Hurricanes Women's Hoops No. 18 in Final USA Today Coaches Poll
In the final regular-season poll by USA Today, Miami didn't receive a single vote. In the final poll, Miami coach Katie Meier's team achieved the No. 18 spot.
Going into the tournament, Miami wasn't a flashy team. They were good enough for the No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament. But, they weren't a premier ACC team.
The Canes didn't make a deep run in the conference tournament as they lost in the quarterfinals to Virginia Tech after having a first-round bye. It was a semi-underwhelming performance, considering Miami defeated VT earlier in the year.
During the season, the Canes had two top-25 wins in back-to-back games against No. 22 North Carolina and the aforementioned No. 9 VT, who got its revenge in the ACC Tournament.
But, it wasn't Miami's regular season that earned the No. 18 spot.
It was the historic Elite Eight run highlighted by last-minute thrillers with a historic upset.
The Hurricanes beat a talented, experienced group of Oklahoma State Cowgirls in the first round. In technicality, the No. 9 Hurricanes beating the No. 8 Cowgirls was an upset, just not one of such national proportions.
Not like what they did against No. 1 Indiana.
The women's Final Four was highlighted by LSU, Iowa, South Carolina and Virginia Tech. With SCAR and VT being the only No. 1 seeds, in such a top-heavy league... There was a notable omission: Indiana.
That was because the No. 9 Hurricanes became one of the lowest seeds in NCAA women's basketball history to defeat a top-seeded opponent in the second round in 25 years.
Twenty-five years. Miami beat Indiana on a last-second shot by Destiny Harden.
One day before, No. 8 Ole Miss beat No. 1 Stanford, making it the first time in 25 years that two No. 1 seeds failed to reach the Sweet 16 in the women's NCAA Tournament.
Miami helped set that record.
It didn't stop there for the Hurricanes. Meier and co. found themselves in the Sweet 16, a place Miami had only been once before... 31 years ago.
After upsetting the No. 4 Villanova Wildcats, Miami made history. It was the first time in women's program history that the Hurricanes made it to the Elite Eight.
So, how did Miami rank inside the final top-25?
Miami upset the No. 8, No. 1 and No. 4 seeds respectively while being ranked No. 9.
Miami made it to the second Sweet 16 in program history.
Miami made it to the first Elite Eight in program history.
Miami lost to the eventual national champion, No. 3 LSU in the Elite Eight, 54-42.
Miami gave LSU its best shot, the best shot of any other team in the tournament. The Tigers' 54 points against the Hurricanes were the lowest-scoring total of their entire season.
Miami made history with the best team in its history, that's how.
