Miami baseball returning to Gainesville for an NCAA Regional carries baggage before anyone even draws up a plan. The Hurricanes have not advanced in their past three NCAA tournament placements in Gainesville and have lost six consecutive NCAA tournament games against Florida at that site, according to Miami Hurricanes On SI. Those numbers make a potential meeting with the Gators compelling, but they also make it more important for Miami not to treat Troy like the opening act.
The No. 2 seed Hurricanes begin regional play against No. 3 seed Troy. Florida, the No. 1 seed and regional host, faces Rider. If Miami and Florida win, the rivals would have the kind of Saturday matchup that attracts all the attention. It has recent regular-season history, regional history and a direct chance for Miami to change a narrative in the Gators’ stadium.
J.D. Arteaga understands that point. He said Miami and Florida are different teams from the ones that met early this season, when the Gators took two games in Coral Gables before rain canceled the third. Different players are in the lineup, the bullpens are different, and the first meeting offers context. It does not offer a look into what will happen this weekend.
The Hurricanes are 14-10 in NCAA tournament games in Gainesville overall, so the building has not always been an impossible assignment. The recent failures are real, though, and Miami fans will never be happy watching a rival host its postseason ending over and over.
A win against Troy would let Miami move into the winner’s bracket with its pitching options in better shape. A loss would force the Hurricanes into a long road before they could even get the Florida opportunity fans want.
Miami does not need to deny the importance of Florida. Rivalries are part of what makes college baseball worth caring about, and ending a Gainesville drought against the Gators would mean something. The Hurricanes simply have to understand the order of operations. Beat Troy first and earn the next game. Then, if Florida is waiting, you make the old Gainesville numbers obsolete.
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