Miami's head coach, Jim Larranaga, is set to face off against the University of Connecticut in the NCAA Final Four. This will be Larranaga's second time facing UConn in this high-stakes tournament since beating them back in 2006.
Larranaga was at the helm of George Mason when they slipped past UConn during the Elite Eight that year. The victory became one of the most iconic moments in NCAA history as it marked a historic upset for George Mason and paved their way into the Final Four.
Fast forward 17 years later, and Larranaga is once again preparing to go head-to-head against his former opponent. Despite having a few more gray hairs on his head this time around, he remains confident and fully focused on leading Miami to another victory.
"I have great respect for (Uconn) Coach Hurley," said Larranaga during a recent press conference. "They're an excellent team with some talented players, but we've worked hard all season long for this opportunity."
Larananga has been coaching college basketball since 1977 and has had many successful seasons throughout his career. He led Miami to a national championship appearance back in 2013 during what was considered by many as one of his best coaching performances ever.
As he prepares for this upcoming game against Uconn, Larananga remains optimistic about Miami's chances at securing another memorable win over their opponents - just like how he did with George Mason back in 2006.
"We know what we're up against here," said Laananag. "But we also know that if we execute our game plan perfectly and play smart basketball from start to finish - then anything is possible."