Canes Predicted to Finish Fifth in ACC

Oct. 19, 2011

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team, in the first year under Head Coach Jim Larranaga, has been predicted to finish fifth in the ACC this season and senior Malcolm Grant was selected to the Preseason All-ACC Team, as announced by the league during Operation ACC Basketball.

Miami, who finished ninth in the league a year ago, returns 11 players from its 12-man roster that went 21-15 and advanced to the NIT quarterfinals in 2011. The Hurricanes return 80 percent of their scoring, including 90 percent of their free throws and 67 percent of their three-pointers, 89 percent of their assists, 69 percent of their blocked shots, 85 percent of their steals and 79 percent of their rebounding.

North Carolina was picked to win the ACC gathering 57 of 59 first place votes, followed by Duke, Florida State and Virginia.

Grant was one of six players selected to the Preseason All-ACC Team. He was an All-ACC Third Team pick last season after hitting an ACC-high 2.6 three pointers per game, at a league-high 42.3 percent (19th in the nation), while converting an ACC-best 85.3 percent from the charity stripe. He is currently riding a streak of hitting a three-pointer in 23-straight games. Last season Grant averaged 14.8 ppg, 3.2 apg, 1.8 rpg in just his second year with the Canes.

Grant was among just two players to lead the ACC in as many as three different statistical categories — leading the league in three-point field goal percentage, three-point field goals made and free throw percentage. At the time this honor was received, Grant’s three point percentage ranked 14th among all Division I players, while his free throw percentage was 30th. Starting all 36 games last season, the 6-1 Brooklyn, N.Y., native has posted a team-high 29 double-figure scoring efforts, with eight games of 20-plus points, including a career-high 26 points in a win over West Virginia.

With 155 career threes in just two seasons as Hurricane, Grant is in 10th place all-time in program history in triples made, while his 94 three-pointers last season were tied for second-best in Miami history. His 222 attempts in a season were the third most tries from deep in a season for a Hurricane. Grant, who led the ACC in three-point field goal percentage, three-pointers per game and free throw percentage, hit a three in 33-of-36 games last season. 

The complete predictions and preseason awards are listed below.

To meet Grant and the 2011-12 Canes, join the Miami men’s and women’s basketball teams for Miami Madness on Thursday, Oct. 20 at the BankUnited Center. Doors for the free event open at 7:30 p.m. and the madness begins at 8 p.m.

2011-12 ACC Pre-Season Predictions
ACC Operation Basketball, Charlotte, N.C.
59 Ballots

Team Finish:
1-North Carolina (57), 706
2-Duke (2), 649
3-Florida State, 560
4-Virginia, 463
5-Miami, 455
6-Virginia Tech, 411
7-Clemson, 403
8-NC State, 316
9-Maryland, 264
10-Georgia Tech, 176
11-Wake Forest, 109
12-Boston College, 90

Preseason All-ACC
Harrison Barnes, UNC, 59*
John Henson, UNC, 47
Tyler Zeller, UNC,  46
Malcolm Grant, Miami, 32
Seth Curry, Duke, 20 (t)
Mike Scott, Virginia, 20 (t)

*denote unanimous

Preseason Player of the Year
Harrison Barnes, North Carolina, 57
John Henson, North Carolina, 2

Preseason Rookie of the Year
Austin Rivers, Duke, 57
James Michael McAdoo,  1
Nick Faust, Maryland, 1