Something happened towards the end of Miami’s 70-68 loss to No. 1 seed Indiana in the second round of the women’s tournament on Monday night that sent a lot of people running – not because it was a good play but because of the internet. With 12 seconds left and the Hurricanes up 1, Haley Cavinder made a couple of clutch free throws to extend the lead to three and then silence the crowd.
Well, what a great tour when talking nonsense. Never in my life have I seen a player signal the crowd to be quiet. Jumping is one thing, backing up is another, and Haley did it correctly— wait, how many points does she have? Ripe? I take it back. I take it all back.
For those unfamiliar with Cavinder or her twin sister, Hanna, they are one Influential couple after hours as basketball players. The duo spent the first three seasons of their college careers at Fresno State, where they amassed solid stats but team success dwindled year after year.
Now in South Florida, their popularity has increased thanks to NIL deals, added visibility, recruitment violationsand everything goes with the way they make and take pictures stand on the nearest wall. The only thing that is down is their production. (If you need more proof of who takes her antics seriously, just look at who she retweeted.)
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In the Cavinders’ combined 55 minutes on Monday, they scored 12 points from 4/12 from the field, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 transfers. And yet, after Canes pulled W, the clip that went viral — well, viral enough for the New York Post to pick it up — was the scene where Haley silenced the crowd.
You’re not always shining
Yes, Haley took the big free throws. Without them, Yardon Garzon’s three with 8 ticks left put Indiana up to two instead of just ending the game. However, if anyone’s worth the bullshit, it’s the U’s Destiny Harden, who hit the deciding bucket with three seconds left to break the tie and end the season of the No. 1 seed. Hoosiers.
I can’t tell if Cavinder lacks self-awareness or has so much of it that she’s kept the emoji silent and ready to act in such a moment. Haley and her sister talked about how difficult and overwhelming “influence” is — they’re always working, always up to date, always online. This makes no difference.
Hanna’s 19 minutes are forgettable and Haley hasn’t really done much more than that. They need a reason to be important, to get more clicks, to influence. Well, if Haley wants to maximize her chances, she should hit them with Steph Curry’s “Go to Bed” celebration. It’s still not a cliché, it’s no less relevant for the time and the clock than the finger to the lips, and all the kids are doing it. It’s the Gritty of late-game glee, and something she and Hanna will have to examine in the cinema room.
That said, allow me to offer some practical advice: If the Cavinders want to use their powers for more than just personal gain (which is debatable), maybe share some clips of them. teammates don’t have Hanna or Haley’s name on your feed. Miami’s Destiny Harden and Lola Pendande are more responsible for Haley’s pivotal moment at the line than she is, and it’s nice that the reality reflects that.
