University of Miami basketball coach Jim Larranaga took the opportunity after Saturday's 62-55 loss to Syracuse to let the world know his views on gun control in the wake of the Stoneman Douglas High massacre.
"I think we have to do something about our gun laws," Larranaga said. "We're not the Wild, Wild West where everybody should carry a gun. There needs to be accountability and responsibility for people in charge of selling guns and buying guns."
The Hurricanes and Orange players wore gray t-shirts for warmups that said: "Praying For Stoneman Douglas #MSDSTRONG."
The UM coaching staff was "crying over what happened," Larranaga said, and had the shirts made. "We felt like we needed to send a message to Parkland and those families. We're all impacted."
As for the game, both middle-of-the-pack ACC teams sought to boost their resumes in the final stretch of the regular season. In the end, Miami was unable to overcome the Syracuse height advantage and 2-3 zone, resorting to 31 3-point attempts _ only seven of which went in.
The Hurricanes missed 15 of their first 20 shots and made only three of their first 15 3-pointers; and yet, the game was tied 25-25 at halftime. Syracuse went on a 15-0 run early in the second half to pull ahead by 12; Miami rallied with a 15-3 streak of its own to tie it up at 43-43 with nine minutes to go.
The game remained close over the next five minutes, but then Tyus Battle, having an off-night by his standards, made a huge 3-pointer to give Syracuse a six-point lead.
It was the third loss in a row for Miami, which dropped to 18-7 and 7-7 in the ACC. Syracuse is 18-9 and 7-7 ACC.
