‘Our Sum is Greater Than Our Parts’: How Miami’s Team-First Mentality Has Fueled Final Four Run 

Jordan Miller knows what it takes to win a championship. 

UM’s star guard won a state title in his junior season at Loudoun Valley High School, taking with him an important lesson as Miami prepares for its Final Four game against UConn. 

Every player on a championship-winning team needs to embrace their role. 

“There’s different roles on a team, and I think the more people can embrace their roles, whether that’s playing 30 minutes, whether that’s playing 10, whether that’s not playing at all, I think when everybody embraces their roles and dedicates it all, you get good results,” Miller said earlier this season. 

Fortunately for Miami’s title aspirations, the Hurricanes have adopted this collective mindset. 

“Our sum is greater than our parts, so everyone doing everything that they can, whether that goes from that walk-on that doesn’t play a minute, to the starter that plays 30 minutes,” fourth-year forward Anthony Walker said. “Everyone knows that their part is extremely important and we couldn’t do it without the walk-ons, just like we couldn’t do it without the starters. So just knowing  that everyone embracing their part, got us here. I think that’s the main key, it’s that everyone knows that their part is just as important as the guy standing next to them.” 

Walker has been with the ‘Canes since 2019 and has experienced both the good and bad of UM basketball. His first two seasons ended in disappointment, while the following two have been historic.

He attributes this role acceptance as a reason for the change. 

“I definitely think its stronger and I think that it’s been the strongest this year and last year.” 

Miami’s togetherness extends beyond its players embracing their on-court responsibilities.  

The players want to see each other flourish. They play for and represent one another. This bond has translated to the team’s momentous success. 

“From the coaches to the players to the love that we have for each other. I feel like we really play for each other, and I feel like that really sticks out to me more than anything that we really care how well another player is playing, how he’s feeling, and that really just makes us super connected and I feel like you can see that when you watch us play,” veteran guard Harlond Beverly said. 

Miami plays UConn on Saturday night in arguably their most important game in program history. A packed crowd of up to 72,220 people will be in attendance. 

The unselfish Hurricanes aren’t nervous, but rather, excited for this opportunity.

“Everyone is very focused to achieve a goal that this university has never achieved before and everyone is also embracing this moment. Everyone is living their dreams out and we’re all just excited to be here. We’re all very blessed and we’re all very anxious to go play.”