Texas’ dance ends within the Elite Eight to the palms of Miami, Jordan Miller

No. 2-seed Texas’ run lastly got here to an finish on Sunday in a 88–81 loss to No. 5-seed Miami within the Elite Eight. The loss in Kansas Metropolis marks the Longhorns’ first since March 1 and the ultimate recreation for departing seniors Marcus Carr, Timmy Allen, Christian Bishop and Sir’Jabari Rice. Ahead Dylan Disu has a 12 months left of eligibility however may declare for the NBA Draft.

Each the Longhorns and Hurricanes shot at a excessive mark, but it surely was Miami’s palms that proved true in a second half suffering from free throws. The Longhorn offense was buzzing early on Sunday because the group continued its next-man-up mentality with Disu out with an damage, however Texas hit a wall late into the second half.

Texas led by as a lot as 13 with 13 minutes remaining, however Miami outscored the Longhorns 28–11 within the remaining 9 minutes of regulation. The Hurricanes shot 27 free throws within the second half in comparison with Texas’ 10 makes an attempt, serving to them to 51 factors within the second half.

Miami took the same methodology of victory in its win within the first spherical over Drake. The Hurricanes met the road 29 occasions in that first spherical matchup, changing 23 photographs.

Miami and Texas went to the road simply 5 occasions every within the first half in comparison with 37 complete journeys within the second. The Hurricanes additionally targeted on inside scoring which got here simpler with the absence of Disu as they outscored Texas 34–28 within the paint.

“Miami actually began making an attempt to get downhill,” Texas head coach Rodney Terry stated. “They began placing their heads down, going one-on-one a little bit bit … and actually did a superb job of entering into the paint and attending to the foul line.”

Hurricanes senior guard Jordan Miller was unstoppable and ideal within the second half, capturing 12-for-12 on free throws and ideal from the sector on his method to a game-high 27 factors. Miller’s efficiency is the primary since 1992 the place a participant scored a minimum of 27 factors on good capturing from the ground and free throw line.

The Longhorns shot properly for almost all of the sport, scoring 45 factors within the first half and leaping to a double-digit lead within the second, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to tempo with Miami. The Hurricanes shot a lights-out 59% from the sector over the sport, and when Texas hit a scoring wall, Miami cruised by with just some minutes left.

Texas’ versatility wasn’t sufficient to beat Miami late within the recreation. A number of Longhorns added their title to the scorecard within the first half, however that effort faltered as the sport went on.

Simply three Longhorns scored within the double digits towards Miami: Allen, Rice and Carr, who led the group with 17 factors. 5 Hurricanes, led by Miller, scored 10 or extra.

The loss prevents Texas from seeing its first Last 4 since 2003. The group is now set to lose a minimum of 4 of its six main scorers, and there’s uncertainty about the way forward for its head coach. 

“I loved each single day of this journey with this group,” Terry stated. “I’m gonna actually miss working with this group. It was by no means about me, it was all the time about these guys. I like these guys.”