Miami Hurricanes basketball up to No. 10 in A.P. poll with huge test against Kentucky up next
The Miami Hurricanes basketball team is still in the very early portion of the season, but UM has already positioned itself as one of the top programs to watch out for in 2023-24.
After a hot 5-0 start that includes beating Kansas State, 91-83, on Sunday to win the Baha Mar Bahamas Hoops Championship, Jim Larranaga’s squad has now cracked the top 10 of the Associated Press Poll, moving up two spots to No. 10. The Canes remain at No. 11 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.
The Hurricanes now have appeared in 17 straight AP polls, tying the school record set during the 2015-16 season, and Miami is just on the heels of another ACC team, Duke (No. 9 AP ranking). The other conference teams that are ranked: No. 14 North Carolina and No. 24 Virginia join Miami in the AP Top-25, with Virginia checking in at No. 18 in the Coaches Poll.
The Canes’ start has seen the team really put points on the board en masse, averaging 89.0 per game (vs. 72.6 for opponents). Miami is shooting a torrid 52.4 percent from the field (45.8 percent on threes) vs. opponents’ 41.3 percent from the field (26.8 percent threes).
The small Canes team also averages winning the rebounding battle, albeit barely, 36.0-35.4.
It’s been a balanced effort for the Canes, with five different players averaging in double figures: Wooga Poplar (18.0 PPG 6.0 RPG, 59.4 percent threes), Matthew Cleveland (16.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG), Nijel Pack (16.0 PPG, 4.0 APG), Norchad Omier (15.8 PPG, 9.2 RPG) and Bensley Joseph (11.6 PPG, 55.6 three-point percentage).
The team will face a big test next in No. 16 Kentucky on Nov. 28. Tipoff in Rupp Arena is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN.
