The three-seed Miami Hurricanes have a daunting Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament matchup against two-seed Villanova in Louisville on Thursday, and with four days between games, the gravity of the moment really has a chance to weigh on player’s minds.
Miami head coach Jim Larranaga is well aware of that, and had a creative solution to keep his players loose and relaxed: Play a different sport. He had the guards and big men play each other in a game of ballroom baseball on Tuesday. Here’s the video, if it must be seen to be believed.
Larranaga said this idea first came to him 30 years ago when he was just starting out as a head coach. Whenever he felt his guys were too tightly wound, he would put on baseball games in the gym.
In lieu of a gym, a carpeted hotel ballroom would have to do in this instance, but the game had the intended effect. Despite one player admitting he, “Doesn’t understand nothing here,” the players embraced the activity with smiles all around.
Tonye takes the pitching very seriously. Seriously. pic.twitter.com/5x4Y0B7XV9
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) March 23, 2016
Angel up to bat as a part of the "guards team" (vs the big guys)
*Notice the Tonye plate sweep* pic.twitter.com/oBxS7NfZtC
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) March 23, 2016
The Hurricanes were hard at work at actual basketball practice the next day, but if Larranaga’s theory holds true, the Wildcats could be in real trouble. The ‘Canes confidence appears to be at an all-time high. Guard Angel Rodriguez even boasted he was, “The real A-Rod.”
You can see if Larranga’s approach pays off Thursday night at 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS.
