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The theme of this year’s Patricia A. Whitely Women’s Leadership Symposium is “Unbreakable” and aims to help “participants recognize their self-worth, resilience, and powerful...

Back in October, if you had told any college basketball fan that Miami and Iowa State would be playing in the Sweet Sixteen of the Big Dance, they’d probably tell you you’re crazy.

On Monday, March 21, the City of Miami Beach declared a state of emergency after two shootings that have taken five lives this past week. It will be extended through early next Monday morning.

Within minutes of becoming available, all tickets for the highly anticipated “What Matters to U” event with singer Pitbull were sold out, leaving University of Miami students frustrated and disappointed.

The pads were on to kick off the second week of Miami football’s spring practices, and the competitive spirit on the Greentree Practice Fields was apparent from start to finish. A media availability with assistant head coach/offensive line coach Alex Mirabal, quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator Frank Ponce, tight ends coach Stephen Field and running backs coach Kevin Smith followed Tuesday’s practice.

“I can't be happier for my guys. They did such a fantastic job of executing the game plan,” Miami coach Jim Larrañaga said. “These guys were able to make plays, get into the open court. Auburn is a very high, up-tempo team, but we feel very, very comfortable in that environment as well. So, these guys ran for layups and made a lot of really good decisions in the open court.”

“[Auburn’s] a big team. They have a lot of size. They can switch. They’re versatile, athletic, they play fast. They’re a good team,” McGusty said. “They definitely give teams a challenge, their scoring, their defense. It’s going to be a good game. I feel like we can match up with them … If we just stick to our game plan and do what we’re supposed to do, we can definitely give them a run for their money.”

“Heck of a game. Welcome to March Madness,” Miami coach Jim Larrañaga said.

“I think the biggest thing is for your players to really embrace the atmosphere, not to put a lot of pressure on themselves, but to really have fun playing basketball,” Larrañaga said ahead of Miami’s first-round matchup. “This is the culmination for them of all the hard work, all the dreams that they’ve had and the goals they’ve set for themselves and for the team.”

“The U is back … back in the big dance,” men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga said after the team’s viewing of the NCAA’s Selection Sunday show.

Third-year wide receiver Xavier Restrepo was Miami’s most consistent wideout through the first week of spring practices, routinely breaking off his route stem with efficiency and coming down with difficult receptions.

“I am excited to have Jim continue to lead our men’s basketball program,” Miami Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich said in a Miami Athletics release. “He is an outstanding ambassador on and off the court for Miami and for the game of college basketball. We look forward to many more seasons of success with Jim at the helm.”