Miami has spent enough of this season hearing about who it did not play, who it did not beat and why people should stay cautious. Now, it gets the opportunity that can quiet a lot of that noise. After Thursday’s 8-2 win over Boston College, the Hurricanes advanced to an ACC tournament semifinal against top-seeded Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech is the top seed. Georgia Tech has the reputation. Georgia Tech carries the expectation of closing the deal. Miami gets to walk in as the team playing some of its best baseball at the right time, with a real chance to turn a strong week into something everybody has to acknowledge.
Miami has already done enough in Charlotte to make people pay attention. It rolled past Stanford, handled Boston College and now has a chance to show that the recent surge is not only about beating flawed opponents. If the Hurricanes can knock out Georgia Tech, the conversation changes fast.
The Hurricanes have looked sharper defensively, more complete offensively and steadier on the mound during this tournament. Those traits travel against anybody, but they have to hold up against a top seed before fans can treat them as more than a flash in the pan in the ACC Tournament.
Georgia Tech will punish sloppy baseball. Miami has played sloppy baseball, but less so in Charlotte. It gives the Hurricanes a fighting chance, and if they keep controlling at-bats, avoid free outs and get competent work from the staff, this is not some impossible upset script. It is a real game between a hot club and the team everybody expects to win.
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