Second chance, accepted: Julian Gamble flourishing in 6th year for No. 2 Miami

Miami's Julian Gamble (45) battles for a lose ball against Virginia's Joe Harris during the first half of their NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, in Coral Gables, Fla. Miami won 54-50. (AP Photo/El Nuevo Herald, David Santiago) MAGS OUT (The Associated Press)

Miami's Julian Gamble (45) grabs a rebound against Virginia's Darion Atkins during the first half of their NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, in Coral Gables, Fla. Miami won 54-50. (AP Photo/El Nuevo Herald, David Santiago) MAGS OUT (The Associated Press)

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Julian Gamble averages less than seven points per game and probably has not had a single play called for him all season.

And he's still invaluable to the second-ranked Miami Hurricanes.

The sixth-year senior has overcome a slew of challenges just to still be playing, and now he's a huge part of a team that many believe is good enough to win a national championship. His claim-to-fame for the season may have come earlier this week against Virginia, when he blocked three shots on the same possession, all in less than four seconds.

Gamble returns to his home state of North Carolina on Saturday, when the Hurricanes put their 14-game winning streak and perfect Atlantic Coast Conference record on the line against Wake Forest.