Men's Basketball Picked Fourth in ACC Preseason Poll
Oct. 26, 2008
ATLANTA, Ga. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference in a preseason media poll administered Sunday at the ACC’s annual Operation Basketball in Atlanta.
The Hurricanes garnered 344 points in the poll, just 10 points behind Wake Forest in third place. North Carolina was selected the early favorite to win the ACC with 480 points, followed by Duke with 436 points.
Miami’s Jack McClinton was named to the five-member Preseason All-ACC Team, along with Preseason Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina, Tyrese Rice of Boston College, Ty Lawson of North Carolina and Gerald Henderson of Duke.
Wake Forest freshman Al-Farouq Aminu earned Preseason Rookie of the Year accolades with 18 votes, while Miami’s DeQuan Jones was among four other ACC newcomers to earn at least a pair of votes.
“While the positive preseason recognition is a nice way to get the year started it certainly doesn’t dictate what this team is able to accomplish,” said fifth-year head coach Frank Haith. “Regardless of where we are selected before the season is started, we are going to work hard everyday to make sure we end the season where we want to be.”
The predicted finish of fourth place is the highest for the Hurricanes as they enter their fifth season in the ACC. In 2007-08, Miami was picked to finish 12th – last – in the conference and went a program-best 8-8 in league play to finish fifth.
The Hurricanes play the first of two exhibition games on Saturday, Nov. 1, with a 5:30 tilt versus Florida Memorial. Miami opens the regular season at home versus Florida Southern on Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
For ticket information, please contact the Hurricane Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-CANES or visit us online at hurricanesports.com.
2008-09 ACC Predicted Order of Finish
1. North Carolina 480
2. Duke 436
3. Wake Forest 354
4. Miami 344
5. Clemson 306
6. Virginia Tech 298
7. Maryland 192
8. Georgia Tech 186
9. NC State 179
10. Florida State 145
11. Boston College 123
12. Virginia 79
