UM basketball coach Jim Larranaga was in Tallahassee Thursday receiving a special commendation from the state government recognizing his team's first ever ACC championship.
The State of Florida has designated April 18 as "University of Miami Hurricanes Men's Basketball Team Day," honoring the Canes with resolutions in the state House and Senate. Larranaga and UM athletic director Blake James were at the state capitol for the reading of the resolutions.
The Canes had the best season in school history in 2013, winning the regular season ACC crown as well as the postseason ACC tournament. Larranaga won several coach of the year awards, while point guard Shane Larkin won several individual awards.
The House resolution is below:
WHEREAS, founded in 1925 in Coral Gables, the University of Miami, a private university that has long been nationally recognized for its winning tradition in all sports, competes in Division 1 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and
WHEREAS, the University of Miami Hurricanes Men's Basketball team continued the university's tradition of athletic excellence when, for the second time in university history, the team advanced to the National Collegiate Athletic Association "Sweet Sixteen" tournament and concluded the 2012-2013 season with a single-season school record of 29 wins, and
WHEREAS, with hard work, determination, unselfish play, and a team-first attitude, the University of Miami Hurricanes Men's Basketball Team completed the season as the ACC regular season champions, showcasing the team's sportsmanship and competitiveness, and
WHEREAS, under the outstanding leadership of Head Coach Jim Larrañaga, who was named the 2013 National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II Coach of the Year, the Henry Iba Coach of the Year, the ACC Coach of the Year, and finalist for the Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year, and led by Hurricane point guard Shane Larkin, the ACC Player of the Year and Most Valuable Game Player, and guard Durand Scott, the ACC Defender of the Year, the University of Miami Hurricanes Men's Basketball Team is applauded for continuing the rich history of athletic pride and reestablishing Miami-Dade County as a basketball epicenter for its more than 160,000 University of Miami alumni, NOW, THEREFORE,
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Florida:
That April 18, 2013, is recognized as "University of Miami Hurricanes Men's Basketball Team Day" in the State of Florida to proclaim that "It's Great to Be a Miami Hurricane."
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be presented to Head Coach Jim Larrañaga and the University of Miami Hurricanes Men's Basketball Team as a tangible token of the sentiments expressed herein.
Photo Credit: Getty