Miami Basketball Picked Ninth in ACC Preseason Poll
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team was predicted to finish ninth out of 15 teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season, as announced by the league at the 55th annual Operation Basketball on Wednesday.
Duke was picked to win the ACC, followed by North Carolina, Virginia and Louisville.
Miami opens the 2016-17 regular season with 10 scholarship players, led by a trio of captains in seniors Davon Reed and Kamari Murphy, along with junior Ja’Quan Newton. Sophomores Anthony Lawrence and Ebuka Izundu also return for the Hurricanes.
This season, a group of five newcomers comprising Miami’s top recruiting class in program history will don a UM jersey for the first time. The Canes’ coaching staff reeled in four freshmen in McDonald’s All-American Dewan Huell, Jordan Brand Classic All-American Bruce Brown, Australian standout Dejan “DJ” Vasiljevic and Rodney Miller from national powerhouse Oak Hill Academy (Va.). Redshirt junior Rashad Muhammad also joins the class after sitting out a season ago due to transferring from San Jose State. The group has been named one of the top 2016 classes in the country, with a No. 9 ranking from 247Sports, No. 10 from Scout, No. 13 from ESPN and No. 13 from Rivals.
Miami will face Barry in an exhibition game on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. in Coral Gables. The Canes open the regular season on Nov. 11 with a 7 p.m. matchup against Western Carolina University at the Watsco Center.
Miami’s all-time preseason poll breakdowns (votes) and finishes are as follows:
2015-16 – 5th (841) – t2nd
2014-15 – 10th (442) – t-6th
2013-14 – 12th (224) – 10th
2012-13 – 5th (436) – 1st
2011-12 – 5th (455) – t-4th
2010-11 – 8th (305) – 9th
2009-10 – 10th (135) – 12th
2008-09 – 4th (344) – t-7th
2007-08 – 12th (153) – t-5th
2006-07 – 11th (173) – 12th
2005-06 – 7th (540) – t-7th
2004-05 – 11th (146) – t-6th
ACC Operation Basketball 2016-17 Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parenthesis)
Team & Points
1. Duke (85) – 1359
2. North Carolina (6) – 1239
3. Virginia – 1125
4. Louisville – 1034
5. Syracuse – 905
6. NC State – 772
7. Notre Dame – 716
8. Florida State – 705
9. Miami – 650
10. Virginia Tech – 645
11. Clemson – 623
12. Pitt – 511
13. Wake Forest – 309
14. Georgia Tech – 199
15. Boston College – 128
2016-17 Preseason All-ACC Team
(votes in parenthesis)
First Team
Grayson Allen, Duke (87)
Jaron Blossomgame, Clemson (70)
Joel Berry II, North Carolina (45)
London Perrantes, Virginia (36)
Dennis Smith, Jr., NC State (34)
Second Team
Justin Jackson, North Carolina (22)
Jayson Tatum, Duke (21)
Tyler Lydon, Syracuse (20)
Dwayne Bacon, Florida State (16)
Michael Young, Pitt (14)
ACC Preseason Player of the Year
Grayson Allen, Duke (70)
Jaron Blossomgame, Clemson (7)
London Perrantes, Virginia (5)
Joel Berry II, North Carolina (5)
Dennis Smith, Jr., NC State (2)
Andrew White, Syracuse (1)
Davon Reed, Miami (1)
ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year
Dennis Smith, Jr., NC State (51)
Jayson Tatum, Duke (20)
Harry Giles, Duke (10)
Tyus Battle, Syracuse (5)
VJ King, Louisville (2)
Jonathan Isaac, Florida State (2)
Josh Okogie, Georgia Tech (1)
