Hurricanes Ranked 17th in Preseason AP Poll

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