CORAL GABLES, FLA. - Wearing a grin and an orange March Madness T-shirt, Miami guard Jack McClinton described Sunday as probably the happiest day of his life.

Making the NCAA Tournament means that much to the Hurricanes.

They earned their first berth in the tournament in six years, drawing the No. 7 seeding in the South region and a first-round matchup Friday against 10th-seeded St. Mary's (25-6) in North Little Rock, Ark.

A year ago, the Hurricanes won just 12 games.

"We always thought something special was going to happen," said McClinton, Miami's leading scorer this season. "We stayed humble and hungry and went out there and got some wins, and now we're going to be dancing."

The Hurricanes (22-10) staged a late-season surge to make the tournament for the first time in Frank Haith's four years as coach.

"I always said I think we can build a special program here," Haith said. "Hopefully it's something we can maintain."

The seeding is slightly higher than expected, given the Hurricanes' RPI rating of 34th. Haith said he figured Miami would be seeded somewhere from seventh to 10th.

St. Mary's lost in the semifinals of the West Coast Conference tournament. The California school is 36th in the RPI ratings.

"I'm a basketball junkie, so I sat up several nights and watched them play," Haith said. "I know they're well-coached. It will be a tough game. They all are. If you're fortunate enough to make this tournament, you're a good team."

If the Hurricanes win, they'll likely face No. 2 seed Texas in the second round. Haith was an assistant to Longhorns coach Rick Barnes from 2001-04.

"The pressure is on him. It ain't on me," Haith said with a laugh.

Haith and his players gathered in a student lounge to watch the televised announcement of the brackets. When the Hurricanes' berth was revealed, players leaped off a couch with a roar and began waving their index fingers.

"That emotion is good," Haith said. "I want them to be excited. This is a new experience for all of them. I'm really happy for our players."

Senior center Anthony King was able to take part in the celebration only because he was a granted a medical hardship due to a wrist injury a year ago that allowed him to return for a fifth season.

"This is exactly what I came back for," King said. "You can see it in this room -- we're happy, and we're ready."

The Hurricanes were picked to finish last in ACC in the preseason and started 2-6 in the league, but then Miami won six of its next seven games.

The surge included an upset of Duke, the Hurricanes' first victory against a top-five team in nine years. Now they have a shot at what would be the fourth NCAA Tournament win in school history.

"The basketball team at the University of Miami really wasn't considered to be a good program," King said. "But look at us now. All I can do right now is smile."

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