WASHINGTON – Jim Larranaga says the Verizon Center is "not just any other arena."
The Miami coach returned to the scene of his greatest triumph Wednesday, leading the Hurricanes' practice in the same building where his George Mason team beat Connecticut to advance to the Final Four seven years ago.
Larranaga is in a different league now, leading Atlantic Coast Conference champion and top seed Miami against fourth-seeded Marquette in Thursday's East Regional semifinals.
Even though he's moved on from George Mason, Larranaga hasn't changed. He greeted old friends in the arena before gathering his players and telling them: "You know why they call it the Sweet 16? It's sweet! Let's go."
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