Hurricanes Receive Votes In AP Poll
Nov. 7, 2005
Coral Gables, Fla. (hurricanesports.com) – The University of Miami men’s basketball team received 16 votes in the Associated Press Top 25 Preseason Poll released Monday. The 16 votes places the Hurricanes 38th in the nation.
The Hurricanes return 10 lettermen including four starters from last season’s squad that finished 16-13 overall, 7-9 in the ACC, defeated three ranked opponents and reached the post season for the first time since 2002.
Miami is led by the backcourt of junior Guillermo Diaz (Carolina, Puerto Rico), senior Robert Hite (Cincinnati, Ohio) and junior Anthony Harris (Chicago, Ill.), which is ranked fourth in the nation by The Sporting News.
Diaz, a preseason first-team All-ACC selection, ranked second in the ACC in scoring last season averaging 18.6 points per game. In addition, the native of Puerto Rico averaged 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He has scored in double-figures in 27 consecutive games marking the longest active streak in the ACC.
Hite ranked fourth in the league in scoring at 17.3 points per game, and was one of the top rebounders in the conference at the guard position pulling down 5.0 rebounds per contest.
Harris was one of the league’s biggest surprises last season ranking fifth in the league in assists (4.59) and eight in assist to turnover ration (1.53). Harris is rated as the ACC’s Best Passer by Street & Smith’s.
Miami’s front court is anchored by junior Anthony King (Durham, N.C.) who averaged 6.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.97 blocks per game. He ranked fifth in the ACC in rebounding, second in blocked shots, and was selected to the 2004-05 ACC All-Defensive team.
Head coach Frank Haith also brought in a recruiting class that ranks as high as 13th in the nation by Scout.com. The class features 6-7 swingman Brian Asbury (South Miami), 6-0 point guard Denis Clemente (Miami Calusa Prep), 6-8 forward Jimmy Graham (Goldboro, N.C.), and 6-7 forward Adrian Thomas (Pembroke Pines Flanagan).
Miami opens the regular-season at the BCA Classic, November 13-15, in Seattle, Wash. The Hurricanes open the tournament on Sunday against Texas-Arlington. Miami has won 12 consecutive season openers.
2005-06 Associated Press Preseason Poll
Record Points PW1. Duke 27-6 1785 32. Texas 20-11 1652 NR3. Connecticut 23-8 1578 134. Michigan State 26-7 1572 155. Villanova 24-8 1413 196. Oklahoma 25-8 1378 177. Louisville 33-5 1319 48. Gonzaga 26-5 1275 109. Kentucky 28-6 1255 710. Arizona 30-7 1212 911. Boston College 25-5 1093 1412. Memphis 22-16 920 NR13. Stanford 18-13 842 NR14. West Virginia 24-11 652 NR15. Alabama 24-8 621 2116. Syracuse 27-7 586 1117. Illinois 37-2 563 118. Wake Forest 27-6 524 519. UCLA 18-11 499 NR20. Iowa 21-12 395 NR21. G. Washington 22-8 304 NR22. Nevada 25-7 291 NR23. Indiana 15-14 273 NR24. Maryland 19-13 258 NR25. Iowa State 19-12 251 NROTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Washington 144, Texas Tech 142, Kansas 96,
N.C. State 74, Ohio St. 74, Wisconsin 56, LSU 54, Georgetown 46,
Charlotte 44, North Carolina 38, Michigan 24, N. Iowa 21, Miami 16,
Oklahoma St. 16, Old Dominion 13, Florida 6, Bucknell 5, Ohio 4,
Arkansas 3, S. Illinois 3, Cincinnati 2,Utah St. 2,
Wis.-Milwaukee 2, California 1, Hawaii 1, Houston 1, Notre Dame 1.
