Miami basketball just misses top 25 after big win over Duke
Following is 76-74 victory over Duke on Saturday the Miami basketball team received votes in the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches poll for the first time this season. Miami has 65 points in the AP Top 25 but is still a long way off from making the rankings. Miami received 75 points and is 26th in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Illinois is 25th in the AP Top 25 with 208 points. Oklahoma is 26th with122 points and Loyola Chicago 28th with 96. Miami is behind Alabama who has 105 points as the 25th ranked team in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The Miami basketball team is on a nine-game winning streak and leads the ACC at 12-3, 5-0.
Miami will continue a tough schedule when they play at Florida State on Tuesday. The Hurricanes return home on January 18 to host North Carolina. As part of a three-game homestand, Miami will also host Florida State on January 22 and Virginia Tech on January 29. Miami concludes January at Georgia Tech on the 29.
Miami has not lost since November 29 against Alabama. Duke is the only ranked ACC team. Miami is not scheduled to play another ranked team this season. The Hurricanes are ranked 80th in the NCAA Netratings and 82nd in the ESPN Basketball Power Index. Andy Katz of NCAA.Com has Miami 18th in his Power Rankings.
A win on the road on Tuesday at Florida State who is only 8-5 will surely move Miami into both Top 25s. Florida State is 50th in the BPI and 70th in the Net Ratings. The next three games are important as Miami makes a push for its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2018. That was also the last time Miami was ranked.
Miami basketball work to do for NCAA Tournament berth. dark. Next
MIami entered the 2018 NCAA Tournament ranked 22nd nationally as a six seed. Miami was eliminated by Loyola who eventually made the Final Four. The Hurricanes have not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2013. Miami has positioned itself well during the nine-game win streak for a 2022 NCAA Tournament berth.