The field for the 2023 Final Four at NRG Stadium in Houston is set.
The Miami Hurricanes stormed back from 13 down in the second half against the Texas Longhorns to win the Midwest Regional final 88-81 and claim the final spot on Sunday in Kansas City.
Tied at 79 with one minute remaining, Miami’s Norchad Omier went up for a rebound and drew a foul on Texas’s Brock Cunningham, earning a trip to the free-throw line and sinking both shots to give Miami the lead.
On the ensuing possession, Texas guard Marcus Carr tried to drive into the lane but lost the ball to a Miami defender and committed a foul that allowed Miami to make it a two-possession game.
Texas tried to foul to extend the game but ran out of chances after controlling much of the game.
Miami (29-7) heads to the Final Four for the first time in program history, a year after coming up short in the Elite Eight.
“Last year, we got to the Elite Eight here, and then it comes to a crushing end,” head coach Jim Larranaga told CBS after the game. “Today, last night, all the guys just kept talking: ‘We gotta go past the Elite Eight and get to the Final Four.'”
Guard Justin Miller was part of last year’s team and led Miami with 27 points without a single missed shot on Sunday.
“It hurt,” Miller said when asked about last season’s Elite Eight loss to Kansas. “That gut feeling, it doesn’t go away, and the fact that we had the opportunity to come back and make amends, make it right; that was what was pushing me. It just feels good right now.”
Miami will head to NRG Stadium in Houston and play West Region champion UConn (29-8) in the second game at 7:49 p.m. CT on Saturday. San Diego State (31-6) and Florida Atlantic (35-3) will play in the first semifinal game at 5:09 p.m. CT.
The National Championship Game will be played at NRG Stadium at 8 p.m. CT on Monday, April 3.
UConn is the only remaining team that has previously been to a Final Four or won a national championship.