UM men’s basketball team breaks into Top 25 polls for first time since 2017-18 season
The University of Miami men’s basketball team, which reached the Elite Eight last March despite never been ranked all season, is finally earning national respect after starting this season 10-1.
The Hurricanes were ranked No. 25 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll and in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, both of which came out Monday.
It was the first time since March 2018 that the team had an in-season top-25 ranking.
Also Monday, guard Isaiah Wong was named the ACC Player of the Week. He also was voted Lute Olson National Player of the Week and Field of 68 National Player of the Week distinctions.
Wong averaged 29 points, six rebounds and seven assists in the Hurricanes’ two victories last week. He shot 63.3 percent (19-of-30) from the floor, 58.3 percent (7-of-12) beyond the arc and 92.9 percent (13-of-14) at the line, while committing just one turnover in 69 minutes of action.
Wong tallied a career-high 36 points, the most by a Power Six conference player this year and highest total by a Hurricane in 15 seasons, in the 107-105 victory Wednesday over Cornell.
Miami (10-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) went from 29 points in the AP Poll to 100 this week after a 107-105 win over Cornell and a come-from-behind win over ACC foe North Carolina State.
UM guard Jordan Miller, who transferred to UM from George Mason last season, was asked after the win over the Wolfpack whether he felt the Canes should be ranked.
He said: “I would love to be ranked, I have been in college five years and haven’t been ranked, so I want to be, but it’s not something we’re focused on. Just as quickly as you get ranked you can get unranked, too. Would it be rewarding for all the hard work? Yes. But we have bigger goals in mind than just being ranked.”
The program’s last in-season ranking came on March 12, 2018, when Miami placed No. 22 in the AP Poll and No. 25 in the Coaches Poll entering that season’s NCAA Tournament.
The Hurricanes return to the court Saturday at noon for a home game against St. Francis (Pennsylvania) and then play No. 2-ranked Virginia at home on Tuesday night.
This story was originally published December 12, 2022 at 1:59 PM.