Miami dominates No. 2 seed Auburn 79-61 to reach Sweet 16
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) Miami showed there's still a place for old-school basketball played by experienced players - and for the Hurricanes, that's in the Sweet 16.
The 10th-seeded Hurricanes (25-10) used a second-half surge and neutralized No. 2 seeded Auburn's Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler in a 79-61 victory for their first trip to a regional semifinal in six years.
Auburn leaned heavily on the 6-foot-10 Smith, the Southeastern Conference freshman of the year, and 7-1 Kessler, the nation's blocked shots leader, on the way to an SEC title and what figured to be a deep run in the Midwest Region.
Instead, it was Miami's smaller, older, savvier lineup that dominated.
''Being small,'' Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga said, ''has its advantages.''
Especially when the group included sixth-year ''super seniors'' in Charlie Moore and Kameron McGusty, and fearless sophomore Isaiah Wong, who are all 6-5 or shorter.
Wong had a game-high 21 points, McGusty scored 20 and Moore had 15 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
''We just had a great night tonight,'' said Sam Waardenburg, at 6-10, the tallest player in Miami's regular rotation. ''It's what we can do every night.''
Miami advanced to the round of 16 for the fourth time overall and third time in Larranaga's 10 seasons. The Hurricanes will head to Chicago to take on No. 11 seed Iowa State in a matchup surely no one saw coming.
''This is a dream come true for every kid growing up, you watch these college games in March all day,'' McGusty said. ''You just dream of making a run in the tournament and this is the start to our run.''
Auburn's run ended in unbelievable fashion as its frontcourt of future NBA big men - both Smith and Kessler are projected first-rounders - were largely ineffective against Miami's relentless pressure.
Smith struggled to make shots, finishing 3 of 16 for 10 points - and got dunked on by the 6-3 Wong two days after Smith's one-handed jam in the opening round win over Jacksonville State was the talk of the tournament.
Kessler picked up two early fouls and spent much of the opening half on the bench. He, too, couldn't find his touch and missed all six of his attempts and tied his season low of two points after finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine blocks against Jacksonville State.
''They just sent somebody anytime I tried to attack or make a move,'' Smith said. ''They just kept bodies on me.''
The Tigers never held the lead, yet were only down 33-32 at the half.
But the Hurricanes opened the second half with a 15-7 burst off four points apiece by Wong and McGusty. By the time Moore hit a 3-pointer, the score was 48-39 and the raucous Auburn crowd at the start was quiet.
''In the second half, we were everywhere,'' Larranaga said with pride.
The Tigers had no answers down the stretch, losing in the NCAA's second round for the second time in their three tournament appearances under coach Bruce Pearl.
Jaylin Williams and K.D. Johnson led Auburn with 12 points each. Smith had a game-high 15 rebounds.
''It's the first time that we got it handed to us,'' Pearl said. ''We didn't know how to respond.''
BIG PICTURE
Miami: Larranaga would love to recapture the magic of his 2006 George Mason team's run to the Final Four as a No. 11 seed. His Hurricanes are sharp right now. They've committed a total of just seven turnovers in two tournament games with Moore, at his fourth school in six years, in charge of the offense.
Auburn: The Tigers looked like a national championship contender much of the season. But their shooting touch went cold down the stretch. They shot just 30.4% (21 of 69) against Miami, the third time in the past six games they were under 40%.
SMITH'S FUTURE
Auburn's Smith said he has not decided on his future, although projections are for him to be an NBA lottery pick, perhaps even going No. 1 overall. Smith had tears in his eyes as he discussed his first season in college and talked about what he'll take away from this year, whatever happens. ''The bad games, the good games, just taking it with me and taking Auburn, just thanking them for everything,'' he said.
MOVIE BUFF
Up just 33-32 at the half, Larranaga, a movie buff, called on his best William Wallace speech from ''Braveheart'' to pump up his players. Citing the film, Larranaga explained how he told his team, ''Look, it's a one-point game. Auburn is an outstanding team. We need to know what we're made of,'' he said. ''Can we go out and battle them for the next 20 minutes and keep our dream alive?''
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Â | Sam Waardenburg vs. Walker Kessler (Tigers gains possession) | Â | |
19:47 | Â | Walker Kessler turnover (back court violation) | Â | |
19:28 | Â | Walker Kessler blocks Jordan Miller's two point layup | Â | |
19:26 | Â | Hurricanes offensive rebound | Â | |
19:25 | +2 | Jordan Miller makes two point dunk (Kameron McGusty assists) | 2-0 | |
19:10 | Â | Allen Flanigan turnover (bad pass) (Jordan Miller steals) | Â | |
19:01 | Â | Charlie Moore misses two point layup | Â | |
18:59 | Â | Kameron McGusty offensive rebound | Â | |
18:51 | +2 | Jordan Miller makes two point jump shot (Charlie Moore assists) | 4-0 | |
18:34 | Â | Kameron McGusty shooting foul (Walker Kessler draws the foul) | Â | |
18:34 | +1 | Walker Kessler makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-1 | |
18:34 | +1 | Walker Kessler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-2 | |
18:18 | Â | Jordan Miller misses three point jump shot | Â | |
18:16 | Â | Allen Flanigan defensive rebound | Â | |
17:54 | Â | Jabari Smith misses two point jump shot | Â | |
17:52 | Â | Charlie Moore defensive rebound | Â | |
17:35 | Â | Walker Kessler personal foul (Charlie Moore draws the foul) | Â | |
17:29 | +2 | Jordan Miller makes two point layup | 6-2 | |
17:11 | Â | Jabari Smith turnover (lost ball) (Charlie Moore steals) | Â | |
17:05 | +2 | Kameron McGusty makes two point jump shot (Charlie Moore assists) | 8-2 | |
16:47 | Â | Jordan Miller blocks Jabari Smith's three point jump shot | Â | |
16:47 | Â | Tigers offensive rebound | Â | |
16:31 | +2 | Allen Flanigan makes two point jump shot (Jabari Smith assists) | 8-4 | |
16:12 | +2 | Isaiah Wong makes two point jump shot | 10-4 | |
16:02 | Â | Jabari Smith misses three point jump shot | Â | |
16:00 | Â | Hurricanes defensive rebound | Â | |
15:59 | Â | Walker Kessler personal foul (Sam Waardenburg draws the foul) | Â | |
15:59 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
15:41 | +3 | Charlie Moore makes three point jump shot (Wooga Poplar assists) | 13-4 | |
15:14 | Â | K.D. Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Isaiah Wong steals) | Â | |
15:08 | Â | Charlie Moore misses two point jump shot | Â | |
15:06 | Â | Devan Cambridge defensive rebound | Â | |
14:59 | Â | Wooga Poplar shooting foul (K.D. Johnson draws the foul) | Â | |
14:59 | +1 | K.D. Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-5 | |
14:59 | +1 | K.D. Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-6 | |
14:46 | Â | Jordan Miller misses three point jump shot | Â | |
14:44 | Â | Jabari Smith defensive rebound | Â | |
14:26 | Â | Wendell Green Jr. misses two point layup | Â | |
14:24 | Â | Jordan Miller defensive rebound | Â | |
14:11 | +2 | Kameron McGusty makes two point layup | 15-6 | |
13:50 | Â | Jabari Smith misses two point layup | Â | |
13:48 | Â | Devan Cambridge offensive rebound | Â | |
13:43 | +2 | Devan Cambridge makes two point dunk | 15-8 | |
13:34 | Â | Wooga Poplar misses two point jump shot | Â | |
13:32 | Â | Hurricanes offensive rebound | Â | |
13:31 | Â | Anthony Walker misses two point jump shot | Â | |
13:29 | Â | Dylan Cardwell defensive rebound | Â | |
13:07 | Â | Wendell Green Jr. misses three point jump shot | Â | |
13:05 | Â | Hurricanes defensive rebound | Â | |
12:46 | Â | Kameron McGusty misses three point jump shot | Â | |
12:44 | Â | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | Â | |
12:23 | Â | Zep Jasper misses three point jump shot | Â | |
12:21 | Â | Kameron McGusty defensive rebound | Â | |
12:00 | Â | Jump ball. (Hurricanes gains possession) | Â | |
12:00 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
11:56 | +2 | Anthony Walker makes two point jump shot | 17-8 | |
11:36 | Â | Jaylin Williams misses two point jump shot | Â | |
11:34 | Â | Jaylin Williams offensive rebound | Â | |
11:30 | +2 | Jaylin Williams makes two point jump shot | 17-10 | |
11:15 | Â | Isaiah Wong misses two point layup | Â | |
11:13 | Â | Allen Flanigan defensive rebound | Â | |
11:05 | +2 | Jaylin Williams makes two point hook shot (Allen Flanigan assists) | 17-12 | |
10:36 | +2 | Isaiah Wong makes two point jump shot | 19-12 | |
10:17 | Â | Allen Flanigan turnover (bad pass) | Â | |
10:04 | Â | Isaiah Wong misses three point jump shot | Â | |
10:02 | Â | K.D. Johnson defensive rebound | Â | |
9:53 | Â | K.D. Johnson misses two point jump shot | Â | |
9:51 | Â | Bensley Joseph defensive rebound | Â | |
9:49 | Â | Allen Flanigan personal foul (Bensley Joseph draws the foul) | Â | |
9:38 | Â | Jordan Miller misses two point layup | Â | |
9:36 | Â | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | Â | |
9:29 | Â | K.D. Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Miller steals) | Â | |
9:23 | Â | Jaylin Williams personal foul | Â | |
9:18 | Â | Charlie Moore misses two point jump shot | Â | |
9:16 | Â | Jabari Smith defensive rebound | Â | |
9:04 | +2 | Jabari Smith makes two point layup (K.D. Johnson assists) | 19-14 | |
8:45 | Â | Kameron McGusty misses three point jump shot | Â | |
8:43 | Â | Jabari Smith defensive rebound | Â | |
8:19 | Â | Zep Jasper misses two point jump shot | Â | |
8:17 | Â | Anthony Walker defensive rebound | Â | |
8:08 | +2 | Isaiah Wong makes two point layup (Kameron McGusty assists) | 21-14 | |
8:02 | Â | K.D. Johnson misses three point jump shot | Â | |
8:00 | Â | Allen Flanigan offensive rebound | Â | |
7:55 | Â | Allen Flanigan misses two point layup | Â | |
7:51 | Â | Tigers offensive rebound | Â | |
7:53 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
7:50 | Â | Walker Kessler misses two point layup | Â | |
7:48 | Â | Allen Flanigan offensive rebound | Â | |
7:47 | Â | Allen Flanigan misses two point layup | Â | |
7:45 | Â | Charlie Moore defensive rebound | Â | |
7:45 | Â | Jabari Smith personal foul | Â | |
7:34 | Â | Kameron McGusty misses two point layup | Â | |
7:32 | Â | Jabari Smith defensive rebound | Â | |
7:28 | Â | Jabari Smith turnover (bad pass) (Kameron McGusty steals) | Â | |
7:17 | +2 | Kameron McGusty makes two point layup | 23-14 | |
7:00 | +2 | Zep Jasper makes two point jump shot | 23-16 | |
6:44 | Â | Jordan Miller misses three point jump shot | Â | |
6:42 | Â | Allen Flanigan defensive rebound | Â | |
6:28 | Â | Jabari Smith misses three point jump shot | Â | |
6:26 | Â | Charlie Moore defensive rebound | Â | |
6:19 | Â | Jabari Smith blocks Jordan Miller's two point layup | Â | |
6:17 | Â | Jabari Smith defensive rebound | Â | |
6:14 | Â | Wendell Green Jr. offensive foul | Â | |
6:14 | Â | Wendell Green Jr. turnover | Â | |
6:00 | Â | Dylan Cardwell blocks Isaiah Wong's two point layup | Â | |
5:58 | Â | Wendell Green Jr. defensive rebound | Â | |
5:42 | +2 | Devan Cambridge makes two point layup (Jabari Smith assists) | 23-18 | |
5:22 | Â | Jordan Miller misses two point layup | Â | |
5:20 | Â | Jabari Smith defensive rebound | Â | |
4:57 | Â | Charlie Moore shooting foul (Wendell Green Jr. draws the foul) | Â | |
4:57 | +1 | Wendell Green Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-19 | |
4:57 | +1 | Wendell Green Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-20 | |
4:29 | Â | Kameron McGusty turnover (traveling) | Â | |
4:14 | Â | Jabari Smith misses two point jump shot | Â | |
4:12 | Â | Sam Waardenburg defensive rebound | Â | |
3:59 | +2 | Jordan Miller makes two point layup | 25-20 | |
3:50 | +2 | Jabari Smith makes two point layup (Wendell Green Jr. assists) | 25-22 | |
3:50 | Â | Jordan Miller shooting foul (Jabari Smith draws the foul) | Â | |
3:50 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
3:50 | Â | Jabari Smith misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | Â | |
3:50 | Â | Isaiah Wong defensive rebound | Â | |
3:23 | +2 | Isaiah Wong makes two point turnaround jump shot | 27-22 | |
3:03 | Â | Jabari Smith misses three point jump shot | Â | |
3:01 | Â | Charlie Moore defensive rebound | Â | |
3:00 | Â | Devan Cambridge personal foul (Charlie Moore draws the foul) | Â | |
3:00 | +1 | Charlie Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-22 | |
3:00 | +1 | Charlie Moore makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-22 | |
2:50 | +3 | Jaylin Williams makes three point jump shot (Wendell Green Jr. assists) | 29-25 | |
2:42 | Â | Jaylin Williams personal foul (Jordan Miller draws the foul) | Â | |
2:42 | +1 | Jordan Miller makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-25 | |
2:42 | +1 | Jordan Miller makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-25 | |
2:33 | +2 | Wendell Green Jr. makes two point layup | 31-27 | |
2:14 | +2 | Isaiah Wong makes two point dunk | 33-27 | |
1:56 | Â | Tigers 30 second timeout | Â | |
1:47 | +3 | Jaylin Williams makes three point jump shot (Wendell Green Jr. assists) | 33-30 | |
1:23 | Â | Jabari Smith blocks Isaiah Wong's two point jump shot | Â | |
1:21 | Â | Charlie Moore offensive rebound | Â | |
1:10 | Â | Jabari Smith defensive rebound | Â | |
0:54 | +2 | Wendell Green Jr. makes two point hook shot | 33-32 | |
0:32 | Â | Charlie Moore turnover (traveling) | Â | |
0:32 | Â | Charlie Moore turnover (traveling) | Â | |
0:03 | Â | K.D. Johnson misses three point jump shot | Â | |
0:01 | Â | Jabari Smith offensive rebound | Â | |
0:01 | Â | Jump ball. (Tigers gains possession) | Â | |
0:01 | Â | Jabari Smith misses two point jump shot | Â | |
0:00 | Â | End of period | Â |