Hurricanes Ranked 17th in Preseason AP Poll
Oct. 31, 2008
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team is ranked No. 17 in the preseason Associated Press Poll released today. It is the highest preseason ranking ever by the Hurricanes in the AP Poll and marks Miami’s highest ranking in that poll since 2001-02 when UM reached No. 12 in the first week of February.
The Hurricanes were ranked No. 16 in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches’ Poll released yesterday, tying the highest preseason ranking by Miami in program history.
The Hurricanes are among four ACC teams ranked in the preseason Top 25 and are the highest ranked team in Florida in both the AP and USA Today/ESPN preseason polls.
Frank Haith’s Hurricanes were ranked as high as No. 19 in the AP Poll last season, en route to a 23-11 finish and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Miami returns four starters and 82.8 percent of its scoring – including 97.9 percent of its three-pointers – from that squad, including Preseason All-ACC Team pick Jack McClinton.
The Hurricanes play the first of two exhibition games on Saturday, Nov. 1, with a 5:30 p.m. 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.
USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches’ Poll
1. North Carolina (36-3) 1800
2. Connecticut (24-9) 1661
3. Louisville (27-9) 1638
4. UCLA (35-4) 1487
5. Pittsburgh (27-10) 1319
6. Michigan State (27-9) 1311
7. Texas (31-7) 1259
8. Duke (28-6) 1250
9. Notre Dame (25-8) 1243
10. Gonzaga (25-8) 1162
11. Purdue (25-9) 1099
12. Oklahoma (23-12) 987
13. Memphis (38-2) 977
14. Tennessee (31-5) 920
15. Arizona State (21-13) 645
16. Marquette (25-10) 592
17. Miami (Fla.) (23-11) 570
18. Southern Cal (21-12) 414
19. Florida (24-12) 403
20. Davidson (29-7) 347
21. Wake Forest (17-13) 312
22. Georgetown (28-6) 311
23. Villanova (22-13) 256
24. Kansas (37-3) 233
25. Wisconsin (31-5) 196