also increased almost 15 percentage points from 55 to 69. In terms of rebounds, Clevland did a much better job attacking the glass, especially on the defensive end of the court. The similar elevation of his game to this season would have Cleveland in store for a massive year in Miami.

Three of these new faces in Miami should be key contributors for Miami basketball this season. Cleveland will assume a starting spot and will be counted on as one of the main scorers for the ‘Canes. There is a lot of scoring that Miami lost with the graduation of Wong and Miller. Cleveland is here to supplement a good chunk of that.

George will find himself in a variety of situations due to his experience and athletic ability. Head coach Jim Larrañaga showed confidence in George by having him start in place of Poplar in the exhibition game. The versatility that George has on both ends of the court could see him banking minutes early and often for the ‘Canes.

Nwoko could find a unique role as a center for Miami. Both A.J. Casey and Norchad Omier are listed as forwards who will be expected to play Miami’s center role. Omier does it exceptionally well. Neither of those players are true centers, though. Nwoko could fit that bill.

Nwoko gives Miami the ability to match up defensively with some of the taller teams in the county. While Miami will still be playing small-ball, Nwoko helps them to play it a little bigger than before.

These new faces of Miami basketball will aid in the quest for the ‘Canes to get back to the final four. These players will be leaned on to play their part in that journey.

All stats and data via ESPN and 247Sports

Miami gears up for upcoming 3rd Republican presidential debate

Anya Weller
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Miami gears up for upcoming 3rd Republican presidential debate

Beyond the sparkling beaches and the swaying palm trees of Miami, the 2024 Republican US presidential candidates are set to once again take the debate stage.

This Wednesday, Nov. 8, the Adrienne Arsht Center in downtown Miami, alongside NBC, is set to be the new boxing ring for the candidates. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will battle for America’s support in the presidential primary election.

With the upcoming debate, according to second-year student and political science major Isabela Bobe, this is an opportunity for the Republican candidates to elaborate further on some of their most controversial policies, especially for young voters watching.

“Candidates go into greater depth about their plans and opinions on policy issues, giving young voters who watch the debate, even on social media, the opportunity to form their own opinions,” said Bobe. “We can start to see which one(s) appeals to them and their beliefs the most.”

These debates not only inform people who to vote for, but as of recently, have often caused candidates to lose support. In the most extreme situations, candidates’ performance in the GOP debate is at stake.

Gregory Koger, a professor of political science at the University of Miami, doubts that the 30% of Americans who are registered Republicans will all watch the debate. He does believe, however, that debates influence who gets greater exposure in the media.

“While the debate itself has a pretty limited audience, I think the debate indirectly affects who rises up or falls in the primaries,” he said.

Perhaps most notable about this debate is its location in the 305, a city well-known for its unique political climate. Typically classified as a swing district since 1992, Miami-Dade County has begun to trend in the Republican direction in recent years.

With a large Latino population, the Miami debate will likely delve into discussions on immigration policy. Koger especially wonders how candidates will appeal to Latino voters while in Miami.

“They represent a potential growth for the Republican Party, but it would take a certain message and certain policies to accomplish that,” Koger said.

Additionally, Koger expects the candidates to be asked about Trump, who has been noticeably absent at each of the presidential debates despite being the frontrunner for the party’s nomination. The former president is refusing to participate in the debate and instead will be holding a rally in Hialeah the same night, just 7 miles from UM.

In prior debates, the 2024 GOP candidates have been hesitant to criticize the former president. But given that Trump is facing one civil trial and three criminal trials, he presents a great opportunity for his competition to stand up for law and order.However, these debates have often failed to attract young voters; a huge lost opportunity, according to Bobe.

“Debates should include issues that directly impact younger voters like student loans, job opportunities, health care, and abortion,” Bobe said. “Even the moderators don’t resonate with younger audiences, and they should probably diversify this to grab our generation’s attention.”

Bobe also mentioned that surprisingly, she has heard no discussion of the upcoming debate among other students despite its proximity to her University.

For those interested in watching the upcoming debate, the political science department encourages students to join the debate watch party hosted by the Hanley Democracy Center on Nov. 8 in suite 110 of the Campos Sano building on campus.

Wooga Poplar’s career high leads ‘Canes Men’s Basketball past NJIT in season opener

Luke Sims
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Wooga Poplar’s career high leads ‘Canes Men’s Basketball past NJIT in season opener

Miami started their road back to the final four on a positive note as they took down the NJIT Highlanders 101-60 at the Watsco Center on Monday night.

The ‘Canes shot 54% from the field and 43% from behind the arc. Even Junior Norchad Omier got his share of threes. The big man for Miami was 2-2 from behind the arc. Junior Wooga Poplar’s career-high 21 points was just part of Miami’s great night shooting the basketball. Poplar was 5-9 from three-point range.

“He’s great. He’s him,” said Miami coach Jim Larreñaga. “The guy can shoot threes, his pull up jumper is amazing, he missed a few of them today but he’s a terrific player.”

Miami started fast, jumping to a 13-point lead early in the first half. Junior Bensley Joseph led the ‘Canes with defensive tenacity. The newfound offensive prowess from three-point range by Omier also aided in the sizable lead for the ‘Canes. That early domination from Omier was just a taste of what would end up being a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double for him.

The Highlanders stayed with the ‘Canes for the early portion of the game. They went on a 9-0 run to cut Miami’s lead to four halfway through the first half. The closest that the Highlanders were able to get was six. Miami never looked back from there on out.

A string of three balls from junior Wooga Poplar and Joseph extended the ‘Canes lead to 19 with just over 4 minutes to play in the first half. Poplar’s long ball helped the ‘Canes secure their sizable first-half lead. With 13 points, Poplar led all scorers in the first half. Miami led NJIT by 20, 52-32 at halftime.

Miami would maintain a comfortable lead into the start of the second half as their starters continued to log minutes. Miami would go on a 21-2 scoring run midway through the second half. This impressive scoring run would put the ‘Canes up by 40. That lead would not go away as the ‘Canes reached triple digits for the first time since a 107-point performance against Cornell last year.

Senior guard Adam Hess was the leader for the Highlanders, scoring 14 points on 4-14 shooting. Freshman Tariq Francis was the Highlanders’ leader in assists with five.

Junior guard Nijel Pack had a great night as a facilitator. Pack recorded nine assists in 30 minutes of play as the leader for the ‘Canes. Pack was responsible for setting up many of the ‘Canes open looks that resulted in essential points.

The Miami youngsters also got a ton of action on Monday night. Freshman Micheal Nwoko had nine points, along with a solid defensive effort. Kyshawn George showed more of his raw skill as he was beaten on his defensive assignments several times. Overall, it was an encouraging performance for the underclassman.

The ‘Canes got a big-time performance from junior Matthew Clevland. In his first game as a ‘Cane, he recorded a double-double with 16 points and ten rebounds in 26 minutes of play. Cleveland was aggressive and played tough under the rim all night long.

“It’s nice,” said the FSU transfer Cleveland. “Playing with the guys, they make it easy.”

The ‘Canes take the court for their second game of the season this Friday against their in-state rivals, the UCF Knights. Miami will hang their Final Four banner from last season on Friday night as well. Tip-off for that out-of-conference matchup will take place at 7 p.m.

Miami competitive with ACC leader Pitt, lose 3-1

Gates Fox
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Miami competitive with ACC leader Pitt, lose 3-1

Coming off a close four-set victory against the Virginia Cavaliers, The University of Miami (16-8,9-5 ACC) faced another four-set conference match against the University of Pittsburgh (21-4,12-2) on November 5th. Although this close match did not go Miami’s way, as both teams battled to limit team mistakes, it was the ‘Canes who came up short in this match, 3-1, at the James L. Knight Sports Complex.

During the first set, Pittsburgh came out with a strong 12-2 run before Miami started to respond. Freshman Grace Lopez led the way for the ‘Canes with four kills, alongside help from redshirt senior Angela Grieve, who added two kills of her own later in the set. The ‘Canes started to gain some energy, but it came in too late as the set ended rather quickly 15-25.

As the second set began, Miami kept the momentum from the end of the first set as it became a back-and-forth battle, with the score being tied 12 times with three lead changes. It remained close until the last points when Miami’s sophomore Flormarie Heredia-Colon brought the score to 21-22 with a kill, followed by a crucial block from teammates graduate student Janice Leao and fifth-year Savannah Vach, to tie the score at 22 all. With the Hurricanes making a comeback, the Pittsburgh coaching staff called a timeout to try and slow the ‘Canes late set run. As the teams returned to the court, Miami remained strong as Heredia-Colon had another kill to tie the score at 23-23. Yet again, it was not enough to stop the Panthers, who had two quick kills to take the set 23-25.

After dropping two sets, Miami began the third set with high energy and mixed with many Pittsburgh mistakes, the ‘Canes were able to capitalize. Early on, the score remained close, though Miami held the lead. As the score reached ten all, the Panthers started to fall apart, and the ‘Canes took advantage, going on a 7-1 run with the Hurricanes getting their largest lead of the match at 18-13. The Panthers could return with a run of their own, tying the set after a challenged call was reversed in Pittsburgh’s favor, bringing it to 18-18. Despite getting close, the ‘Canes never lost the lead, following another Panthers’ error and a critical kill from Vach. Pittsburgh challenged another call, but it remained in Miami’s favor, bringing the score to match point for the ‘Canes at 24-22. Ultimately, Pittsburgh made continuous mistakes, and with one final kill from Lopez, the ‘Canes took the third set 26-24.

In the fourth set, Pittsburgh cleaned up some of the mistakes as Miami began making errors of its own, as the set came down to which team could make fewer mistakes. The ‘Canes took the early lead with two quick kills from Leao and Lopez, who already had an impressive 15 in the match. However, there was a shift as Miami began making more mistakes, allowing the Panther lead to get as large as 11-16. But it was graduate student Abby Casiano, for the ‘Canes, who produced a vital kill to give Miami a needed energy boost. For the rest of the set, it was Lopez who kept the ‘Canes close to the Panthers, having 9 of her career-high 24 kills in this set. Yet, the ‘Canes again hit their stride too late, getting as close as 23-24, but simply had too many mistakes, dropping the set after more errors, giving the Panthers their third set win, 23-25, and the game win.

The ‘Canes look to bounce back as they travel to Tallahassee to face off in another conference match at 1:00 p.m. against FSU on November 12th

Miami swim and dive shines in win over FAU

Ian Graves
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Miami swim and dive shines in win over FAU

In its first home meet of the year, Miami swim and dive defeated FAU by a score of 166-128 at the Whitten Center Pool.

In the first race of the meet, the 200-yard medley relay got the ‘Canes off to a hot start with its top entry of fifth-year senior Emma Shuppert, senior Emma Sundstrand, junior Jacey Hinton and fifth-year senior Talia Bates coming in first place with a time of 1:41.79.

Next up, in the freestyle events, the Hurricanes kept rolling behind fifth-year senior Mary Smutny winning the 1,000-yard freestyle and sophomore Jane Fitzgerald taking the 200-yard freestyle with times of 10:22.64 and 1:53.19 respectively.

Other notables from freestyle include sophomore Kate Sommerstad, who claimed second in the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:39.56) and freshman Jemma Burns, who placed third in the 200-yard freestyle (1:53.96).

Moving onto backstroke, UM managed to ramp it up to another level after the hot start sweeping the 100-yard backstroke, with Bates (54.00), Shuppert (56.03) and sophomore Celina Kuehne (56.27) taking those top three places.

Adding on to her outstanding meet, Shuppert took home her third win of the meet, winning the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:02.33.

The ‘Canes saw even more success late in the sprinting events, with wins from junior Jacey Hinton (23.22) in the 50-yard freestyle and redshirt junior Savannah Barr (51.82) in the 100-yard freestyle.

Up next for Miami swim and dive, the team will head west to Dallas to take on several teams at the SMU Invite spanning from Nov. 15-18.

Hurricanes volleyball victorious in a close four-set game against the Virginia Cavaliers

Aaliah Dawson
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Hurricanes volleyball victorious in a close four-set game against the Virginia Cavaliers

Miami Volleyball returned with a competitive 3-1 home win against the Virginia Cavaliers at the James L. Knight Complex in Coral Gables Friday night. They were coming off last week’s disappointing loss against No.3 Louisville Cardinals in Kentucky.

The ‘Canes secured a much-needed in-conference win, contributing to their ACC record of 9-4 as the conference season is nearing the end with five games left on the schedule.

The ‘Canes set the tone of the match, coming out strong against Virginia with an impressive first-set win 25-12. Fifth-year setter Savannah Vach put Miami in the lead behind the service line, alongside Sophmore Flormarie Heredia-Colon and Freshman Grace Lopez with nine kills each.

The Cavaliers would not let the ‘Canes dominate so easily, coming back in a close second set. However, the ‘Canes still won by a score of 25-22. The second set featured strong performances from Lopez and Junior Ashley Carr, with solid service from Yaidaliz Rosado. There were notable big hits from Heredia Colon and Graduate Student Janice Leao to close out that set’s victory.

The ‘Canes struggled in the third set and tried to fight against Virginia’s strong kills, but it was not enough, and the Cavaliers won the set 25-19.

Virginia kept their momentum going into the fourth set, but the Canes’ found their way back from an initial 10-point deficit with a potent offense by Redshirt Senior Angela Grieve. Casiano and Grieve responded perfectly to Virginia’s hits with their defense, allowing Vach and Leao to create a wall and win the set 25-23. After being on the edge of their seats the last three sets, the Miami home crowd was ecstatic to see the Canes come out on top.

The ‘Canes will take on the Pittsburgh Panthers on Sunday at the James L. Knight Sports Complex. The game will start at 1 p.m.

Farr: Hurricanes Men’s Basketball got their taste of glory – and now, they’re coming for it all

Elliot Farr
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Farr: Hurricanes Men’s Basketball got their taste of glory – and now, they’re coming for it all

April 1, 2023. NRG Stadium. Houston, Texas.

The Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball team – a program once dropped for 11 years – played in the Final Four of the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.

Just over 1,200 miles away from the action, students, alums, and fans alike gathered at the Watsco Center to watch the Canes take on the Connecticut Huskies, with a chance to move on and play for a national championship.

But after getting blown out by the eventual national champions in UConn, the ‘Canes returned home understandably subdued but also with a renewed sense of optimism like never before.

Fast-forward 219 days later – November 6, 2023 – the season opener. Expectations are high. The Hurricane faithful are more invested than ever. And with the moves they have made, Miami is hungrier than ever to claim a spot in college basketball glory.

After the departures of program stars Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller to the NBA – two key faces that were nothing short of instrumental in Miami’s run to Houston – head coach Jim Larrañaga and co. have done plenty of work to reload and prepare for their most anticipated season yet.

Miami’s most significant addition this summer was the arrival of FSU transfer Matthew Cleveland. He gained notoriety in Coral Gables after shocking the then-No. 13 Hurricanes with a game-winning buzzer-beater in February.

Now finding himself on the other side of the rivalry, the junior guard is poised to be a significant force in this new-look squad. During his two years as a Seminole, Cleveland averaged 12.7 points per game on 44.8% shooting, including a 3-pointer percentage that improved from 17.6% as a freshman to 35.0 as a sophomore.

Headlining Miami’s returning players include Wooga Poplar, Nijel Pack, and Norchad Omier – the latter two of whom transferred to Miami in 2022 from Kansas State and Arkansas State, respectively.

Poplar made some of the most significant improvements of any of Miami’s players with an expanded role in his sophomore season. He improved his shooting from 41.2% from the field to 47% and a monumental jump from 21.4% to 37.5% from downtown— he’s a prolific finisher in the paint and now one of Miami’s many shooting threats. Larrañaga has had no shortage of praise for Poplar, raving about the junior season he’s primed to have and even tabbing him as a future NBA first-round pick.

Moreover, the return of Pack and Omier is undoubtedly the biggest reinforcement that Miami will have going into a new season. After earning First Team All-Big 12 conference honors, Pack’s arrival was one of the main pieces for the team’s magical tournament run. Pack has shot an outstanding 41.6% from downtown in college, giving the Hurricanes one of the nation’s premier shooting threats that was key to their run to Houston.

And with Norchad Omier – a graduate of nearby Miami Prep School – returning to Coral Gables for his fourth year, he is undoubtedly the player who is most primed to have the season of his life. A constant force in the paint, Omier has made a name for himself as a premier center in the Atlantic Coast Conference and yet has much more room to improve.

With a dominant 58.7% of his career field goals made and an average of over 11 rebounds, it’s no secret why the Bluefields, Nicaragua native, and the first to represent his country in Division 1 basketball, was named to the All-Conference team in all of his three years, including honors as the Sun Belt Player of the Year.

Rounding out Miami’s new-look team going into the season are a handful of standout freshmen who look to take significant roles in Larrañaga’s news system. Michael Nwoko, Kyshawn George, and Paul Djobet are the foremost names in Miami’s incoming freshman class.

Nwoko, the No. 16-ranked center of the 2023 class per 247 Sports, looks to start out backing up Omier for his first year. Nwoko showed massive potential in Miami’s preseason exhibition vs. TCNJ, posting 16 points and seven rebounds. George, a 6-foot-8 guard from Switzerland, will look to have a leading sixth-man role as one of the ACC’s top freshmen. In Miami’s exhibition, George logged 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, three rebounds, and four assists, positioning him with plenty of potential in his freshman season.

In the history of Miami basketball, there has never been more anticipation, more excitement, and more buzz than there has been after the Hurricanes got their first taste of glory in the college basketball world.

And there is no doubt that this program, a far cry from its humble origins, has worked hard to build on everything it could accomplish to reach the ultimate goal. And one can bet that they will use such an opportunity effectively.

A new season is coming. The Hurricanes are coming. And this time around, the ‘Canes are coming for it all.

Offensive miscues doom Hurricanes against N.C. State

Luke Sims
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Offensive miscues doom Hurricanes against N.C. State

As time wound down in the fourth quarter, the Miami Hurricanes offense trotted back out onto the field, ran a few plays and junior quarterback Tyler Van Dyke capped off the game with another interception in the final seconds. It’s a fitting way to end a disheartening performance in Raleigh, North Carolina. The ‘Canes fell to 6-3 overall (2-3 in the ACC) as they lost to North Carolina (N.C.) State, 20-6, on Saturday night.

After a field goal from junior kicker Andy Borregales, the ‘Canes took the lead 3-0, but it was all downhill from there. The Wolfpack responded with a touchdown to take the 7-3 lead. The ‘Canes were able to keep it close with another field goal but that’s the closest that they got for the rest of the game. The Wolfpack were able to capitalize on a Van Dyke fumble – one of his four turnovers on the day – to kick another field goal and make the score 10-6 at the end of the first half.

In the second half, Miami was finally able to put together a drive that got them near the goal line. Down only four, a touchdown would have given Miami the lead and restored some momentum.

Facing fourth-and-one, the Hurricanes were unable to convert. The Wolfpack then drove down and scored to give themselves a double-digit lead. Miami’s struggles in the red zone plagued them all game and were ultimately the difference in the end.

“Games like that, you got to grind them out,” head coach Mario Cristobal told reporters after the game. “It’s going to be who can outlast who, who can get up one more time. We had a lot of momentum going down there in the fourth quarter to go score and when we didn’t get that done it certainly switched some momentum. That being said, guts kept battling and kept fighting but not to the standard, and not to the result we wanted.”

Those six points were the last that the ‘Canes scored Saturday night. A lot of that is on the shoulders of Van Dyke.

The Connecticut native played arguably the worst game of his career. Van Dyke threw three interceptions that all looked very poor. Some brutal underthrows cut the legs out of any momentum that Miami tried to muster. Van Dyke was not efficient or accurate, as he only completed 55% of his passes for 173 yards and zero touchdowns.

“I just have to get back into form and understand where we can get better in the passing game,” Van Dyke said. “Obviously, it’s not what it has been the last few games so just got to get back on the drawing board and be better.”

Miami’s defense was able to cause a few turnovers itself with a Kamren Kinchens interception and a Jaden Davis strip-sack, but it was not enough to overcome the team’s offensive shortcomings. Every time Miami’s defense would make a play, it seemed as though the Wolfpack’s defense struck right back.

“I think we got to just keep bringing energy,” UM senior defensive lineman Branson Deen said. “Keep executing the full game, not part of it. Not a slow start or a slow ending. We have to keep the energy all game and execute. Like I said, we’ll watch the film and make our corrections and we have to move on quickly.”

The ‘Canes wideouts had a decent day. The leading receiver was junior Jacolby George, with five receptions for 59 yards. Junior Xavier Restrepo was held to just one reception for 13 yards until the last drive of the game. N.C. State’s defense did a great job of bottling up Miami’s receivers.

Miami’s rushing attack was effective when utilized, though. In his first start, true freshman running back Mark Fletcher Jr. got the bulk of the carries for Miami en route to a career-high 115 yards on 23 carries. Usually, the Miami rushing attack is more balanced, but no other back had more than three carries.

“I feel like I played great,” Fletcher said. “The O-line made a lot of openings for me but we did not get the result we wanted and we just have to go back to work.”

This was a hallmark game for the Wolfpack’s coaching staff, as head coach Dave Doeren collected his 78th victory in his time at N.C. State. That’s a program record, and the team got to celebrate in front of a sold-out crowd. This was also the first time that N.C. State had beaten Miami in 15 years. The last time was when Russell Wilson was under center for the Wolfpack.

The ‘Canes will have to limp into Tallahassee on a low note as they have a huge rivalry showdown with the fourth-ranked Florida State Seminoles next Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium. The kick-off for this matchup on ABC is to be determined.

TMH Staff score predictions: NC State Wolfpack

Wrigley Kordt
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TMH Staff score predictions: NC State Wolfpack

It’s been back to back games that Hurricanes Football has gone into overtime and come out with the victory. However, both games were played in front of their home crowd at Hard Rock Stadium. Today, they are at Carter-Finley Stadium to take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack (5-3, 2-2 ACC).

Saturday’s kick-off in Raleigh, North Carolina is set for 8:00 p.m. Here’s what four members of The Miami Hurricane’s sports section are predicting for the game.

Ian Graves

After sneaking away with a three-point overtime victory over Virginia, Miami looks to extend their win streak to three games against NC State this Saturday. In the last matchup between these two teams, the ‘Canes edged the then-ranked Wolfpack by 1 point in a thriller at Hard Rock Stadium in 2021.

With both of these teams struggling to find much of an offensive rhythm as of late, we are due for a relatively low-scoring affair. Miami comes in with the 28th-ranked defense in the FBS, allowing only 20 points per game, and NC State is coming in slightly lower with the 45th-ranked defense allowing about 23 points per game.

This being said, whichever teams turns more defense into offense, whether by scoring themselves or setting up the offense with good field position, will come away with the victory.

The Hurricanes will be the team to do this, as executed last week by safety Kam Kinchens housing a crucial pick-six, and Miami should be able to escape Raleigh with a victory.

Prediction: Miami 20, NC State 17

Charlotte Snoonian

Miami and NC State both hope to keep the momentum going, each coming off of conference wins last week. The ‘Canes’ wins did not come quickly, though, earning the last two games in overtime against Clemson and UVA, and the NC State Wolfpack also just beat Clemson.

Uncertainty at quarterback has been prevalent for the Wolfpack this season, with transfer quarterback Brennan Marshall being benched earlier this season for MJ Morris. Both players have a completion rate slightly under 60%, compared to Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke’s 70% completion this season.

Also, on the offensive side of the ball, both teams look even in receiving and rushing leaders so that the game may come down to strength on the defensive side. NC State linebacker Payton Wilson has had a whopping 89 total tackles this season and was ranked 15th in the ACC for tackles per game last season, so the ‘Canes offensive line will have to step up this weekend.

Despite a threat on defense, Tyler Van Dyke and company can confidently defeat the NC State Wolfpack this Saturday.

Prediction: Miami 17, NC State 13

Quinn Sheehan

It has not always looked pretty for Miami, but over the last two weeks, the ‘Canes have found ways to win against ACC opponents Clemson and Virginia, both in overtime nail-biters. This week, however, the competition will ramp up again for the Hurricanes as they travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, to take on the 5-3 NC State Wolfpack.

NC State is coming off a win over Clemson, and its three losses have been to quality opponents in Notre Dame, Louisville, and Duke. The Wolfpack have become accustomed to close games recently, as their last three wins have come by just 17 total points. I expect neither team to pull ahead and for the contest to come down to the previous drive.

Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke struggled in his return against Virginia, but with more preparation and a week behind him, I expect a solid bounce-back effort from Van Dyke.

With the shaky quarterback play over the last two weeks, Miami’s defense has stepped up big time, and I predict that will continue against an NC State offense only averaging 25.3 points per game this season.

Despite traveling to a hostile environment, the Hurricanes won a hard-fought conference win.

Prediction: Miami 23, NC State 20

Wrigley Kordt

Miami has won each of its last two games, but both have come unconvincing; the team has relied on overtime heroics to propel themselves past underwhelming overall performances.

But now, back on the road against a competitive NC State team, the ‘Canes won’t have as much margin for error. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke has had a penchant for interceptions lately, throwing two last week against Virginia and seven in his previous three games. He’ll need to reign in the turnovers to get a win against the Wolfpack.

Luckily for the ‘Canes, NC State’s offense has been underwhelming all year. Quarterback Brennan Armstrong has thrown more interceptions (six) than touchdowns (five); to add insult to injury, he’s the team’s leading rusher despite only accumulating 286 yards on the ground.

Miami’s passing game may be under duress, but its rushing attack has remained consistent. In a battle between two less-than-stellar quarterbacks, the ground game could be the ‘Canes’ key to victory.

Prediction: Miami 27, NC State 24

Takeaways from Miami’s overtime win against Virginia

Wrigley Kordt
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Takeaways from Miami’s overtime win against Virginia

Another week, another overtime touchdown run and another nail-biting win for the Miami Hurricanes. Miami’s formula for its win against Clemson remained virtually identical against Virginia: the ‘Canes struggled to get anything going in the first half against the Cavaliers, but, much like the week before, they recovered in the second half, forced overtime, and emerged victorious.

The 29-26 win moved Miami to 2-2 in the ACC, and by crossing the 6-win mark overall, the team became bowl game-eligible for the first time since 2021.

But the game was far from perfect, and with a crucial road trip ahead for the ‘Canes, there’s plenty of room to improve. Let’s dive into some takeaways, both good and bad, from Miami’s win on Saturday.

Miami’s diverse run game continued to shine.

Running backs Ajay Allen and Mark Fletcher Jr. were the stars of the show, combining for 114 yards and two touchdowns on only 22 carries. Allen gave Miami its first touchdown of the game on a gritty, SportsCenter-worthy 26-yard run in the third quarter.

But with the game on the line in overtime, head coach Mario Cristobal turned to Fletcher on three straight carries, and the freshman back rewarded his coach’s trust with an 11-yard scamper into the endzone to win the game.

“Fletcher runs really hard,” remarked Cristobal. “He has the complete trust of the entire organization.”

Miami’s run game, one of the best in the ACC, doesn’t rely on a single lead back. In fact, only one back surpassed the 20-carry mark in a game this season: Donald Chaney Jr. ran the ball 24 times in the loss to Georgia Tech. Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has trusted the hot hand all season with his running backs, and the strategy has paid dividends.

Tyler Van Dyke’s post-bye woes continued.

Van Dyke returned to the field after a one-week absence but struggled mightily against the Cavaliers’ defense. Van Dyke threw for a meager 163 yards — his lowest mark of the year — while throwing two interceptions and failing to record a passing touchdown. Since starting ACC play, the junior signal-caller has caught the turnover bug, throwing seven interceptions in his last three starts.

This high turnover rate is uncharted territory for Van Dyke, who threw five interceptions last season and six in his 2021ACC Rookie of the Year campaign.

“I just gotta make better decisions,” the quarterback admitted. “Just gotta go back to the drawing board and prepare better.”

Van Dyke’s passing woes were especially prevalent when targeting wide receiver Xavier Restrepo. His first interception of the day was on an underthrown 26-yard pass to Restrepo down the left sideline. Later, on a crucial fourth-quarter third down play, Van Dyke once again forced the ball to Restrepo, this time in double coverage, and it resulted in an incomplete pass.

The Van Dyke-Restrepo connection is objectively a good thing. The quarterback and receiver have immense chemistry, which often leads to reliable yardage as well as big plays. But Van Dyke used his favorite receiver as a crutch against the Cavaliers, forcing throws to him in unfavorable situations despite the availability of other quality targets. Van Dyke’s struggles can be pinned on several factors, but when quality receivers like Colbie Young and Jacolby George are on the field, the signal-caller needs to start placing trust in receivers who aren’t his roommate.

The pass rush maintained its hot streak, but the run defense faltered in big moments.

Miami’s pass rush continued its hot streak, recording five sacks for the third straight game. Defensive tackle Brandon Deen recorded two sacks and linebacker Francisco Mauigoa notched 1.5. But, once again, freshman defensive lineman Reuben Bain Jr. was the star of the show. He tied for the team lead with two sacks and made his presence felt nearly every time Virginia quarterback Tony Muskett dropped back.

The pass rush’s impact on Virginia’s passing offense was evident early on. Following a drive in which Bain recorded a sack and a quarterback hit on back-to-back plays, Muskett started getting the ball out quickly as the Cavaliers’ receivers opted for shorter, faster-developing routes. Though this proved effective for shorter gains, the ‘Canes continued to get pressure in longer-yardage situations when the Cavaliers were forced to opt for deeper routes.

Much like the pass rush, Miami’s run defense was coming off a strong game against Clemson, holding the Tigers to 31 total yards on the ground at under one yard per carry. However, the ‘Canes failed to repeat that performance on Saturday, allowing the Cavaliers to tally 138 rushing yards. Running backs Perris Jones and Mike Hollins accounted for the bulk of Virginia’s rushing production, amassing a combined 107 yards. Jones averaged over six yards per carry, while Hollins hammered in two touchdowns with ease.

Miami’s run defense wasn’t entirely terrible: it held Muskett to only six yards, a miniscule tally compared to the 66 yards he compiled against North Carolina a week earlier. But considering the team’s hot start against the run — Miami held its first five opponents to under 100 rushing yards — allowing 100-plus yards in two out of its last three games is a cause for concern.

With four games left, the ‘Canes’ run defense will need to step up. Preventing upcoming ranked opponents — namely No. 4 Florida State and No. 15 Louisville — from controlling game flow will start with a stout run defense. Furthermore, Boston College, the Hurricanes’ final opponent of the season, ranks tenth in the nation in rush yards per game. Miami will need to return to employing a strong defensive front if it wants to stay afloat in the ACC.

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