ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 12, 2024

Jim Larranaga

Nijel Pack

Norchad Omier

Capital One Arena

Miami Hurricanes

Postgame Press Conference

Boston College 81, Miami 65.

JIM LARRAÑAGA: It's been a very challenging season. I feel like whatever strategy we had throughout the season just didn't materialize as a way to really play our best basketball. Some of it was the injuries and the lack of chemistry we had because of it. Some of it, quite frankly, like tonight, is the opponent.

I think Boston College was very, very good. Quinten Post is an NBA player. They're perimeter outstanding shooters, and if they shoot the ball as well as they did tonight from three-point range and get the ball to Quinten Post inside, I think they have a heck of a chance of winning tomorrow, as well.

Q. You mentioned Quinten Post. What does a seven-footer who can step outside like him pose as a challenge for your guys? You're not the biggest team up front.

JIM LARRAÑAGA: First of all, he's skilled in every area of the game. He can shoot the three, he can post-up, he's got a great jump hook, but he's also a very unselfish player, finds the open man. He's a good passer, sees the floor very well. He rebounds at both ends of the court, and he defends the paint very well.

We missed a free throw that would have cut it to seven. On the next possession there was a lob, and he just deflected the pass right into his teammates' hands and they went down and scored. And all of a sudden instead of eight, it's ten. And then we didn't score, and then it goes to 13 again.

He is the catalyst for almost everything they do because he can play inside and outside, and your defense is constantly trying to figure out a strategy to slow him down.

If you slow him down, that opens up the perimeter players to launch threes.

Q. Norchad or Nijel, wrapping up this year, what are your thoughts about how things played out for you guys, and have you guys potentially thought about returning next year? How that's going to turn out for you guys?

NIJEL PACK: You know, it was a really fun season being with these guys once again and returning and being a leader for this team. All the memories that we got to make as a team, and we traveled to a bunch of different places. And it was a lot of fun with those guys, especially in France and the Bahamas and things like that.

I feel like I build memories with these guys. It's always fun being with Norchad, as well, him being my roommate, so I feel like our bond got even better as the year went on.

It's been a challenging year for us, but some people -- sometimes you've got to go through adversity and get over the hump to see the better side. Just continue to work hard, and then what comes next year just comes down the line. Got to meet with Coach and my parents and my family and things like that and see how it goes.

NORCHAD OMIER: Yeah, I have the same thing to say. To summarize it, it's great to be a Miami Hurricane.